EATON —The Preble County Board of Developmental Disabilities Board of Directors has announced that Bethany Schultz has been named the Director of Community and Support Services and assistant to Superintendent Diane Knupp. The goal for the agency is for Schultz to succeed Knupp who plans to retire in 2017.

The PCBDD Board of Directors approved Schultz’s hiring at its June 9 meeting and her new duties will begin Aug. 3.

She has worked in the DD field for more than 25 years, having filled positions at the Clark County and Greene County boards of developmental disabilities. Additionally, she has served as the president and vice president of PAR (Professionals, Advocates, Resources) Ohio.

Schultz was one of the 2013 recipients of the Ohio Association of County Boards Partners in Excellence Award and is a graduate of the association’s Executive Development Program.

Knupp has served as superintendent at PCBDD since May 2004. She will have more than 39 years in the DD profession upon her retirement in 2017.

Schultz’s hiring follows the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Association of County Boards recommendations of sharing personnel/positions within organizations. This concept has proven to be very cost-effective in Preble County as the board shares personnel services with its SSA and Finance departments. This has resulted in significant savings that allows PCBDD to direct more resources into supports that have a greater impact on the lives of the people the agency serves.

Further, PCBDD’s ability to pursue efficiencies has allowed the board to be responsive to the needs of those it serves at a time when state resources have dramatically fallen. The board realizes this is a necessary skill to have when planning for a lifetime of services and supports for the people with developmental disabilities (and their families) who depend on PCBDD.