August 2, 2018 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:
We have been notified today that Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Marine Fisheries Commission:
* Rob Bizzell of Kinston as a Recreation Sports Fisherman & Chair.
Bizzell is the Founder of Realo Discount Drug Stores, and the co-founder of Carolina Home Medical. Bizzell served as the President for the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association and Chair of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
* Mike Blanton of Elizabeth City as a Commercial Fisherman.
Blanton fishes full-time in the Albemarle Sound. He currently serves as the proxy for the North Carolina Legislative Appointee to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
* Tom Hendrickson of Zebulon and Harkers Island as a member at-large.
He is an attorney and businessman who works in real estate development, commercial real estate investment and management, including apartments in New Bern and affordable housing in Charlotte. He also serves on the Global Transpark Authority and was the Founding Chairman of North State Bank.
NCFA is pleased that the Governor has made these appointments and notes that commercial fisherman Mike Blanton is an NCFA member. We encourage fishermen to attend the next MFC meeting in Raleigh August 15 & 16.