Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Debra Jacoway, Kevin Lindsey, Maryland (Lucky) Rosenbloom, and Vernell Williams to the Council on Black Minnesotans.

Debra Jacoway, of Minneapolis, is a Senior Planning Analyst for the Hennepin County Human Services Department. She previously served as Program Director at the Employment Action Center, and as Workshop Facilitator at Resource, Inc. Jacoway received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and a M.B.A. in Urban Development and Theological Studies from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology. She is appointed to the Council for a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Jacoway replaces Valerie Geaither on the Council.

Kevin Lindsey, of St. Paul, is the CEO of Axis, Inc. Prior to being named CEO, he served as Axis' General Counsel. Before joining Axis in 1999, Lindsey was a partner at the Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP law firm. He currently serves as a Commissioner of the St. Paul Public Housing Agency. Lindsey also serves as a member of the St. Paul Public School Citizen's Budget and Finance Advisory Committee. He received a B.S. and a J.D. from the University of Iowa. Lindsey is appointed to a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. He joined the Council in 2002. Lindsey currently serves as the Council's chair.

Maryland (Lucky) Rosenbloom, of St. Paul, is a Social Studies Teacher at the High School for the Recording Arts, a charter school in St. Paul. His career has included work for the Minneapolis Urban League, Stillwater State Prison, the Minneapolis Park Police, the YWCA, Ecolab, and as a paralegal. Rosenbloom also hosts a weekly radio show and serves as a columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He received a B.A. in Human Services and Counseling Psychology from Metro State University in St. Paul. Rosenbloom is appointed to a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. He replaces Taye Reta on the Council.

Vernell Williams, of Vadnais Heights, owns and operates the Vernell Williams American Family Insurance Agency. She previously served as a claims analyst and field examiner in the insurance industry. Williams previously served as Senior Pastor of Grace Resurrection Ministries in Minneapolis. She has also served as a youth worker, bible teacher, mentor, and member of the prison ministry team. Williams received a B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is appointed to a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Williams replaces Yvonne Wells-Ellis on the Council.

The Council on Black Minnesotans advises the Governor and Legislature on issues of particular importance to black Minnesotans. The Council is made up of 17 members, including 13 appointed by the Governor.