North Carolina Industrial Commission

Photo of Governor Easley

Michael F. Easley
Governor

Pamela Thorpe Young
Chairman

About the Chair
  

Pamela Thorpe Young

Chair Pamela Thorpe Young

On September 26, 2007, Governor Michael F. Easley named Pamela Thorpe Young as Chair of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, effective October 1, 2007. He previously appointed her as a Commissioner of the Industrial Commission on May 1, 2003; and he named her as Vice Chair of the Industrial Commission on April 8, 2004.

As Chair, Young is the agency’s chief executive officer and chief judicial officer. She manages a $10 million budget, supervises 150 employees, and directs an agency responsible for the adjudication of workers’ compensation claims and tort claims against the state. The Commission currently processes more than 60,000 workers’ compensation claims annually, orders more than 9,600 mediations, conducts more than 1,800 hearings, handles 500 appeals, and processes tens of thousands of motions, orders, and form approvals. 

Before her 2003 appointment as a Commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission Young served as a Deputy Commissioner for the Industrial Commission from 1996 until 2002. Before joining the Industrial Commission, she served as Deputy Secretary and Legal Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980 and J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1985.

Chair Young’s previous work experience includes Assistant District Attorney and Assistant County Attorney in Travis County, Texas; Assistant General Counsel of the Texas Ethics Commission; Ethics Advisor and Counselor for Speaker James E. “Pete” Laney of the Texas House of Representatives; and Policy Analyst for the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, Texas State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association.

To e-mail Chair Young, click youngp@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.

About the Commissioners

Commissioner Bernadine S. Ballance

Bernadine S. Ballance is a native of Windsor, N.C. She was appointed Commissioner in September 1994 by Governor Jim Hunt after the General Assembly expanded the Commission from three members to seven. Effective August 1, 2000, she was reappointed by Governor Hunt to a term expiring in June 2006.

Commissioner Ballance's previous experience includes: Deputy Commissioner for the Industrial Commission from November 1993 through September 1994; attorney in private practice with Frank W. Ballance, Jr. & Associates, P.A., Louisburg, N.C.; attorney supervisor, N.C. Central University School of Law Civil Litigation Clinic, Durham, N.C. (part-time during 1990); staff attorney for one year and managing attorney for four years at North Carolina Central Legal Assistance Program, Henderson N.C. office from 1982 through 1987.

She earned a B.S. degree in elementary education from East Carolina University in 1968, an M.A. degree in guidance and counseling from North Carolina Central University in 1978, and a J.D. degree from the North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she graduated with honors in 1981. She was a public school teacher for approximately eight years prior to attending law school.

To e-mail Commissioner Ballance, click ballancb@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.


Bernadine S. Ballance

 


Buck Lattimore

Commissioner Buck Lattimore

Buck Lattimore, a native of Cleveland County, served as Chairman of the North Carolina Industrial Commission from August 1, 2000 until September 30, 2007. Effective October 1, 2007, Chairman Lattimore requested Governor Mike Easley to relieve him of his duties as Chairman. At the Governor's request, Lattimore continues to serve as a Commissioner of the Industrial Commission.

With more than 35 years of management experience in business and government, Lattimore served as the Industrial Commission’s Administrator from November 1994 until his appointment as Chairman. As Administrator, he was the agency’s chief operating officer.

Before joining the Industrial Commission, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance and Assistant Chief for Operations for the Certificate of Need Program in the N.C. Department of Human Resources.

In the early 1980’s, Buck Lattimore left state government to pursue a career in business. He became Vice President of George Shinn & Associates, where he helped the Charlotte sports magnate win the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise.

In 1989, Lattimore established a public relations and publishing firm, serving clients throughout the Carolinas. He is owner of Buck Lattimore Properties with investment real estate holdings in North and South Carolina.

He is one of the founders of North State Bank in Raleigh.

Commissioner Lattimore has been president of the Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade (the largest Thanksgiving Day event in the Southeast), and has served as Chairman of Charlotte CrimeStoppers Board.

He is a member of the Wofford College National Alumni Council, the Capitol City Club, and the North Carolina 4-H Alumni Association. He serves as Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Executives Club of Raleigh.

Buck Lattimore is a member of the Board of Directors of Kids’ Chance of North Carolina, a charitable organization that provides educational scholarships to the children of North Carolina workers who have been catastrophically or fatally injured in work place accidents covered under the workers’ compensation laws.

Commissioner Lattimore has shared his talents as an “amateur auctioneer” to raise funds for Kids’ Chance, his church and other charities.

He is a member of The Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) in Raleigh where he is an usher, a lector, and a member of the Vestry, the governing body of his Episcopal Parish. He is also a member of the Board of Visitors of Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Western North Carolina.

Lattimore earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, and was awarded the Wofford College Department of Government Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. He served internships in the United States Senate and North Carolina General Assembly. He is the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Commerce Degree from Fort Lauderdale University.

Commissioner Lattimore served his country in an Infantry Unit of the Army National Guard.

