Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 14, 2026) - Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions:

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Shawn Helbig, Cyndi Heddleston and Gregory Leist as members of the Parole Board.

• Shawn Helbig of Bowling Green has spent 24 years in law enforcement. He will serve for a term expiring Aug. 3, 2028.
• Cyndi Heddleston of Louisville has over twenty years of experience in the Kentucky Department of Corrections. She will serve for a term expiring Aug. 3, 2030.
• Gregory Leist of Shepherdsville was a probation and parole officer for nearly a decade. He will serve for a term expiring Aug. 3, 2030.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Joe O'Brien to the State Fair Board to serve for a term expiring Aug. 5, 2027.

• Joe O'Brien of Simpsonville is an owner, breeder and exhibitor of American Saddlebreds and the founder of O'Brien Automotive Team.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Christopher Jones, Oliver Barber and Theresa Connolly to the Waterfront Development Corporation Board of Directors to serve for terms expiring July 31, 2030.

• Christopher Jones of Louisville is a partner with Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP.
• Oliver Barber of Louisville is an attorney with BBA Law Offices.
• Theresa Connolly of Louisville is a self-employed education consultant.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Jeremy Winton to the Kentucky Film Leadership Council.

• Jeremy Winton of Louisville is a managing partner at Winton and Hiestand Law Group. He will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2030.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Keith Patrick as Commissioner for the Third District of Johnson County.

• Keith Patrick of Flat Gap is an assistant principal at W.R. Castle Elementary School. He replaces Tim Salyer, who has resigned.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Audria Denker and Alisha Clemons to the Kentucky Board of Nursing to serve for terms expiring June 30, 2030.

• Audria Denker of Louisville is the chief clinical, integration and experience officer at the Galen College of Nursing.
• Alisha Clemons of Lexington is a nurse practitioner with Foster Medical.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed John Hunt, Cecil Watkins, Michael Jansen and William Coyle to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council to serve for terms expiring July 1, 2030.

• John Hunt of Prestonsburg is the sheriff of Floyd County.
• Cecil Watkins of Morehead is the county attorney for Rowan County.
• Michael Jansen of Fort Thomas is the sheriff of Campbell County.
• William Coyle of Berea is the sheriff of Madison County.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Shana Goggins to the Kentucky Heritage Council. The Governor has reappointed Tom Eblen.

• Shana Goggins of Richmond is a federal grants navigator for the Black Appalachian Coalition. She replaces Kara Mackey, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Aug. 11, 2030.
• Tom Eblen of Lexington is retired. He will serve for a term expiring Aug. 6, 2030.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Tim Short, Delbert Farmer and Ronald Jackson to the Motor Vehicle Commission to serve for terms expiring July 1, 2029.

• Tim Short IV of Lexington is an automobile dealer at the Tim Short Auto Group.
• Delbert Farmer of Louisville is an automobile dealer at Oxmoor Auto Group.
• Ronald Jackson of Frankfort is retired.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Joseph Schulte and Jack Dulworth as members of the Kentucky Workers' Compensation Nominating Committee to serve for terms expiring June 13, 2030.

• Joseph Schulte of Covington is an attorney with Joseph M Schulte & Associates.
• Jack Dulworth of Louisville is a partner at the Dulworth Group.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Robert Shelton, James Burke and Denise Isaac to the Kentucky Apprenticeship Council. The Governor has reappointed Michael Gupton and Robert Akin. All will serve for terms expiring Aug. 11, 2030.

• Robert Shelton of Mount Washington is a training director with Louisville Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. He replaces Robert Willinghurst, whose term has expired.
• James Burke of Louisville is a pipefitter coordinator with the UA Local 502 Joint Apprenticeship Training Center. He replaces Charles Graham, whose term has expired.
• Denise Issac of Hi Hat is the employer engagement manager with Shaping Our Appalachian Region. She replaces Robert Walker, whose term has expired.
• Michael Gupton of Louisville is the CEO of Kentucky Dataseam Initiative Inc.
• Robert Akin of Greensburg is the director of Kentucky Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Robert Rowland to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services to serve for a term expiring Aug. 2, 2030. The Governor has reappointed John Holder, Ronald Crafton, Keith Smith, Tim Webster, Christopher Lokits, Kevin Cotton and Beth Spurlin to serve for terms expiring July 14, 2030.

• Robert Rowland of Owensboro is a program manager for the Air Evac Lifeteam. He replaces David Webb, whose term has expired.
• John Holder of Auburn is the owner and vice president of operations at Com-Care Incorporated.
• Dr. Ronald Crafton of Mt. Washington is an emergency medicine physician with Baptist Health Medical Group.
• Keith Smith of Buckner is the system EMS director for Baptist Health.
• Tim Webster of California is a fire captain and EMT with the City of Florence Fire/EMS Department.
• Christopher Lokits of Smithfield is a paramedic with Louisville Metro EMS.
• Kevin Cotton of Madisonville is the mayor of Madisonville.
• Dr. Beth Spurlin of Taylorsville is pediatric emergency medicine physician with Norton Children's Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Amy Deer and Christion House to the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors to serve for terms expiring Aug. 2, 2029.

• Amy Deer of Lancaster is a home inspector with United Home Inspection Group.
• Christion House of Lexington is a home inspector with H2H Inspectors.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Audrey Ernstberger and Joey Harris to the Center for Pollution Prevention Board of Directors to serve for terms expiring Aug. 2, 2029.

• Audrey Ernstberger of Louisville is an attorney and legislative agent with the Kentucky Resources Council. She replaces Stevn Dale, whose term has expired.
• George "Joey" Harris of Danville is the CEO of Denyo Manufacturing Corporation. He replaces Lee Lingo, whose term has expired.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Dr. Jacqueline Sugarman to the Kentucky Multidisciplinary Commission on Child Sexual Abuse to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

• Dr. Jacqueline Sugarman of Lexington is the statewide medical director for the Children's Advocacy Centers of Kentucky and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Gov. Beshear has appointed William St. Pierre and Darlene Franklin-Campbell to the Native American Heritage Commission. The Governor has reappointed David Pollack and Marcie Venter.

• William St. Pierre of Villa Hills is the retired director of academic campuses and programs at Eastern Kentucky University. He replaces Bridget Truex, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Aug. 11, 2030.
• Darlene Franklin-Campbell of Columbia is an author and artist. She replaces Michael Dunn, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Aug. 11, 2030.
• David Pollack of Lexington is an archaeologist at the University of Kentucky. He will serve for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2029.
• Marcie Venter of Murray is a professor at Murray State University. She will serve for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2027.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Kelly Knoop and Shelley Ann Lane to the KATS Network Advisory Council. The Governor has reappointed Geraldine Gordon-Brown, Joe Cowan, Nancy Perry and Brett Bachmann.

• Kelly Knoop of Louisville is a founding member of the Kentucky State Self Advocates for Freedom. She replaces Sherry Pickett, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term, which expires Dec. 12, 2028.
• Shelley Ann Lane of Taylor Mill is an active community volunteer with the Easter Seals and Kingdom Inclusion. She replaces Samanthia Farthing, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term, which expires March 31, 2028.
• Geraldine Gordon-Brown of Louisville is retired. She will serve for a term expiring March 31, 2028.
• Joe Cowan of Monticello is a retired disability coordinator for Somerset Community College. He will serve for a term expiring March 31, 2029.
• Nancy Perry of Franklin is an American Sign Language teacher and tutor. She will serve for a term expiring March 31, 2029.
• Brett Bachmann of Louisville is the CEO of Heuser Hearing Institute. He will serve for a term expiring July 11, 2029.

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