Governor McAuliffe Appoints Adoption Champion

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Adoption Champion will support permanency through adoption efforts statewide

Richmond, VA (August 18, 2014) — Today, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the appointment of Deborah J. Johnston as Virginia’s newest Adoption Champion.  An adoptee herself, Ms. Johnston is the owner of a Midlothian-based home health care agency. She is passionate about helping children find permanent families, and in her new role, will work to support the Commonwealth’s permanency efforts statewide.

“Promotion and recruitment efforts are critical to ensuring Virginia’s children are placed in loving and caring homes,” said Gov. McAuliffe. “Ms. Johnston will work with prospective adoptive families, recruitment agencies, local departments of social services, public officials and adoptive families in order to promote this mission.”

Last year’s VAdopts: Campaign for 1,000, successfully resulted in 1,041 adoption matches and 695 finalized adoptions.  Since then, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has worked diligently with local and state social services staff to keep the momentum going.  “Supporting the continued goal of achieving permanency through adoption, with a specific focus on the longest waiting youth, older teens and youth with special needs, remains a top priority,” said Margaret Ross Schultze, VDSS Commissioner.  “Ms. Johnston has a powerful story, and I am very excited to welcome her as Virginia’s Adoption Champion.” There are currently 828 foster children available for adoption in Virginia.

Ms. Johnston will serve as spokesperson for adoption in Virginia, and will work to engage and educate the public in support of Virginia’s adoption program goals and objectives.  “I look forward to drawing from my personal experience to support and promote adoption throughout the Commonwealth,” said Johnston.  “This initiative is extremely close to my heart, and I am honored by this appointment.”

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Governor McDonnell Announces Board and Commission Appointments

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell speaking at CPAC. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced additional appointments to 17 Virginia boards and commissions. Further announcements regarding additional appointments in the McDonnell administration will continue to be made in the weeks ahead.

Board Appointments

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

• Charles F. Dunlap of Winchester, Professional Land Surveyor/Land Development Consultant with CFD Consulting
• Daniel  J. Santos of Vienna, Senior Technical Advisor with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Andrew Scherzer* of Midlothian, Landscape Architect with Balzer & Associates
• Christine Snetter-Dick of Providence Forge, Architect/Project Manager with Jefferson Lab

Board of Coal Mining Examiners

• Douglas E. Deel of Breaks, Loader Operator with Paramount Coal Company Virginia

Board of Conservation and Recreation

• The Honorable Harvey B. Morgan of Saluda

Board of Directors of the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program

• David R. Barrett* of Midlothian, President/CEO of Barrett Capital Management, LLC
• John W. Seeds, M.D.* of Richmond, Senior Associate Dean of Professional Education Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University

Board of Historic Resources

• Drew A. Gruber of Williamsburg, Administrative Specialist with the Department of Public History at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals

• Thomas “Tom” Wayne Fore of Gladstone, Director of Public Utilities for the Town of Amherst

Citizen’s Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion

• James C. Cosby of Richmond, Attorney and Partner with Vandeventer Black LLP

Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council

·         Hobey Bauhan of Harrisonburg, President of the Virginia Poultry Federation

Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Advisory Board

• Patrik Sandås of Charlottesville, Professor at The University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce

Hampton Roads Sanitation District

• Arthur C. Bredemeyer* of Suffolk, Attorney with Eure & Bredemeyer PLLC
• Michael E. Glenn* of Norfolk, Contractor/Developer and President of Luna Development
• Maurice P. (Mo) Lynch* of Hayes, Professor Emeritus (Marine Science) at Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary

Potomac River Fisheries Commission

• A.J. Erskine of Kilmarnock, Aquaculture Manager and Field Scientist with Bevans Oyster Company & Cowart Seafood Corporation

Safety and Health Codes Board

• Anna E. Jolly, JD, CHMM* of Richmond, Managing Director (Industrial Hygienist) with Circle Safety & Health Consultants, LLC
• Courtney Malveaux of Richmond, Attorney at Thompson McMullan PC
• Kenneth W. Richardson, II of Forest, Human Resources Manager at NIBCO of Virginia
• Millagro Rodriguez* of Falls Church, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist with the American Federation of Government Employees

Southeastern Public Service Authority

• David L. Arnold of Suffolk, Attorney at Pender & Coward, PC
• Mark Hodges of Courtland, President & Managing Partner of MidAtlantic Cotton Gin
• Don Williams of Norfolk, retired builder/developer, former state delegate, former Norfolk City Councilman and President of Alexander Builders
• Marley A. Woodall, Jr.* of Chesapeake, retired

Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission

• John R. Cannon* of South Boston, Entrepreneur and Developer
• David Cundiff* of Penhook, Producer, Chairman of Franklin County Board of Supervisors and Police Chief for Rocky Mount Town

• H. Ronnie Montgomery* of Jonesville, self-employed Lawyer
• A. Dale Moore of Alta Vista, President and CEO of Moore’s Electric and Mechanical Inc.
• Todd Pillion of Abingdon, Pediatric Dentist with Pillion & Smith, Pediatric Dental Associates

Virginia Housing Development Authority

• Sarah Barrie Stedfast of Norfolk, Vice President/Sales Manager with NewTowne Mortgage

Virginia Land Conservation Foundation

• John Paul Woodley, Jr. of Burke, Consultant/Principal at Advantus Strategies, LLC

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority

• Neil Amin of Richmond, CEO of Shamin Hotels Inc.

Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority

• Joan M. Bondareff* of Alexandria, Principal, The SPECTRUM Group and Of Counsel, Blank Rome, LLP
• Douglas L. Faulkner of Arlington, Energy Consultant and President of Leatherstocking LLC
• Bob Matthias* of Virginia Beach, Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Virginia Beach

• Arthur W. Moye, Jr.* of Virginia Beach, Executive Vice President of the Virginia Maritime Association
• Brian Redmond* of Richmond, Managing Director for Paragon Asset Group LLC

*Denotes re-appointment

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