By the end of 2020, the county would like the community to be informed of some important changes in the management of several departments that have taken place in the past few months. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has named Jefferson Billingsley County Counsel, Linda Le Director of Human Resources, Bennett Hoffman Director of Child Support Services, and Chris Cooper Director of Library Services.
Cooper brings over 20 years of library leadership as a library director, assistant library director, and senior librarian with an emphasis on community engagement and collaboration. He was Associate Director of Library Services and Supervising Librarian for Humboldt County and Library Director of Nampa Public Library, Idaho. A graduate of San Jose State University, where he obtained his Masters degree, Cooper has extensive experience building organizational culture and strategic planning. He works closely with staff to support library development projects to improve library spaces and collections, and to promote libraries as community hubs.
As Director of Library Services, Cooper will be responsible for developing library policies, programs and budgets. He will work closely with the Humboldt Library Foundation, friends of the library groups, other district departments, community level organizations, and other stakeholders to expand the library’s reach. Cooper was named director on October 30th.
“I am thrilled and honored to serve the Humboldt County Library community in these unprecedented times,” said Cooper. “I feel a great emotional connection to the people and the place. Our library staff, foundation and friends groups are enthusiastic about their work and are committed to providing our community with ever more diverse and lively programs, services and events. Our staff have shown great creativity, innovation and flexibility as the library expanded its services to the public during the pandemic. “
As Director of Regional Childcare Services on the North Shore, Hoffmann will be responsible for managing the local childcare program for Humboldt and Trinity Counties. Regional Child Support on the North Shore serves around 5,000 families, helps set up court orders for child support and health insurance, and collects and distributes more than $ 11 million in child support last year.
The department looks forward to continuing its ongoing efforts to make it easier for those in need to participate in the child benefit program under Hoffman’s leadership. Improving the customer experience and expanding the options available for negotiating and agreeing to child support contracts has been a primary goal for the department over the past few years.
Hoffman is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, with 23 years of experience in the child benefit program. Prior to moving to California, Hoffman was Associate Director of Tulare County Child Support Services and Executive Manager of the Minnesota Child Support Program. Hoffman was appointed on October 26th.
“I am very impressed with the work North Coast Regional Child Support Services is doing for the families of Counties Humboldt and Trinity. The department has been recognized for its leadership and innovation in the nationwide and national child welfare program, ”said Hoffman. “I look forward to joining the department and helping them continue their commitment to excellence and innovation for the community’s families.”
Le has been appointed as the new Director of Human Resources and is responsible for advocating the employee, county and community in planning and managing all functions related to human resources and risk management. Le was appointed director in May.
Jefferson Billingsley was removed from his title and was selected as county counsel on October 30th. The office provides legal advice and representation to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, the officers and departments elected and appointed by the county. The County Counsel’s office also acts as legal advisor to the Humboldt County Grand Jury and various special districts.
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