Hello, Hamilton County

  E-News for Hamilton County Citizens and Employees

June 4, 2001 
  Quote of the Week:  “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." Arthur Ashe
 

Transition and Search Plans for DHS leadership taking shape

Hamilton County Director of Human Services Don Thomas will retire from his post effective June 30.  Thomas, who had announced his intention to retire earlier this year, has identified this date to better allow he and his family to move to Florida, where his wife has accepted a faculty position with the University of Florida.

County Administrator David Krings announced that Barbara Manuel, assistant director in charge of the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Children’s Services Division, will serve as interim department director until a permanent leader arrives.  It is the County’s goal to select the new director by mid- to late summer and have the person in place by early fall. The County will conduct an aggressive local and national search for the new director.  Slavin Management Consultants, a firm that specializes in recruiting top executives for local governments nationwide, has been retained to assist Hamilton County in this effort.  
Barbara Manual will serve as the interim Director of DHS until the permanent replacement can be found.

The County will also involve a community panel to help develop a recruitment profile and to advise the County Administrator during the evaluation of director candidates.  The community panel will consist of advocates, religious and business leaders and members of the Human Services Planning Committee.  Members of the Community Panel include:

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Sheila Adams, President of the Urban League

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Eileen Cooper-Reed, Director of the Children's Defense Fund

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Michael Fischer, President of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce

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Tom Kidd, Retired Hamilton County MRDD Director

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Robert Logan, Executive Director of the Council on Aging

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Rev. Damon Lynch, Jr., Pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church

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John Pepper, Chairman of the Board - Procter & Gamble

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Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Cincinnati Archdiocese

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Pete Strange, President of Messer Construction

“I am pleased that the County is conducting a first-class process for hiring the next DHS Director.  I am confident that I will leave the agency in good hands,” stated DHS Director Don Thomas.  “Meanwhile, I look forward to a productive finish to my career here with Hamilton County.”

“We have the utmost confidence in the team in place at DHS and in Barbara Manuel’s ability to guide the department until the new director is in place,” stated County Administrator Krings.  With over 26 years of social work experience in Hamilton County, Ms. Manuel has served as the assistant director in charge of children’s services since 1998 and has been with DHS since the early 1990’s.   Ms. Manuel has an undergraduate degree from Earlham College and holds two masters degrees from Tulane University.  Ms. Manuel has indicated that she is not interested in pursuing a permanent appointment as DHS Director. Mr. Krings felt that all three assistant directors were strong candidates but did not want to have an interim director who might be interested in the permanent appointment.

Based on a state mandate, DHS will change its name effective July 9, 2001 to the Department of Job and Family Services.

 
County to receive Three Communications Excellence Awards
Hamilton County will be among those county governments honored for excellence in communication efforts by the National Association of County Information Officers.  Three specific efforts by Hamilton County departments have been selected for honors to be awarded at next month's National Association of Counties conference in Philadelphia.  The three award winners are:
bulletDepartment of Human Services.  Won a superior award for the adoption website (www.hcadopt.org) in the category of Internet Web Sites and Interactive Media.
bulletDepartment of Environmental Services.  Won a meritorious award for the "Living with Allergies" brochure in the Brochure category.
bulletHello, Hamilton County.  That's right, the vary publication you are reading right now won a meritorious award in the Computer Media category.

These entries were chosen from among 475 nominations received from counties from across the country.  Various public/private public relations and communications firms judged the entries.  Congrats to all who helped put these communication efforts together!

 
Employee of the Year Profile:  Steven Burns
Steven B. Burns is the budget and finance director for the Recorder’s Office.  In addition to exemplary performance of his financial management function in the Recorder’s Office, Steven has taken the lead in implementing new technologies that have significantly improved service to citizens and improved the Office’s ability to manage records.  Steven, a 16 year Hamilton County employee, is also taking an active role in enhancing the services provided to citizens through the Internet.  
Steven’s service to the community extends beyond his work with Hamilton County.  He is an active community volunteer, serving as a co-founder of the Ohio Valley Oral School, a youth sports coach, and leader at St. Aloysius Parish.
 

County Employee and County Commissioner recognized by Kiwanis 
Jerry Klems of the Treasurer's Office and Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin were each awarded a Human and Spiritual Values Award by Division 7 of the Ohio Kiwanis.  A long time resident of Norwood, Jerry was recognized for his numerous civic activities within the community.  Commissioner Dowlin, who currently serves as Board President, has been on the County Commission since 1991, served as Mayor of Sharonville for over 28 years, and is active in numerous community organizations and causes.
 

Reminder:  Clean Air-a-thon offers a chance to strut your stuff
The Clean Air A-Thon will take place on Saturday, June 9th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Sawyer Point. Those who wish to participate in the 5K Run/Walk can register the day of the event beginning at 7:30 a.m. until the race begins. The event will also feature a kids fun run beginning at approximately at 10:00 a.m. All proceeds from the event will provide scholarships to Northern Kentucky Asthma Camps and benefit the University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental Health, Ozone and Respiratory Illness Research.
The event, sponsored by the Regional Ozone Coalition, in cooperation with various private, public and non-profit organizations, will also feature informational booths with free literature and materials. Throughout the event, door prizes will be given away and the winners from the Do Your Share For Cleaner Air calendar contest will be awarded.

For more information, visit www.hcdoes.org or call Sarah Brugger at 946-7748. It is not too late to volunteer for the event! If you would like to be a part of the event, but do not plan on running/walking, call Summer Robinson at 621-6300.

 
Environmental Services seeks Federal Funds for Air Quality 
The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to continue their Air Quality Management Program.  This continuation, the amount of $658,438, will enable Environmental Services to continue their air pollution control program, which affects Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties.
 

 

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Have a Great Week!

 
Hello, Hamilton County is published twice each month.  It is placed on both the County's internal and external Web pages.  It is design to enlighten and inform both citizens and employees of Hamilton County.  If you have questions or suggestions for future editions, contact Sharon Booker (946-4428) or Eric Stuckey (946-4432) in the County Administrator's Office or e-mail to eric.stuckey@hamilton-co.org.