By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
There has been a leadership change at the Williams County Department of Jobs and Family Services.
The Williams County Commissioners offered the executive director position to Frederick Lord at their April 11 meeting. Lord will begin his new job April 29.
Lord replaces Pamela Johnson who is stepping down and taking a new position elsewhere in the county government. According to county documents, she said her decisions was based on various reasons.
Lord will be paid $75,000 annually. His benefit package includes healthcare and three weeks paid vacation.
Lord is coming from the private sector, having been a senior consultant with Clemans-Nelson and Associates of Akron, where he assisted clients in general management consulting services, labor relations, and regulatory compliance. He has 10 years of experience in the public sector, with five years in public sector management.
Lord has experience in organizational and operational analysis, civil service, regulatory compliance and policy development. He received his bachelors of science in Organizational Leadership from Wright State University, and received his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Innovation and Change from Wright State University.
Lord’s education and professional experience made him an ideal candidate, Commission President Brian Davis said. Lord has worked for Auglaize County and has several years of practical experience, Davis said.
“He has strong manager experience,” Davis said.
Commissioner Alan Word cast the lone dissenting vote, but qualified his remarks that his opposition was based on his understanding of the state’s desire for consolidation. He said he had every confidence in Lord’s ability to do the job.
“We should open this up and look at consolidating,” Word said. “That’s where the state is pushing us.”
Word believes the county should have waited to find someone active in the field and who has experience with consolidation. There is but a short period of time before the state is going to require such action, he said.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
