12/28/2015

2015 Outstanding Director of the Year

Recipient David Wigent of Wood County JFS

Wood County Department of Job and Family Services Director David Wigent has been recognized as the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association 2015 Outstanding Director of the Year. 

Each December the Association recognizes a CDJFS Director who, through dedicated efforts throughout the span of their career, exemplifies the professional qualities and achievements of an outstanding Director.  Director Wigent received numerous nominations from his peers and was officially recognized at a ceremony on Friday, December 11, 2015.

 Director Wigent has worked for Wood County for the past 11 years and began his tenure as the county JFS director in 2011.  From the very beginning he has been a proactive county director - client focused, a community leader and a strong advocate for the job and family service system. 

 Mr. Wigent has been instrumental in leading the most significant effort in the state to modernize the job and family service delivery system; known as Collabor8.  This is a multi-county system utilizing call center and computer technology to provide faster and easier access to public assistance services.  Collabor8 has fundamentally changed the way our neediest citizens access core health and human services include food, healthcare and public assistance benefits. 

Director Wigent has been the unquestioned champion of the project from the very beginning.  His quiet and effective leadership style has served the state and counties extremely well in this venture where he serves as the county principal lead in working with the multiple parties involved in the project.  Dave has also been called on by his peers to assist in modernization efforts throughout the state where he has spoken at countless meetings and conferences and demonstrated the successes and merits of the Colabor8 project.

His unselfish dedication of time and expertise to assist county agencies meet the challenges of administering one of the largest work and family service systems in the country made Dave an easy, obvious and unanimous choice for this year’s recognition.  Dave Wigent continually goes above and beyond in his service to the people of Wood County and through his efforts the entire job and family service system of Ohio is being improved.

Dave Wigent is a talented, reliable and faithful public servant and his devotion to the county and people he serves is paramount in his daily efforts.  Wood County is a recognized leader in serving the job and family service community and Director Wigent is a large part of the county success.

Dave has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the job and family service field and is always providing assistance and support to agencies across Ohio.  In addition to his work as both the Director and Assistant Director of the Wood County JFS, he has previous experience in Williams County as a child protective services caseworker and fraud investigator.  State and county officials continually look to Dave Wigent for guidance and insight.

OJFSDA is pleased to recognize David Wigent of Wood County as the 2015 Outstanding County Job and Family Services Director.