Fallin Announces Appointments To Three Groups

Governor Fallin today announced appointments to the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission, the Oklahoma Accountancy Board and the Organ Donor Education and Awareness Program Advisory Council.  The nominees have been confirmed by the Oklahoma State Senate.

“These nominees have proven themselves as leaders in their respective fields,” Fallin said. “I know they will serve the state and citizens of Oklahoma well.”

ABLE Commission

Bryan Close of Tulsa has been reappointed to the ABLE Commission. He has served on the commission since 1994.

Close serves as president of CloseBend, a pipe fitting company. He also has experience managing restaurants and is a member of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association.

He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Close will serve a seven-year term.

Harry Kouri III of Oklahoma City has been reappointed to the ABLE Commission. He has served on the commission since 2006 and is the current chairman. Kouri is managing attorney at the law firm of Musser, Kouri, Bentwood and Grant.  He is a member of the Oklahoma County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Kouri is a graduate of the University of Kansas and earned a law degree from Oklahoma City University.  He will serve a seven-year term.

Oklahoma Accountancy Board

Jay Engelbach of Oklahoma City has been reappointed to the Oklahoma Accountancy Board.  He previously served on the board from 2002-2007.  He is a CPA and managing partner at the accounting firm Engelbach Roberts and Company. Engelbach served in the U.S. Air Force with the Auditor General’s Office and received an honorable discharge as a captain. He is a member and former president of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants.  He also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He graduated from Oklahoma State University. Engelbach is serving a five-year term and is serving as a CPA member.  He is replacing Kim Wyatt Shoemake.

Elbert B. “E.B.” St. John of Tulsa is a CPA and serves as tax manager at United Benefits Technologies. He is a member of the National Society of Accountants and the National Association of Enrolled Agents.  St. John served as an Internal Revenue Service case manager for 28 years. He has been on the Oklahoma Accountancy Board for 10 years. St. John earned his degree from Oklahoma City University. He is being reappointed for a five-year term and serves as a Public Accountant member.

Karen Cunningham of Oklahoma City is the president of Oklahoma Financial Center, Inc., a financial planning company.  She is licensed as a chartered financial consultant.

Cunningham earned her degree from the University of Oklahoma. She will serve a four-year term as a lay member.  She replaces Tom Volturo.   

Elmer Maddux, Organ Donor Education and Awareness Program Advisory Council

Elmer Maddux of Mooreland has been reappointed to the Organ Donor Education and Awareness Program Advisory Council.  Maddux owns and operates a wheat and cattle ranch and is a board member of the Woodward County Conservation District and the Woodward County Rural Water District. He served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for 16 years and as Woodward County Commissioner for two years. He will serve a four-year term.

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