He has completed the approved 40-hour mediation training course and the six- hour course on North Carolina Court organization and procedure. He has been certified as a North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Superior Court Mediator.

Lattimore is a member of the Dispute Resolution Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

He is an avid collector of antique political campaign memorabilia, and enjoys reading, auctions, and time at the beach.

To contact Commissioner Lattimore, call him at (919) 807-2525 or e-mail him at  lattimob@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.

 

Commissioner Laura Kranifeld Mavretic

Governor Mike Easley reappointed Laura Kranifeld Mavretic as Commissioner on February 2, 2007. Governor Jim Hunt first appointed her as Commissioner in August of 1995, and reappointed her on August 1, 2000. Formerly, Commissioner Mavretic served as a Deputy Commissioner since November 1993.

She earned an undergraduate degree from Furman University in 1971, pursued graduate work in education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and earned a J.D. degree from Campbell University School of Law in May of 1981.

Her previous work experience includes appeals referee for the Employment Security Commission; private practice; assistant general counsel for the N.C. League of Municipalities; staff attorney for the City of Gastonia; and research assistant for the N.C. Court of Appeals. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, and Citizens Advisory Board of Duke Cancer Center.

To e-mail Commissioner Mavretic, click mavretil@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.


Laura Kranifeld Mavretic

 


Danny Lee McDonald

Commissioner Danny Lee McDonald

Governor Mike Easley appointed Danny Lee McDonald of Wilmington as Commissioner on February 2, 2007. Easley said, "Danny McDonald's extensive experience on the state and federal level make him a natural choice for this position. I am confident he will be an outstanding member of this critical commission."

McDonald is president of McDonald Solutions, a consulting firm. From 1982 to 2006 he was a member of the Federal Elections Commission appointed by President Reagan and later by President Clinton. He served as chairman of the commission in 1983, 1989, 1995 and 2001. The Federal Elections Commission is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign law. While serving on the commission, he acted as an official observer or advisor of elections in several Latin American nations as well as in emerging democracies of the former Soviet Bloc.

Prior to joining the Federal Elections Commission, McDonald served as general administrator of the Oklahoma Corporations Commission, which regulates the state's oil and gas industry, public utilities and transportation industry. From 1974 to 1979 he served as secretary to the Tulsa County Elections Board and was a licensed real estate broker.

He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's degree in political science and economics and did post graduate work at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

To e-mail Commissioner McDonald, click mcdonald@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.

 

Commissioner Christopher Scott

Governor Jim Hunt appointed Christopher Scott to the Industrial Commission in October 1997. Governor Mike Easley appointed Commissioner Scott to a second 6-year term in May of 2003.

Chris Scott is a graduate of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, with a BA degree in English Literature. He earned a Master's Degree in English Literature from the University of Texas. For the past 14 years, he has been President of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO. Prior to becoming president, he was Secretary-Treasurer and Research Director of the State AFL-CIO, and Director of Research for Teamsters Local #391. From l977 to 1978, he was a Policy Advisor to Governor Hunt. He has also been a public school teacher.

In addition to his work experience, Mr. Scott has served on the Governor's Committee on Workforce Preparedness, the Advisory Committee of the N.C. Health Planning Commission, the Industrial Commission's Advisory Council, the Tax Fairness Study Commission, the Advisory Board of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and the Board of the N.C. Civil Liberties Union.

To e-mail Commissioner Scott, click scottc@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.


Christopher Scott

 


Dianne C. Sellers

Commissioner Dianne C. Sellers

Governor Mike Easley has reappointed Dianne C. Sellers to a six-year term as Commissioner, ending in April 2007. Governor Jim Hunt initially appointed her as Commissioner in September 1994 after the General Assembly expanded the Industrial Commission from three members to seven. Effective August 1, 2000, she was reappointed by Governor Hunt to a term expiring in April 2001. Commissioner Sellers previously held the post of Chief Deputy Commissioner for eight years and had served as a Deputy Commissioner for the eight prior years.

She formerly worked as a trust representative in the Wachovia Trust Department; press secretary for U.S. Representative Roy A. Taylor (11th District, N.C.), in Washington, D.C.; and law clerk for Bailey & Thomas, P.A., in Winston-Salem, N.C.

She received a B.A. degree in history from Mary Baldwin College in 1970, and earned a master's degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1972. She also studied liberal arts in Austria at the University of Vienna. In 1976, she earned a J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, where she was president of the Student Bar Association.

Commissioner Sellers is a member of the American Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, and Wake County Bar Association. Currently, she is serving as council member for both the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee and the Workers’ Compensation Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association. She is also chairman of the Adjudication Committee of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators and chair of the Credentials Committee of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. In addition, she received an appointment to the five-member Board of Regents of the International Workers’ Compensation College.

To e-mail Commissioner Sellers, click sellersd@ind.commerce.state.nc.us.

  


N.C. Industrial Commission ·   4340 Mail Service Center ·   Raleigh, NC 27699-4340
Main Telephone: (919) 807-2500 ·   Fax: (919) 715-0282
Internet Address: http://www.comp.state.nc.us/