Governor Kenneth Mapp announced Atty. Dawn L. Henry as his pick for Commissioner of the Department 0f Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) at a press conference held Monday at Government House on St. Thomas.
Henry and Mona Barnes’ nominations bring Mapp’s cabinet selections to 16, as the governor continues to fill important positions within his administration.
“Attorney Henry is a product of our public education system. I am truly honored to appoint her to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, there are a lot of issues to tackle in our balance to protect the environment and yet grow our economy through development,” Governor Mapp said.
The governor read some of Henry’s biography, revealing her extensive knowledge in various fields, including business and leadership.
Some of Henry’s skills include the ability to negotiate contracts and settlements, according to information provided by Government House.
Other skills include:
- Supervisory Skills
- Active Listener
- Extensive Writing Skills
- Public Speaking/Agency Representative
- Effective Conflict Resolution
For the past 10 years, Henry served three commissioners at DPNR as legal counsel to the Division of Environmental Protection. She assisted in developing workshops, internal training, public outreach and strategies to meet Department mandates. Henry also held “continuous discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assist with federal environmental compliance,” her biography said.
For Henry’s full biography, go here.
Barnes, a former gubernatorial candidate in the 2014 general elections, was announced as Mapp’s choice for director of VITEMA. The names of both nominees will be forwarded to the Senate to begin the approval process.
Jean-Pierre Oriol was serving as acting commissioner of DPNR.
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