MICHAEL B. COLBERT is director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), a $20-plus billion agency with nearly 4,000 employees. ODJFS is the largest agency in the state and is responsible for supervising the state’s public assistance, workforce development, unemployment compensation, child and adult protective services, adoption, child care, and child support programs. ODJFS also is the single state agency responsible for the administration of Ohio’s Medicaid program.

Prior to joining Governor John R. Kasich’s cabinet, Colbert served as the ODJFS chief fiscal officer for almost three years. In that role and throughout his service as director, he has worked to give counties more fiscal flexibility, to support their modernization efforts, and to leverage technology to ease their administrative burden as much as possible.

Before joining ODJFS, Colbert was senior audit manager for the Ohio Auditor of State, where he worked for 15 years and earned a Distinguished Service Award. He is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. He also is a member of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers, the American Public Human Services Association and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.

Michael B. Colbert, Director

Roxanne Ward, Executive Assistant to the Director

Gerrie Cotter, Senior Policy Advisor to the Director

Lauren Linn, Program Administrator
Director's Office Phone - 614-466-6283

Sonnetta Sturkey, Chief Operations Officer
Paulette Kelly, Administrative Assistant

• Office of Chief Inspector
• Office of Communications
• Office of Employee & Business Services
• Office of Information Services
• Office of Legal & Acquisition Services
• Office of Legislation & Constituent Inquiries

Bruce Madson, Assistant Director, Employment Services
Joyce Richardson, Administrative Assistant

• Office of Local Operations
• Office of Unemployment Compensation
• Office of Workforce Development

Michael McCreight, Assistant Director, Health and Human Services
Kim Burton-Smiles, Administrative Assistant

• Office of Families and Children
• Office of Child Support
• Child Care and Early Childhood Development
• Office of Family Assistance
• Ohio Children's Trust Fund

Eric Mency, Chief Fiscal Officer
Sharon Fletcher, Administrative Assistant 

John McCarthy, Director, Office of Medical Assistance
Mary Gerlach, Administrative Assistant 

To contact a specific program area, click here.