The governor selected Mike Gallagher and John Dyste to fill two vacant seats on the Workforce Safety and Insurance board of directors.

Gallagher, president of Curtis Construction Co. in Fargo, will be the representative for "employer with a premium level under $10,000."

"I think it's an opportunity for the organization to improve itself,"Gallagher said of being added to the board. "WSIprovides a much-needed and great benefit for the employers and employees of North Dakota. I think it's necessary to get through this period and to make whatever changes need to be made."

He said he will strive to maintain transparency on the board.

Ryan Bernstein, legal counsel to Gov. John Hoeven, said the governor's office liked Gallagher's answers about respecting independent consultants and incorporating audit recommendations.

"His references said he was a 'common sense' guy with real world perspective,"Bernstein said.

Dyste, president and owner of Dyste's Food Group in Forman, fills the "employer at large"seat. He was neither at work or home when the Tribune tried to contact him, but his application for the board detailed his reasons for wanting to serve.

"Iwant to help improve the delivery of services to the injured worker in a cost efficient manner,"he wrote. "My experiences with WSI have been positive. As a board member, I will work with others on the board to ensure that injured workers are fairly compensated and or rehabilitated as soon as possible."

Bernstein said Dyste brings a good rural and small business perspective to the board, adding that the feedback from his references indicated that he's conscientious about his workers' needs.

- Crystal R. Reid