Since the topic of diversity in the Governor’s cabinet has been raised as an issue, the following release was sent out earlier by the office of Governor John Kasich may be of interest to those following this storyline. There has been a minority member in each governor’s cabinet since 1963 when the state’s first black Cabinet member, William Walker, publisher and editor of the Cleveland Call and Post, was appointed by Governor James Rhodes selected him to be Director of the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations.

COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich announced that Michael Colbert will serve as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Colbert has served as interim director since January 2011.

Colbert previously served as chief financial officer for ODJFS, a position he held for almost three years. Before joining ODJFS, Colbert was senior audit manager for the Ohio Auditor of State, where he worked for 15 years managing financial compliance and control, and performing special audits of state and local government entities, nonprofits, information systems and health care billing providers.

Colbert 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 is a member of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers, the Government Finance Officers Association and the Association of Government Accountants.

For more information about Director Colbert, please visit here.