COLUMBUS (Dec. 21, 2001) — Governor Bob Taft today announced appointments to the newly created Governor’s Minority Business Council. The Governor’s Minority Business Council consists of 18 to 22 members, appointed by the Governor, who will advise the administration on matters of concern to minority businesses, including issues affected by administrative rules, regulations and programs. The first meeting of the council will be held on January 8, 2002. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and are not compensated. The Governor’s director of minority affairs and economic opportunity will serve as chairman of the council. The other council members will include: the deputy director of the Ohio Department of Development Minority Business Division; the deputy director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services Equal Opportunity Division; a member from each of Ohio’s three African American Chambers of Commerce; a member representing an Ohio-based Hispanic Chamber of Commerce or statewide business association; a member from the Asian American Business Council; two members of the National Minority Supplier Development Council; a member of the Ohio State Bar Association; representative of the Ohio Bankers Association; representative of the academic research community on minority affairs from a statewide university; the Urban League; the NAACP; two members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus; a member representing the Minority Business and Contractors Assistance Program; two minority business owners; a representative of the statewide Native American Indian business association or council; and a member representing a statewide women’s business advocacy association or council. Leonard Hubert, from Granville, director of minority affairs and economic opportunity, Governor’s Office. James Manuel, from Columbus, deputy director, Ohio Department of Development Minority Business Division. Wiley Clodfelder, from Columbus, deputy director, Ohio Department of Administrative Services Equal Opportunity Division. Karen Ashford, from Toledo, chief executive officer, N.W. Ohio Black Chamber of Commerce. DeAsa Nichols, from Cincinnati, executive director of The Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. Angel A. Guzman, from Cleveland, chief executive officer of Ohio Chamber of Commerce, representing the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Suguneswaran S. Suguness, P.E., from Columbus, owner and vice president of Prime Engineering and Architecture, Inc., representing the Asian American Business Association. Stephanie McHenry-Lucky, from Cleveland, executive director of Northern Ohio Minority Business Council, representing the statewide affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Cathy Mock, from Columbus, owner of The Ink Well #109, representing the statewide affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Michael E. Flowers, from Columbus, attorney at Bricker & Eckler, LLP representing the Ohio State Bar Association. Alorian Honeywood, from Columbus, fraud investigator for Fifth Third Bank and president of Urban Bankers Association, representing the Ohio Bankers Association. Noah Midamba, from Kent, professor at Kent State University, Northeast Ohio Public Universities Diversity Network, representing the academic research community on minority affairs from a statewide university. Willie Walker, from Dayton, president of the Dayton Urban League, representing the Ohio Council of Urban Leagues. WilliAnn Moore, from Toledo, president of the Toledo Chapter of the NAACP, representing the Ohio branch of the NAACP. Honorable C.J. Prentiss, from Cleveland, state Senator from the 21st District of Ohio, representing the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. Kim Knights, from Columbus, director of the Minority Contractors Business Assistance Program. Stampp Corbin, from Columbus, president and chief executive officer of Resource One of Columbus, representing minority business owners. Norman Bliss, from Cleveland, president/founder of Polytech, Inc., representing minority business owners. Marti Stouffer-Heis, from Cincinnati, owner/chief executive officer of MS Construction Consultants, Inc., representing the statewide Native American Indian business association or council. Victoria A. Green, from Westerville, owner of Green Insurance Agency, representing a statewide women’s business advocacy association or council.