New deputy director appointments satisfy director

Choosing the best candidate for each post was tough, he said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- John Zachariah, Mahoning County Job & amp; Family Services executive director, is pleased with the appointments of two of three new deputy directors for his department.
Zachariah said the caliber of the applicants made the decision in each case difficult, but he noted the people hired represent the "best of the best" of the applicants.
About 75 people applied for the three posts, and all of the applicants are well-qualified, he said.
"The people we already have are wonderful, but the academic qualifications and professional experience the applicants bring is simply outstanding," he said. "We are fortunate to have these people interested in working here. Choosing the best person is a tough call in each case."
Two posts filled
Last week, commissioners approved the appointment of Mariann O'Halloran as deputy director of administrative services. She has been the county's chief deputy auditor for 16 years. Zachariah said O'Halloran has a master's degree in business administration and is a certified public accountant. She also worked for the Internal Revenue Service.
Commissioners on Thursday appointed Deborah Shurilla as deputy director of human services, and she began her new duties the same day. Zachariah said Shurilla is a licensed social worker who has been employed at JFS since she graduated from high school.
Zachariah said Shurilla began at JFS as a a clerk-typist and while working at the agency earned her social work degree. Most recently she has been JFS program administrator.
The salary for each woman is about $75,000, because that's a comparable salary to those of their previous positions, Zachariah said.
Final approval needed
He would like commissioners to approve his recommendation for the third position -- deputy director of child support enforcement -- at the Nov. 15 meeting. Zachariah knows who he wants for the post, but he would not say.
The deputy director of child support enforcement will have a law enforcement and administrative background because most of the CSE agency's work involves law enforcement investigative work to track down people who are not paying court-ordered child support, he explained.
Zachariah created the three deputy director positions in a realignment of JFS that will bolster the JFS infrastructure and improve operations, he said.
Zachariah took the executive director position about four months ago. The previous executive director, Dee Crawford, retired.
Previously, there was one deputy director who was involved in all areas of the department. Having a deputy director to focus efforts on each specific area brings a new administrative focus to the department that fits well with an agencywide effort to identify ways to improve operations, meet agency goals and state performance standards, Zachariah added.
tullis@vindy.com