The Caddo Parish Commission has appointed Charles Wilson Jr. as the permanent director of animal services and mosquito control for the Caddo Parish. Wilson has served as interim director since September 2015 and will continue to oversee the functions of the department, including shelter operations, employee management and implementation of the parish’s animal, mosquito and rodent control programs. During Wilson’s interim period, the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter has seen exponential increases in animal adoption rates and rescue efforts, as well as a substantial decline in the shelter’s euthanasia rate. Wilson previously served as chief master sergeant, munitions flight for the United States Air Force. Wilson graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University and a master’s from Trident University International.

Tom Martin, president and chief executive officer of Gibsland Bank & Trust, has been elected as the chairman of the board of the Louisiana Bankers Association for 2016-2017. Martin has previously served the LBA as the Northwest Region Director, a member of the government Relations Council and most recently as the LBA’s treasurer. Martin received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977 from Louisiana Tech University. In 1982, he graduated from the American Bankers Association -- National Installment Credit School at the University of Oklahoma and in 1983 from the LBA School of Banking at LSU. He graduated from the LSU Graduate School of Banking in 1987.Martin’s service with GBT began in 1981 as a loan officer. He was elected to the board of directors in 1998 and became president in 2000. In early 2014, he was also appointed to serve as CEO. During his leadership as president, GBT has grown from four branches to nine.

The Community Foundation has appointed Jerry Edwards as the newest member of the board of directors.Edwards is a shareholder and director at Blanchard, Walker O’Quin and Roberts. His practice involves litigation in diverse areas, with an emphasis in creditors’ rights, personal injury defense, bankruptcy and municipal  law. Before joining Blanchard Walker, he clerked at the First Judicial of Louisiana and served as its chair. He is currently a member of the Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee.Edwards received his undergraduate degree in political science from Georgia State University in 2002 and his law degree from Vermont Law School in 2005. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Volunteers of America North Louisiana and a volunteer for Junior Achievement of North Louisiana.