By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Brent Baer is so excited about the possibilities for his new job as Wood Lane superintendent that he can’t stop talking about it – even if some people are tired of listening.
“I feel sorry for my wife. She wanted to watch the Olympics,” Baer said Tuesday. “Every time I think about it, I get so excited.”
Baer, who lives in Perrysburg and started his new job on Aug. 1, was introduced to the Wood County Commissioners Tuesday morning by his predecessor Melanie Stretchbery.
Stretchbery has served with Baer on a number of state committees. “What’s more important, we have shared values and shared vision of how to serve people,” Stretchbery told the commissioners.
When getting his social work degree years ago, Baer interned at Wood Lane. So when he heard about Stretchbery retiring, he jumped at the chance for the job.
“This is too good to be true,” Baer recalled thinking.
Stretchbery said the transition has been comfortable for staff, since she and Baer share the same philosophy working with people with developmental disabilities.
“We have the same priority in the people we serve,” Stretchbery said. “You can’t teach that. I’m looking forward to seeing what else is going to happen at Wood Lane.”
Baer has 26 years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. Prior to taking the position with Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Baer served as an assistant deputy director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities where he was responsible for oversight of the state’s 10 developmental centers. He also served as superintendent of the Northwest Ohio Developmental Center.
Baer said his focus at Wood Lane will be “setting a path to continue quality services. The quality improvement process is never done.”
Baer comes to Wood Lane at a time of big changes mandated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The changes require that adult day support, vocational habitation, supported employment and non-medical transportation be privatized and separated from the county board of developmental disabilities.
The board has been studying how to privatize the Wood Lane Industries and the Community Employment Services portions of the county program. It will be up to Baer to continue that process.
Ed Metzger, a member of the Wood Lane board, told the county commissioners that Baer has a great deal of experience around the state working with the privatization process.
“We’re fortunate to have him on our team,” Metzger said.
Baer said in his first week on the job he has also heard from several people that transportation is another issue that needs to be addressed.
Stretchbery will remain on the job a short while longer on a part-time basis to help with the transition. She told the commissioners it’s been nice to show Baer the level of cooperation among agencies in Wood County.
“I’m very proud of this county and our ability to work together,” she said.
