Gov.-elect Edwards announces cabinet, executive staff appointments

Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards announced several key cabinet appointments for his administration on Wednesday.
Gov.-elect Edwards announced the following positions:
Adjutant General, Louisiana National Guard – Major General Glenn Curtis
Superintendent, Louisiana State Police – Colonel Michael Edmonson
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs – Joey Strickland
Secretary, Department of Transportation and Development – Shawn Wilson
Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development – Don Pierson
Secretary, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries – Charlie Melancon
Commissioner, Office of Motor Vehicle – Karen St. Germain
Commissioner, Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control – Juana Marine-Lombard
“Louisiana faces significant challenges, but I have never been more optimistic about the future of our state,” said Gov.-elect Edwards. “We’re assembling the best team possible that is well-positioned to tackle these challenges from day one. I am honored to serve alongside each of these individuals and look forward to working with them as we begin a new day in the State of Louisiana.”
In addition to announcing these appointments, Gov.-elect Edwards also announced more appointments to the Executive Staff of the Governor. The staff announcements include:
Executive Counsel – Matthew Block
Special Counsel – Erin Monroe Wesley
Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications, Legal, Special Projects – Julie Baxter Payer
Deputy Chief of Staff, Intergovernmental Affairs – Toye Taylor
Deputy Chief of Staff, Programming and Planning – Johnny G. Anderson
“Louisiana’s brightest days are ahead. Each of these individuals is uniquely qualified to help move our state forward,” Gov.-elect Edwards continued. “From economic development and jobs, to access to healthcare, to ensuring we’re educating our young adults for the future, our staff will be ready to get to work for the people of this state, and I could not be more honored to have them join in this effort.”
BACKGROUND
Cabinet Appointees:
Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis is a graduate of Buckeye High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business from Louisiana State University and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard in March 1982. General Curtis’ military education includes the NBC Defense Officer/NCO Course, Engineer Officer Basic Course, Defense Hazardous Materials Handling Curse, Unit Movement Officer Course, Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Combine Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Officer Course, and the U.S. Army War College. General Curtis resides in Alexandria, Louisiana. He is married to the former Jill Juneau and is the father of three children: Meagan, Nicholas, and Jacob.
Retired Col. Joey Strickland, a native of Tallulah, is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army, having served two combat tours in Vietnam. He previously served as the Director of Louisiana Troops to Teachers, Director of Veterans Affairs under Governor Mike Foster, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs under Governor Kathleen Blanco. For five years, he led the Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs. Col. Strickland currently resides in Walker with his wife Leila. Together, they have three sons, all having served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and twin daughters.
Col. Mike Edmonson has served as the Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police since 2008. He has served as a Louisiana State Trooper for over 35 years. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University, FBI National Academy, FBI National Executive Institute, Naval Post Graduate School and Jewish Institute for National Security. He had the privilege of serving his alma mater for 26 years as Head of Security for the LSU football team and every head coach from Coach Stovall to Coach Miles.
Shawn Wilson is a native of New Orleans. He earned a B.A. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Louisiana, where he served as Student Government President and Member of the University of Louisiana System Board. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree and recently earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy at Southern University PhD program. Shawn is the former Executive Director of the Louisiana Serve Commission and Deputy Legislative Director in the Blanco Administration with transportation policy responsibilities. Shawn currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Transportation and Development and has served in this capacity under the three previous Secretaries and two governors over the past 10 years. Shawn and his wife Rocki reside in Lafayette; together they have two children, Shawn Denise (21) and Joshua Bakari (13). The Wilson family are members of the Progressive Baptist Church.
Don Pierson, originally from Shreveport-Bossier, is the Senior Director of Business Development for Louisiana Economic Development. He has served as Assistant Secretary and Chief Marketing Officer for LA Economic Development (LED) since January 2005. He has over 27 years of economic development experience and is a certified economic development professional. Before coming to LED, Pierson served for 17 years in the Shreveport/Bossier community as Executive Director of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Pierson served as an Airborne and Ranger qualified Infantry Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division for five years. He is married to Kay Spearman Pierson and has two adult children, Jerry and Rachel.
Charlie Melancon is a native of Napoleonville and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2006-2011. He holds a B.S. in Agriculture Business for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In Congress, Rep. Melancon served on the Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Science, and Budget Committees. He played a major role in coordinating the private and intergovernmental responses for disaster recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Prior to his Congressional term, Charlie was President and General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League of the U.S.A, Inc. and, from 1987-1993, a Louisiana State Representative from District 60. In 1973, at the age of 25, Charlie was appointed Executive Director of the South Central Planning and Development Commission in Thibodaux. Charlie and his wife Peachy reside in Baton Rouge, and have two adult children.
Karen St. Germain was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2003, and has served her constituents in District 60 for the past 12 years. Representative St. Germain serves as the Chairwoman for the House Transportation, Highways, and Public Works Committee. She is also a member of the House Executive Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and the Joint Committee on Homeland Security. In addition, Representative St. Germain serves as a member of the Acadiana Delegation, The Capital Regional Legislative Delegation, the Democratic Caucus, and the Louisiana Rural Caucus. She is also Chairwoman of the Atchafalaya Basin Subcommittee, as well as of the Louisiana Women's Caucus. She was also appointed to the Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Commission in 2012 by Governor Jindal. Representative St. Germain is married to Kenneth St. Germain. Together, they have three sons, and reside in Pierre Part.
Juana Marine-Lombard is an attorney and graduate Loyola University New Orleans Law School currently serving as Criminal Magistrate Commissioner for the Parish of Orleans. She formerly served four years on the City of New Orleans Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and served as both Vice Chair and Chair of the board. Juana is married to Darren Lombard, Clerk of Court Second City Court, Algiers. They have five children.
Executive Office Staff:
Matthew Block is an attorney from Thibodaux, Louisiana and has been in private practice there for 17 years. He has extensive experience in commercial and governmental litigation and also been a mediator for the last three years. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Tulane Law School. Matthew is married to Dr. Elizabeth Block and, together, they have three children.
Erin Monroe Wesley was born and raised in Shreveport, LA. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in internal auditing from LSU and a Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization. Prior to this role, Erin served as BRAC’s senior vice president of governmental affairs. Prior to joining BRAC, Erin served as the Executive Counsel for the Office of Lieutenant Governor Mitchell J. Landrieu, Associate Executive Counsel for Governor Kathleen Blanco, and as a staff attorney for the Louisiana State Senate. Erin is married to Mitch Wesley and has two children.
Julie Baxter Payer has a background in both media and the law, having served most recently as Senior Communications Advisor for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office and previously as Senate Counsel for the Senate Committee on Judiciary A. Julie spent 14 years working as a journalist in radio and television news, covering the State Capitol. In 2005, after earning her law degree from the LSU Law Center, Julie practiced law with two private law firms before joining the Louisiana Senate as staff counsel. Julie is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Governors and House of Delegates. Julie and her husband Rob Payer reside in Baton Rouge.
Toye Taylor is a native of Bogalusa. He has held numerous elected positions, including service on the Bogalusa City Council, Mayor of the City of Bogalusa, and Washington Parish President. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Municipal Affairs at the Louisiana Municipal Association. From 2008-2012, he served as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Office of the Governor. He is married to Susan Taylor, a retired teacher, and has five children and 8 grandchildren.
Johnny G. Anderson previously served as Special Assistant to Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, Assistant Chief of Staff to Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and as a member of the Southern University Board of Supervisors. Johnny also serves as Executive Administrator (CAO) at the Greater King David Baptist Church. Mr Anderson is a graduate of Eunice High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from Southern University.