November 15, 2011
Gov. Nixon makes board and commission appointments
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Jay Nixon today announced his appointments to five boards and commissions. The appointees, who will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate, are listed below, along with their boards and hometowns.
- Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees (Ronald J. Levy - St. Louis; Linda S. Luebbering - Jefferson City)
- Missouri Fire Safety Education/Advisory Board (Michael P. Marlo - Wentzville)
- Missouri Housing Development Commission (David B. Cosgrove - Webster Groves)
- Missouri State University Board of Governors (Stephen Bough - Kansas City)
- Missouri Task Force on Prematurity and Infant Mortality (Christine Grace - Columbia; Mary E. Grimes - St. Louis)
Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees
The Governor has appointed Ronald J. Levy, of St. Louis, and Linda S. Luebbering, of Jefferson City, to the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees. The board is responsible for the general administration and operation of the plan covering medical expenses of state employees, retirees, their families and survivors.
Levy is executive in residence at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health; before that, he served as director of the Missouri Department of Social Services from early 2009 to July 2011. Levy previously was president and chief executive officer of SSM Health Care - St. Louis. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Dec. 31, 2016.
Luebbering has served as the State Budget Director for the Office of Administration since January 2009, a position she also held from 2001 to 2004. From 2004 to 2009, she was financial director for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The Governor has appointed her for a term ending Dec. 31, 2016.
Missouri Fire Safety Education Commission
The Governor has appointed Michael P. Marlo, of Wentzville, to the Missouri Fire Safety Education/Advisory Commission. The Missouri Fire Education Commission works to provide continuing education to fire service throughout Missouri.
Marlo is the fire chief of the West Overland EMS and Fire Protection Department, and has 35 years experience with that department. He is a member of the Missouri Region C Incident Support Team and of the St. Louis County Local Emergency Planning Committee. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending April 26, 2012.
Missouri Housing Development Commission
The Governor has appointed David B. Cosgrove (D), of Webster Groves, to the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The Missouri Housing Development Commission works to provide quality, safe, affordable housing for low and moderate income citizens of Missouri.
Cosgrove, an attorney, is the owner of Cosgrove Law LLC in St. Louis. He is the former Commissioner of Securities for the Missouri Secretary of State from 2005 to 2006, served as chief legal counsel for the Missouri Governor from 2003 to 2005, and was chief of the Consumer Protection Division in the Missouri Attorney General's Office from 2002 to 2003. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Oct. 13, 2013.
Missouri State University Board of Governors
The Governor has appointed Stephen Bough (D), of Kansas City, to the Missouri State University Board of Governors. The Missouri State University Board of Governors possesses full power and authority to adopt all needful rules and regulations for the guidance and supervision of the University.
Bough, a political science graduate of Missouri State University, operates a legal firm in Kansas City and has practiced law there since 1999. He obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Jan. 1, 2013.
Missouri Task Force on Prematurity and Infant Mortality
The Governor has appointed Christine Grace, of Columbia, and Mary E. Grimes, of St. Louis, to the Missouri Task Force on Prematurity and Infant Mortality. This task force was created by a bill signed into law by Gov. Nixon in 2011. The task force will seek evidence-based and cost-effective approaches to reduce Missouri's preterm birth and infant mortality rates. The task force shall also issue findings and propose to the appropriate public and private organizations goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics designed to reduce prematurity and infant mortality in Missouri, including recommendations on public policy for consideration during the next appropriate session of the general assembly. The task force will submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly with their findings by the end of 2013.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Grace serves as a professional development associate for Project REACH. She previously served as a testing assistant for St. Louis Children's Hospital-Psychology Department and was a teacher in the Infant/Toddler Classroom at St. Louis Children's Hospital-Child Development Center. The Governor appointed her for a term ending Jan. 1, 2015.
Grimes is the state director of the Missouri chapter of the March of Dimes, where she is accountable for the management of all chapter staff and coordination with volunteers within Missouri and southwestern Illinois. She previously served as the director of corporate marketing for BJC HealthCare in St. Louis. The Governor has appointed her for a term ending Jan. 1, 2015.