Bryan Names Leaders Of Assessment Teams, Heads Of Inaugural Committees

Governor-elect Albert Bryan on Tuesday named the persons who will lead ten assessment teams organized by the incoming administration in an effort to get a clear understanding of the current state of the government.

The ten assessment teams, announced last week during Mr. Bryan’s first post-victory press conference, include members of the community strategically placed on teams where their skills are most viable, according to Mr. Bryan.

The leaders of the teams, and the areas of government they will lead the assessment into, are as follows:

Education & Workforce Development

Shawna Richards

Justice & Public Safety

Kye Walker, Esq

Marise James, Esq.

Financial Affairs & Taxation

Nathan Simmonds

Health & Human Services

Donna Christian Christensen, MD

Economic Development

Ava Penn

Economic Regulation

Hubert Lorenzo Frederick

Government Personnel & Operations

Kevin Rodriquez

Energy, Environment, & Infrastructure

Susan Penn

Housing, Sports & Recreation

Claudia Charles

Hurricane Recovery

Anise Hodge

Once the assessments are completed, Mr. Bryan said his administration will be better prepared to take on the challenges of government on day one. “Tregenza and I are looking to our transition assessment teams to conduct forensic studies on the present functions of government by interviewing department heads and reviewing operational procedures and relevant documents. Their assessment reports will provide our administration with immediate action items,” he said.

During the Nov. 28 press conference, Mr. Bryan announced the following individuals as leaders of his transition team: Karl Knight, a former policy advisor to Governor John P. de Jongh, was named co-chair. Mr. Knight was also a director of the U.S.V.I.’s Energy Office, and most recently director of modernization and development at the Virgin Islands Housing Authority. Dayna Clendinen, an assistant commissioner at the Department of Public Works with a background in organizational change management, was announced as a co-chair as well. And Richard Motta, current district press secretary for Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, was announced as the transition team’s press secretary.

Today, Mr. Bryan also named Eugenie Williams, Clemmie Moses and Tara Lewis McFarlane as chairpersons of the district inaugural committees. Mr. Williams will serve as the St. Croix District Chair, Ms. Moses as the St. John District Chair, and Ms. McFarlane as the St. Thomas District Chair. Yolanda Cabodevilla Bryan, wife of Governor-elect Bryan, will serve as the honorary chair of the Inaugural Committee, according to the release.