Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Susan Gensmer, Lyle Hoxtell, Tracy Lindemer, Alan R. Parnes, Rhonda Sivarajah, and Jason Valentine; and the reappointment of Monique Hammond, David Kyler, Tom Lehman, and Susan Rose to the Commission of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans.

Gensmer, of Stewartville, is an administrative assistant at Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester. She has a son who is deaf and has served on the Southeastern Minnesota Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services Advisory Committee. She also volunteers in a program for the developmentally disabled at her church. Gensmer replaces Amy Deneen on the commission as the southeast Minnesota representative and is appointed to complete a term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Hammond, of Minneapolis, is a registered pharmacist who has worked in a hospital setting and has been a pharmacology instructor at St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis. She holds a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Minnesota. She is a past president of the Twin Cities Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America. Hammond, who has been a member of the commission since 2006 and is a member of the Executive Committee, is reappointed to an at-large position to a term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Hoxtell, of Fergus Falls, is the coordinator on aging with Otter Tail County Public Health. He has a professional background as a Lutheran pastor and a chemical dependency counselor. Hoxtell holds a master’s degrees in divinity from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul and in guidance and counseling from North Dakota State University in Fargo. Among his many community activities, he is a member of the Northwest Minnesota Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Advisory Committee. Hoxtell replaces Toni Fairbanks on the commission as the northwest Minnesota representative and is appointed to complete a term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Kyler, of Crookston, holds a number of positions with Independence Plus, Inc. in Crookston. He has been a member of the regional services advisory committee for deaf and hard-of-hearing for over 10 years, and has taught sign language classes with Crookston Park and Recreation. Kyler, who has been a member of the commission since 2006, is reappointed as the upper northwest Minnesota representative to another term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Lehman, of St. Paul, owns a management consulting firm specializing in market research, business planning, and marketing strategy for internet and interactive technology services. He has 30 years of experience in technology and on-line services, which include management positions with Control Data Corporation and the William C. Norris Institute. Lehman earned his master of arts degree cum laude as well as his bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Lehman, who has been a member of the commission since 2008 and is himself hard-of-hearing, is reappointed to an at-large position to a term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Lindemer, of Lino Lakes, is an owner, and office manager of Lindey’s Prime Steak House in Arden Hills. Previously, she held positions as director of performance improvement, a nurse supervisor/nurse preceptor and a registered nurse with Caregivers Network in Minnetonka. Lindemer earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Montana State University in Bozeman. Lindemer, who has a hard-of-hearing child, replaces Liz McDevitt on the commission and is appointed as the metropolitan representative to complete a term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Parnes, of Maplewood, is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the deaf and hard-of-hearing with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and has 40 years of professional experience serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Parnes earned his master of arts degree in deafness rehabilitation from New York University and his bachelor of arts degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Parnes, who previously chaired the Minnesota Commission on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, replaces Patti Morelli Teachout on the commission and is appointed to an at-large position to a term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Rose, of St. Paul, is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology with the University of Minnesota, and has over 40 years of teaching experience at the collegiate and K-12 level. Rose earned her doctorate degree in the education of exceptional children from Ohio State University in Columbus, her master of science degree in the education of the deaf and mental retardation from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and her bachelor of science degree in speech pathology/audiology from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Rose, who has been a member of the commission since 2007, is reappointed to an at-large position to a term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Sivarajah, of Lino Lakes, has served as an elected member of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners since 2003. Previously, she was a program manager with the Anoka County Income Maintenance Department, where she worked for 12 years. Sivarajah earned her bachelor of arts degree from St. Cloud State University. She has a deaf child and is president of Northern Voices, an oral school for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Sivarajah replaces Elise Knopf on the commission and is appointed to an at-large position to a term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Valentine, of Minneapolis, is a counselor with the Minnesota Chemical Dependency Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals in Minneapolis. Valentine earned his master’s of social work degree with a concentration in maternal and child health leadership, developmental disabilities, and health care delivery systems, as well as his bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Valentine, who is deaf, replaces Kim Wassenaar on the commission and is appointed to an at-large position to a term that expires on January 2, 2012.

The Commission of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans is the principal agency of the state to advocate on behalf of Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing by working to ensure those persons have equal access to the services, program, and opportunities available to others. The commission consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor. Terms are three years.