HUNT APPOINTS LATTIMORE CHAIR OF INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

RALEIGH – Gov. Jim Hunt today named Buck Lattimore, a native of Cleveland County, Chair of the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

"Buck brings strong leadership to this position," said Hunt. "His hands-on experience as an administrator will help the state to more effectively and efficiently serve our people. I am confident that his management will lead this agency to new heights. I will want the Commission to decide cases more promptly so that all parties are treated fairly and get a swift decision."

The Industrial Commission administers the Workers' Compensation Act for all employees and employers in the state to protect workers and employers against loss due to work-related injury or disease. The Industrial Commission also has jurisdiction over tort claims against the state and claims by families of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and rescue squad workers.

With more than 25 years of management experience in business and government, Lattimore has served as the Industrial Commission's Administrator since 1994, where he was the agency's chief operating officer—responsible for managing a $7 million budget, overseeing nearly 140 employees and coordinating the Commission's legislative agenda.

Prior to joining the Industrial Commission, Lattimore served as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance and also served as Assistant Chief for Operations for the Certificate of Need Program in the Department of Human Resources.

A graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Lattimore has served in the Army National Guard and as Chairman of the Charlotte CrimeStoppers Board and he currently serves on the Wofford College National Alumni Council.

In addition to Lattimore, whose term will expire June 2006, Hunt also made the following appointments/reappointments:

• Bernadine Ballance to a term expiring June 2006;

• Laura Mavretic to a term expiring April 2005;

• Dianne Sellers to a term expiring April 2001.

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