Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Anne Hennessey, Shawn Holmes, Loraine Jensen, Steve Kuntz, Robbie Reedy, and Ordean Rosaasen, and the reappointment of Anne Barnwell, Roberta Blomster, Brian Gustafson, Tom Holtgrewe, Derek Nord, Linda Obright, Jeff Pearson, Connie Roy, Stacey Vogele, and Susan Wehrenberg to the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Barnwell, of Minneapolis, works with People Incorporated where she specializes in providing services to people with epilepsy. She is reappointed as a consumer member to fulfill a three-year term that ends January 5, 2009.

Blomster, of Vadnais Heights, is actively involved in the Special Olympics, including being honored as 1998 Special Olympics Minnesota Female Athlete of the Year. She is reappointed to a position for a self-advocate to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010.

Gustafson, of Minneapolis, is a senior director of portfolio management for Carlson Investment Group. He earned his masters of business administration degree from the University of Minnesota in 1993. Gustafson is reappointed to a position for an immediate relative of an adult with developmental disabilities and will serve a three-year term that ends January 3, 2011.

Hennessey, of Little Canada, has worked in the early childhood field for over 26 years and currently is the program development director at Family Academy Charter School. She is appointed as a parent member to a three-year term that expires January 3, 2011. Hennessey replaces Virginia Smith on the council.

Holmes, of Lino Lakes, is an early childhood intervention planner in the Minnesota Children with Special Needs section of the Minnesota Department of Health. She works collaboratively with the Minnesota Departments of Health, Human Services and local committees to identify children with special needs and provide coordinated services. She is appointed as the representative from the Minnesota Department of Health to a three-year term that expires January 3, 2011. She replaces Sarah Thorson on the council.

Holtgrewe, of Moorhead, is a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner. He received his bachelor of arts degree in accounting from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Holtgrewe is appointed as a parent member to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010. He replaces Kathryn Jacobson on the council.

Jensen, of St. Paul, is a licensed teacher and the manager of the home and community living services, disabilities division, of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She is a 2001 Bush Leadership Fellow and holds a masters degree in public affairs and non-profit management from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Jensen is appointed as the representative of the Minnesota Department of Human Services to a three-year term that expires January 3, 2011. She replaces Peg Booth on the council.

Kuntz, of St. Paul, is a recruiter for the State of Minnesota and has over 20 years of experience in assisting public and private employers in meeting their employment needs. He is appointed as the representative of the Minnesota Department of Economic Development to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 5, 2009. He replaces Jerry Wood on the council.

Nord, of Minneapolis, is a graduate research assistant at the Institute for Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. He also serves as an employment specialist for the Consumer Directed Community Supports Waiver program which is administered through the State of Minnesota. He is reappointed as a public member to a three-year term that expires January 3, 2011.

Obright, of Minneapolis, is an office assistant for Fidelity Bank and an advocate for people with disabilities. She is reappointed as a self-advocate member to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010.

Pearson, of Plymouth, is the regional vice president for First Student, Inc., a company that provides transportation bus service to the metro area. He is reappointed as a parent of a child with developmental disabilities member to a three-year term that expires January 3, 2011.

Reedy, of Duluth, is a graduate of Partners in Policy Making. He is appointed as a self-advocate member to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010. Reedy replaces Nina Mae Moss on the council.

Rosaasen, of Willmar, is appointed as a self-advocate member to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010. He replaces Jeff Skwarek on the council.

Roy, of Cloquet, is a graduate of Partners in Policy Making. She serves as a member of the Northern Light Interagency Council and the Minnesota Disability Law Center Advisory Committee. Roy is reappointed as a parent of a child with developmental disabilities to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010.

Vogele, of Cottage Grove, is a staff attorney for the Minnesota Justice Foundation in Minneapolis. She is appointed to a position for a parent of a child with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 4, 2010.

Wehrenberg, of Center City, is the program director for the Chisago Lakes Achievement Center. She is reappointed to a position for a representative of private non-profit organizations and will serve a term which ends January 4, 2010.

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (MGCDD) assists persons with developmental disabilities to achieve increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion into the community. The MGCDD is made up of 21 members appointed by the Governor.