Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Thomas Anderson, Michele Isham, Tom Lehman, and Jeri Werner to the Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.

Anderson, of Roseville, is an experienced real estate broker with RE/Max Opportunities. He is extensively involved in the deaf community through education, business and non-profit organizations and routinely conducts home selling seminars in American Sign Language. Anderson is appointed as an at-large member to a three-year term that expires January 2, 2012. He replaces Trudy Suggs on the commission.

Isham, of Sartell, has 16 years of experience with the Benton Stearns Education District. She currently works as a deaf and hard of hearing teacher. Isham is a member of the East Central Region Advisory Committee with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. She is appointed to the council as the east-central representative to a three-year term that expires January 3, 2012. Isham replaces Beth Schultz on the commission.

Lehman, of St. Paul, is the owner of Lehman Associates, a management consulting firm specializing in business planning, marketing, and product strategies for interactive technology services. He earned a bachelor of arts degree and masters of arts degree in urban geography and demography from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Lehman is appointed as an at-large member to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 4, 2010. He replaces Cuong Nguyen on the commission.

Werner, of Duluth, is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for rehabilitation services with the Department of Employment and Economic Development in Duluth. She is a member of the Northeast Regional Advisory Committee with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. Werner earned her bachelor of science degree in deafness rehabilitation services from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, and a master of arts degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Werner is appointed to fulfill a three-year term that expires January 3, 2011. She replaces Jack Bender on the commission.

The Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People serves as the principal state agency advocating on behalf of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans and working to ensure they have equal access to the services, programs, and opportunities available to others. The commission is made up of 15 members appointed by the Governor.