Branstad announces administrative appointments

February 5, 2015

This week, Gov. Terry Branstad announced appointments for several vacant positions impacting ABI members. All of the appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. Joe Cortese is appointee for Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. Cortese practices workers’ compensation law at the West Des Moines law firm of Huber, Book, Cortese & Lanz. Cortese will begin his position on Feb. 16. Click here for the full press release. Beth Townsend, former Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, is Branstad’s appointee for Iowa Workforce Development Director. Townsend has been serving as acting director of the department since Jan. 11. Click here for the full press release. Finally, Roxann Ryan is the appointee for the Department of Public Safety Commissioner. She has been serving as the acting commissioner since Jan. 9. Click here for the full press release.