Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2026) - Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions:

Gov. Beshear has appointed Mike Opalek and Derrick Napier to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council.

• Derrick Napier of Frankfort is the Frankfort police chief. He replaces Tony Gray, who has retired, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Aug. 26, 2028.
• Mike Opalek of Dawson Springs is the Dawson Springs police chief. He replaces Michael "Spike" Jones, who has retired, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring July 1, 2027.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Marsha Woodall and Brent Hayden to the Board of Nursing.

• Marsha Woodall of Madisonville is the associate dean of health sciences at Madisonville Community College. She replaces Ruth Martin, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2030.
• Brent "Dusty" Hayden of Wingo is the regional director of clinical operations with ClearView Healthcare Management. He replaces Arthur Ryan, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring June 30, 2029.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Pam Darnall, Rickey Green and Joel Thornbury to the Advisory Council for Recovery Ready Communities to serve for terms expiring June 29, 2029.

• Pam Darnall of Shepherdsville is the former CEO of Family & Children's Place.
• Rickey Green of Jeffersontown is the owner of Action Shots Inc.
• Joel Thornbury of Pikeville is a pharmacist.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Tyra Walker, John Ward and Paula Garner to the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council to serve for terms expiring April 1, 2028.

• Tyra Walker of Louisville is a special education teacher with Jefferson County Public Schools.
• John Ward of Elizabethtown is the Hardin County Sheriff.
• Paula Garner of Simpsonville is the CEO of Maryhurst.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Kai'lee Robertson to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board.

• Kai'lee Robertson of Lexington is a youth advocate with One Lexington. She replaces Anna Sumrall, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring July 24, 2028.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Ashley Herrington to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services to serve for a term expiring Oct. 20, 2030.

• Ashley Herrington of Leitchfield is the CEO of Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center. She replaces Donovan Blackburn, whose term has expired.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Jonathan Goodman to the Kentucky Board for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.

• Jonathan Goodman of Bardstown is a radiation oncology clinic manager with the Norton Cancer Institute. He replaces Ryan Hamilton, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 31, 2030. His term will begin Nov. 1, 2026.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Deborah Atherton and Nellie Wright to the School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council. The Governor has reappointed Carrie Ballinger, Josh Trosper, Frank Hall and Alan Young.

• Deborah Atherton of Mount Washington is a retired educator and the co-founder of Abell & Atherton Educational Consulting. She replaces Martha Emmons, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 15, 2028.
• Nellie Wright of Grayson is an instruction supervisor with Carter County Public Schools. She replaces Jana Beth Francis, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 15, 2028.
• Carrie Ballinger of McKee is the superintendent of Rockcastle County Public Schools. She will serve for a term expiring Aug. 28, 2028.
• Josh Trosper of Heidrick is an assistant high school principal for Knox County Public Schools. He will serve for a term expiring Aug. 28, 2028.
• Frank Hall of Lexington is the owner of Facility Maintenance & Services Group. He will serve for a term expiring Oct. 9, 2028.
• Alan Young of Louisville is a teacher at Jefferson County Public Schools. He will serve for a term expiring Aug. 28, 2028.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Lynnsey Vandeventer and Cathy Allen to the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors to serve for terms expiring Oct. 15, 2030.

• Lynnsey Vandeventer of Danville is a licensed professional clinical counselor with Revive Ministries. She replaces Denise Hutchins, whose term has expired.
• Cathy Allen of Georgetown is a mental health counselor with Kentucky Services LLC. She replaces Charles Pemberton, whose term has expired.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed George Wright, Robbin Higgins, Joshua Hicks and David Best to the Governor's Advisory Board for Veterans' Affairs.

• George Wright of Louisville is a retired army officer and part-time public affairs consultant with Charles F. Day and Associates. He will serve for a term expiring May 21, 2029.
• Robbin Higgins of Villa Hills is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. She will serve for a term expiring May 21, 2029.
• Joshua Hicks of Lexington is an attorney with Hicks & Funfsinn PLLC. He will serve for a term expiring Sept. 25, 2029.
• David Best of Elizabethtown is a talent management lead with Humana. He will serve for a term expiring Sept. 25, 2029.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Joshua Wells-Hardy, Shawna Bourne and Vinay Nidadavolu to the Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care. The Governor has reappointed Sonia Compton. Their terms will begin Oct. 31, 2026.

• Joshua Wells-Hardy of Glasgow is a respiratory care coordinator with T.J. Regional Health. He replaces Scott Pettinichi, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 30, 2029.
• Shawna Bourne of Louisville is the director of respiratory therapy at Norton Hospital. She replaces Marlene McKinley, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 30, 2029.
• Vinay Nidadavolu of Louisville is a pulmonologist with PC3 health. He replaces Mohamed Saad, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 30, 2030.
• Sonia Compton of Louisville is a pulmonologist with Norton Pulmonary Associates. She will serve for a term expiring Oct. 30, 2027.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Kenneth Mansfield to the Historic Properties Advisory Commission. The Governor has reappointed Cathy Thomas and Samuel Devine.

• Kenneth Mansfield of Winchester is a state government employee. He replaces Kimberly Dudgeon, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Aug. 11, 2028.
• Cathy Thomas of Frankfort is retired. She will serve for a term expiring Aug. 11, 2030.
• Samuel Devine of Frankfort is retired. He will serve for a term expiring Aug. 11, 2030.

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