ODJFS Interim Director Greg Moody today announced the appointment of Charles "Sandy" Blunt as assistant director of the department. As one of the department's assistant directors, Blunt will oversee the local office reorganization plan.

Blunt comes to ODJFS from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation where he was Chief of Employer Operations, overseeing the Employer Services Division, Self-Insuring Services, Customer Assistance and the Division of Safety and Hygiene. When Jim Conrad was appointed CEO at the Bureau, he established an Office of Customer Service as a watchdog for the agency's customers. Conrad appointed Blunt, former Department of Administrative Services deputy director for customer service, to head the new office.

"Sandy's customer service background will be a tremendous asset as ODJFS reorganizes its delivery of services at the local level," Moody said.

Among the customer initiatives Blunt established at BWC are a nationwide toll-free number and call center support, integration of a computer telephony system and the department's World Wide Web site. The ODJFS local office reorganization plan includes the expansion of call centers to process all Unemployment Compensation claims, and a shifting of face-to-face services to local One Stop offices.

Prior to joining the state, Blunt served in the administration of President George H.W. Bush with the offices of Community Planning and Development and Intergovernmental Relations at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Blunt holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Ohio University and a master's in governmental administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Gahanna with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Alexandra. His appointment is effective today.

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For more information contact Jon Allen, ODJFS Communications, (614) 466-6650.