Juanita Akinleye joined the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in the Community & Clinical Connections for Prevention & Health Branch.

Brian Bax joined the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services as a National Diabetes Prevention Program Specialist.

Andrew Minear joined the Iowa Department of Public Health as the Coordinator of Diabetes Primary Prevention.

Richard Kropp, Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch Manager at the Texas Department of State Health Services, retired in May. Richard started his state health department career in 1990 supporting the development of state plans and programs of the Texas Diabetes Council. He coordinated the initial Texas Youth Tobacco Survey and the state Youth Risk Behavior Survey before returning to the state’s diabetes program in 2005 to implement diabetes marketing campaigns and facilitate the Texas Diabetes Council’s state action plan.

Laura Shea retired after a career in diabetes that began at the New York State Department of Health in 1998. Prior to that, she worked as a public health nurse. She is a longtime Member of the NACDD Diabetes Council, where she served on the Leadership Group for two years as the School Health liaison. Laura volunteered on medical missions in Haiti and plans to continue this work in her retirement. “I really enjoyed being part of the Leadership Group and working with dedicated people throughout the U.S.”