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Portage County Job and Family Services revives speakers bureau to boost outreach
Summary
Portage County Job and Family Services told commissioners it has restarted a speakers bureau to support new-employee onboarding, community presentations and its annual poverty simulation after activity waned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the Portage County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 3, 2025, Job and Family Services announced it has reinstated a speakers bureau it first created about a decade ago to expand outreach to community partners, assist with new-employee orientation and staff the agency's annual poverty simulation.
A Job and Family Services staff member told commissioners the program had lapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic and that roughly a dozen employees have volunteered to relaunch the effort. "We are so ecstatic that we've resurrected our speakers bureau," the staff member said.
The renewed bureau has three stated purposes. First, volunteers will serve as a welcoming committee for new JFS employees: on day one they will introduce themselves, explain why they chose a career at JFS, tour new hires across the agency and describe programs and services. Second, the bureau will accept formal requests from community organizations to present on JFS programs, the staff member said; a press release inviting requests was included in the meeting packet. Third, team members will represent JFS at information tables, fairs and college events and will take a significant role in the agency's annual Tulip Town poverty simulation.
Several team members introduced themselves to the commissioners. Sharon Spence, administrator at child support, identified her role during the meeting. "I'm Sharon Spence. I'm the current administrator at child support," she said. Melissa Ruiz identified herself with the family teaming facility in adult and child protective services. Dustin Dickerson introduced himself as a supervisor at JFS.
The staff member said volunteers spent "three or four full days" cross-training across divisions to build subject-matter knowledge about each other's programs. No budget, funding source or schedule for community presentations was specified during the presentation.
Commissioners did not take formal action on the speakers bureau during the meeting; the presentation was an informational item. The packet included supporting materials for the bureau, and the staff member said a press release would go out to community partners this week to invite speaking requests.
