“It is with some mixed feelings that I announce my upcoming retirement from public service,” Jewett wrote to lead off his resignation letter, which he hand-delivered to each commissioners before Thursday morning’s commission meeting.
“It’s with mixed feelings that we accept the letter we received this morning from Bruce Jewett announcing his retirement from public service,” commission President Chuck Furmon said. “We appreciate very much Bruce the job that you have done. You jumped in at a very tough time and you’ve done a lot with the position, and we do appreciate it.”
After Furmon’s comments, Jewett said, “I’d like to express my appreciation to each of you individually and all of you collectively for giving me the opportunity to serve.”
Jewett’s resignation is effective June 3, though he said his last day likely will be May 31; his first day as United Way president/CEO is June 6.
Jewett, 58, took over the county administrator’s job on Dec. 3, 2009, serving both as interim administrator and Butler County Job and Family Services director. He replaced Tim Williams who left for a private sector job in Dayton.
Jewett became the permanent administrator on Aug. 16 and vacated the JFS post. He was with JFS for a dozen years. Greg Jolivette, former commissioner, described Jewett at the time as “tough,” “fair” and having “good vision.”
The United Way’s top position became open Feb. 4 when Maureen Noe left the job she held for a decade. She accepted the president/CEO post with the Heart of West Michigan United Way in Grand Rapids.
Since Noe’s departure, United Way CFO Jan Troutman has served as interim president, but she expressed no desire to take the job permanently.
“I think it’s a great thing for Bruce and United Way,” said John Guidugli, president and chief executive of the Hamilton Community Foundation, which is neighbors with the United Way office on North Third Street.
The foundation partners with United Way on a number of projects, most recently the Spring Day of Caring, he said. But Guidugli knows Jewett best from the Community Grant Consortium, an organization formed by Butler County Department of Job & Family Services, United Way, Hamilton and others more than 10 years ago to help nonprofits find out-of-county funding sources.
“I think he’s in a good position to lead United Way,” Guidugli said.
Jewett, a United Way board member for more than 10 years and former chairman, was one of two finalists after a four-month selection process that considered at least two-dozen applicants from across the country, said Chris Worrell, United Way board chairman and partner in charge of the Butler/Warren Office for Graydon Head law firm. The board on May 6 unanimously chose Jewett, he said.
Shared Harvest Foodbank Executive Director Tina Osso is on the Council of Agency Executives, a leadership group of Butler County United Way-funded agencies. She said the group provided recommendations for an ideal candidate, but that she isn’t sure Jewett has the experience.
“The primary talent that we wanted the new CEO to bring into the position is one of fundraising,” she said. “We’re not sure what kind of fundraising experience Bruce will bring to the table, but it will be an interesting thing to see how this all pans out.”
Worrell said the nonprofit has faith in Jewett’s ability to lead the organization in times that have become less certain for nonprofit service providers. Jewett might start by reintroducing himself in the new role, he said. “I would think just meeting with our business leaders, meeting with our community and meeting with our agencies and focusing on the upcoming campaign,” Worrell said.
United Way conducts campaigns to raise money through workplace giving.
On July 1, Butler County United Way allocates funds to programs aligned with its mission of helping youths become successful adults and helping adults become self-sufficient. Pledges have decreased five years straight to $1.84 million for the 2010 campaign, according to United Way.
Read the United Way press release here: http://www.bc-unitedway.org/media/2011-05-12_Jewett_to_Head_Butler_County_United_Way.pdf
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