Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: January 24, 2020
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Alenaa Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Northam Announces Administration Appointments

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced additional appointments to his Administration today.

Secretariat of Natural Resources

Nathan Burrell, Deputy Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation
Nathan Burrell has been appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Prior to his appointment, Nathan served the City of Richmond from 2005 to 2020, starting as a Trails Manager and rising to Park Superintendent for the James River Park System. Most recently he served as the Facilities, Operation, and Maintenance Superintendent for the Southern District. Nathan received his Bachelors of Science in Parks and Recreation Management at Virginia Commonwealth University with a minor in Environmental Studies. He has served as a member of the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth

Alexis Bowles-Fryar, Special Assistant, Notary and Authentications Division
Alexis Bowles-Fryar has been appointed Special Assistant in the Notary and Authentications Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. She previously served as an intern with the Virginia Complete Count Commission. Alexis is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a degree in Political Science.

Board Appointments

Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Certified Interior Designers, Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects

  • Frank Hancock of Charlottesville, Landscape Architect, Timmons Group

Common Interest Community Board

  • Anne M. Sheehan, CPA of Reston, Principal, Goldklang Group CPAs, P.C.

Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation

  • Kevin Byrd* of Blacksburg, Executive Director, New River Valley Regional Commission
  • Dean Chiapetto* of Floyd, Agent, AmeriLife and Health Services of the Virginias
  • Duane A. Miller* of Duffield, Executive Director, LENOWISCO Planning District
  • James Morani of Abingdon, Town Manager, Town of Abingdon
  • Amanda Pillion of Abingdon
  • Robyn Raines* of Abingdon, Director of Childhood and Youth Success, United Way of Southwest Virginia
  • Ellen Reynolds* of Wythe County, Owner, Beagle Ridge Herb Farm
  • Pat Sharkey of Floyd, Floyd County Tourism Director, Floyd County Tourism Development Council
  • Kathy Shearer of Emory, Oral Historian
  • William J. “Bill” Smith* of Wytheville, Owner, Smith Enterprises
  • Julie Walters Steele of Patrick County, Director, Reynolds Homestead, Virginia Tech

Virginia African American Advisory Board

  • Robert N. Barnette, Jr. of Mechanicsville, President, Virginia State Conference NAACP
  • Dr. Wes Bellamy of Charlottesville, Chairman, Political Science Department, Virginia State University
  • Shirley Ginwright of Fairfax County, Chair, Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee

Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority

  • Dr. Morris Foster of Norfolk, Vice President for Research, Old Dominion University

Virginia Council on Women

  • Olga Boucher of Waynesboro, Multiline Account Representative, Hunter Wyant State Farm Insurance and Financial Services
  • Da’Shaun Antoinette Joseph of Reston, Corporate Business Development, Jacobs Engineering Group
  • Karishma Merchant of Arlington, Senior Education Policy Advisor, Office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine
  • Holly Seibold* of Vienna, Executive Director, Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters
  • Michelle Strucke* of Vienna, Senior Policy Manager, Aid and Development Finance, Oxfam America
  • Michelle Woods of Alexandria, Communications Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia

*denotes reappointment

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