New Trumbull JFS agency chief selected
Matthew Glidewell also serves on Weathersfield school board
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WARREN -- Trumbull County Commiss-ioners are expected today to hire Matthew J. Glidewell as director of Trumbull County Job and Family Services and the Child Support Enforcement Agency at a salary of $99,450 per year.
Glidewell has been the assistant superintendent of the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities since January. Before being appointed assistant superintendent, Glidewell worked with the agency as its director of operations from March 2020 through December 2025.
Fourteen people applied for the position, but only nine were interviewed by the commissioners and three received second interviews.
"This was a very extensive process for an important role," Commissioner Rick Hernandez said. "I look forward to JFS, with this hire, moving in a much different direction than it has been in the past. We've received a lot of calls from JFS. The director must come in, take full control and work with the employees to regain the confidence of the employees."
Hernandez noted the hiring process at JFS must be examined because it is down 28 employees.
Commissioner Denny Malloy said it was difficult to pick the right person for the job.
"We were not unanimous in the beginning," he said.
He noted each of the nine candidates the commissioners interviewed had qualities that would have allowed them to lead the department if they were chosen.
"We could have gone different directions," he said. "Any one of the candidates could have done the job. It hurts, a little bit, that eight people did not get the job."
Commissioner Tony Bernard said Glidewell is the best candidate.
"I totally think he can take Job and Family Services to the next level," Bernard said. "He has the knowledge and experience to go over there to make the department shine again. I will ask the staff and employees to work with him. We will be very proud of that department."
Bernard emphasized that various departments in counties across the state have had staff problems.
"It is not just JFS," he said.
Several candidates are well known in the Mahoning Valley, including former state Rep. Michael G. Verich; former Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown; and Arthur Daly, a former senior vice president and chief development officer at Eastern Gateway Community College in Youngstown and Steubenville. Other applicants included current and former employees of Trumbull County Job and Family Services.
Malloy noted this process reminded him about the level of quality people now working at JFS.
Glidewell will replace John Gargano, the former director, who retired Aug. 1 after 41 years of service. His hiring will be made official at today's commissioners meeting.
Recently, Glidewell was appointed to the Weathersfield Board of Education to replace Tim Gleason, who died earlier this year. Gleason was Glidewell's father-in-law.