03/01/2015

Roxane Somerlot - Director of the Year 2014

Director Somerlot has worked for Marion County for the past 19 years and began her tenure as a county JFS director in 1999. From the very beginning she has been a proactive county director, client focused, a community leader and a strong advocate for the association. Roxane is humble in her service and quick to credit her staff and others around her with any successes. However, as her staff and peers affirmed during the recognition ceremony, her leadership, support, caring nature and management style are crucial ingredients to the agency successes. In any conversation with Roxane Somerlot regarding job and family services, one will quickly see that serving the residents of Ohio is paramount to her efforts. She works tirelessly on numerous local, state and national boards and committees to advocate for program improvements and enhanced services.

Roxane is always willing to offer her expertise and services to support the association and, as this award demonstrates, highly respected by her fellow directors. She is very active in OJFSDA, currently serving as the Northwest District President, as well as participating on the OJFSDA Executive and Internal Oversight committees, and also co-chairing the Workforce Policy Committee. Over the past decade she has served nearly every office in the Association, including OJFSDA President in 2011.

She also provides leadership to the association by setting a great example as a role model for the work she does in her local area. As an example, she was actively involved in the development of Collabor8, to streamline efficiency among the participating agencies in delivering public assistance services to applicants through the utilization of a virtual call center and consolidated/centralized digital imaging and case management system. Collabor8 has received numerous state and national awards, including the 2012 NACo Achievement Award for “Best of Category” in the Human Services class.

Roxane also recognizes the importance of improving the workforce and greater training for clients. She has made workforce development a top priority for her agency and works tirelessly to enhance work opportunities in Marion County. ODJFS recognizes this important work and just this month notified her that the Marion County Job Center has been chosen as their Center of the Year for 2014.

Director Somerlot participates in countless meetings in Columbus on behalf of her peers. She is also regularly contacted by central Ohio media for her perspective on issues important to the local JFS operations. Whether it is welfare reform, modernization, Adult Protective Services, workforce, budget issues, legislative matters or association business, Roxane can be counted on to pitch in and lead.

Roxane is a calm, thoughtful, and innovative director. She is extremely knowledgeable of programs and administration, and can contribute to any conversation with well-considered reflections and suggestions. She is greatly respected by her colleagues at the county and state level, and also by her local community partners and employees.

At OJFSDA, we always know we can count on her support to help out and pitch in whether it is to volunteer for a committee or provide resources to support association events. Her leadership, and ability to get things done have served the clients, communities and counties well over the years.

It is with great honor that we recognize Roxane Somerlot as the 2014 Annual Outstanding County Job and Family Services Director Award.