Mahoning County hires new human resources director

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners have hired Karen D. U’Halie as the county’s human resources director, effective Monday.

She replaces Rachel Livengood, who retired today.

“She worked in our county years ago. She has the experience in Mahoning County government. She knows the system,” Carol Rimedio-Righetti, chairwoman of the county commissioners, said of U’Halie.

U’Halie, who will earn $77,000 annually, has both public- and private-sector personnel management experience and knowledge of collective bargaining, Righetti said, noting that county workers are represented by 21 labor union locals.

From 1994 to 2000, U’Halie was HR manager at the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services.

She served in the same role at Sysco Food Services Inc. of Cleveland from 2000 to 2008 and in Portage County government from 2008-12.

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