Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Scott Dehn, Steven Ditschler, Kristin Flaten, Anne Geoghegan, Lois Johnson, Candy Kriska, Michele Kyler, Gloria Lafriniere, William Negaard, Thant Pearson, and Jayne Spain to the State Rehabilitation Council.

Scott Dehn, of New Hope, is an Assistant Corporate Accountant for the Saint Paul Companies, in St. Paul. He is a certified public accountant. Dehn is reappointed to a Council position for a representative of business, industry or labor and will serve the remainder of a three-year term ending January 2, 2006. This is his second term on the Council.

Steven Ditschler, of Eagan, is President and CEO of ProAct, Inc., a private, non-profit organization serving persons with disabilities. Ditschler is appointed to the Council position for a representative of community rehabilitation program providers and will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. He replaces David Leiseth on the Council.

Kristin Flaten, of St. Paul, is an advocate for persons with mental illness and current Chairperson of the State Advisory Council on Mental Health. Flaten is reappointed to a Council position for a current or former recipient of vocational rehabilitation services and will serve the remainder of a three-year term ending January 2, 2006. This is her second term on the Council.

Anne Geoghegan, of Roseville, is Business and Referral Development Referral Specialist at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute in Minneapolis. She is also a member of the Autism Society of Minnesota. A current member of the Council, Geoghegan will now replace Yvonne Brown as the Council member who is a representative of a disability advocacy group. She will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. This is her second term on the Council.

Lois Johnson, of Windom, is the Chairperson of Minnesota's Statewide Independent Living Council. She is reappointed to the Council position for a representative of the Statewide Independent Living Council and will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. This is Johnson's second term on the State Rehabilitation Council.

Candy Kriska, of Owatonna, is a Job Placement Specialist for Peterson Rehabilitation Services in Rochester. She is appointed to a Council position for a current or former recipient of vocational rehabilitation services and will serve the remainder of a three-year term ending January 2, 2006. Kriska replaces Sarah Simmons on the Council.

Michele Kyler, of Crookston, is an advocate for persons with disabilities and a current member of the Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. She is reappointed to a Council position for a current or former recipient of vocational rehabilitation services and will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. This is her second term on the Council.

Gloria LaFriniere, of Bagley, is the Director of White Earth Reservation Vocational Rehabilitation Services, which is a Section 121 project. She is reappointed to the Council position for a representative of American Indian vocational rehabilitation projects and will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. This is her second term on the Council.

William Negaard, of Vernon Center, is the owner of a catering business and a past member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council. He is appointed to a Council position for a representative of business, industry, or labor and will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. Negaard replaces Anne Geoghegan in that Council position.

Thant Pearson, of Blaine, is a Rehabilitation Counselor (Career) at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. He is reappointed as the Council member who is a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor and will serve a three-year term ending January 1, 2007. This is his second term on the Council.

Jayne Spain, of Maple Grove, is a Transition Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education. She is reappointed as the Council member who is a representative of the state special education agency (the Department of Education) and will serve the remainder of a three-year term ending January 2, 2006. This is her second term on the Council.

The State Rehabilitation Council advises state government on the performance of Minnesota's vocational rehabilitation programs. The Council consists of nineteen members appointed by the Governor.