Cook County Administrator Cadwell interviews for Becker County position
Jan 16, 2019 06:34AM ● By Editor
From Boreal Community Media - January 16, 2018
According to reports by WTIP Radio, "Cadwell said he hopes to remain in Cook County and eventually 'retire here.' The reason Cadwell was interested in the Becker County position was to be closer to family, he said."
Here is the reporting from The Detroit Lakes Tribune about Cadwell's interview.
By Nathan Bowe of the Detroit Lakes Tribune - January 12, 2019
Cook County Administrator Jeffrey Cadwell was interviewed Tuesday by Becker County commissioners for the county administrator opening at Becker County.
He has been Cook County administrator since 2015, and before that served as city administrator for Mahnomen from 2012 to 2015 and city administrator for Browns Valley from 2010 to 2012.
Cadwell said his greatest professional accomplishment at Cook County occurred in July, when when two key department heads left within two weeks.
"For three months last year, I was county administrator and acting highway engineer and acting Health and Human Services director," he told the commissioners via Skype. "Those two departments are darn near half our staff."
He said his strongest skills lie in human resources — working with and developing employees — and in strategic, long-term planning.
Some of his biggest challenges come in the form of personnel issues, working through conflicts between department heads and employees.
He has experience working with tribal government, and one of the Cook County commissioners is Grand Portage tribal member. Cultural differences require different approaches, he said.
"It's Minnesota Polite, you have to have a relationship before you conduct business," he said.
He has a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Concordia College in Moorhead and a master's degree in public administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Becker County commissioners invited him to interview in person on Thursday, along with two other candidates who interviewed earlier — Greg Pruszinske, who has served as city administrator of Becker, Minn., since 2009, and Michael Brethorst, who has served as city administrator of Melrose, Minn., since 2011.
The Springsted Waters executive search firm is working with Becker County to fill the opening that will be left when Becker County Administrator Jack Ingstad retires later this month.
The Detroit Lakes Tribune reported Tuesday that the Becker County position has been offered to Mike Brethorst, who is currently city administrator of Melrose, Minn.
Follow this link to the most recent interview of Mr. Cadwell by WTIP Radio commenting on his Becker County interview. https://www.wtip.org/cadwell-interviews-administrator-job-other-minnesota-county
