Oconto County has promoted from within to find its new finance director.
Betty Bickel, deputy director and operations manager of the county health and human services (HHS) department, was introduced to the county board in her new role at its Jan. 23 meeting.
“It’s a sad moment for me; I’ve worked with her for over three years,” said Scott Shackelford, HHS director, while congratulating Bickel on her advancement.
Bickel, who said she was born and raised in Oconto County, has been a county employee since 2015, starting as an accountant in HHS.
“The last couple years with Scott have been great. We’ve had a great partnership,” Bickel told the board. “We’ve had many challenges together, so I’m looking forward to working together with him in my new role, looking forward to the next chapter and continuing with the county.”
She succeeds Lisa Sherman, who announced in November that she was planning to retire after Feb. 3. Sherman served 35 years as a county employee, including as interim county administrator for about three months in 2024 between Erik Pritzl’s departure and current Administrator Richard Heath’s arrival.
Shackelford said the county is currently taking applications for the HHS deputy director and operations manager position through Jan. 31. The online posting describes the job as assisting the director “with the overall management, planning and coordination of the operations and activities of the Department, develop and implement policies, procedures, goals, objectives and priorities, and ensure that assigned activities within the Department are completed in a timely and efficient manner consistent with defined policies, regulations, Wisconsin State Statutes and Administrative Rules.”
The position is listed as having an annual salary range of $85,839 to $89,368.50.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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