Biography
Mindy Waldron, BS, REHS, CFSP, assumed the duties of Executive Director in 2005 after 13 years of distinguished service in public health. She now manages the day-to-day operations of a department of more than 65 employees and a $4.3 million budget, serving the population of Fort Wayne and Allen County.
Ms. Waldron is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind. who earned her B.S. in environmental science and management from Indiana University, Bloomington.
She worked for the Hamilton County Health Department as a well protection program coordinator and swimming pool inspector from 1992 to 1993. She was a food and environmental health specialist with the Wells County Health Department from 1993 to 1995. In this capacity, she was responsible for conducting routine food establishment inspections, complaint investigations, food-borne illness investigations, enforcement actions and closures.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, she served the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health from 1995 to 2004 as the Director of the Food Protection Division, and later, as the Director of Communications and HIPAA Privacy Officer.
Ms. Waldron is a registered environmental health specialist with the State of Indiana and is certified as a food safety professional by the National Environmental Health Association. She is also a member of the National Association of City & County Health Officials and has earned the “ServSafe” Train the Trainer certification through the National Restaurant Association.
During her career, she has also served as an adjunct faculty member with Ivy Tech State College in Fort Wayne.
Ms. Waldron is the recipient of numerous awards, including the “Rookie of the Year” Award” in 1994, and the “Tim Sullivan Memorial Award” in 2003 for outstanding achievement in the area of Food Protection, both from the Indiana Environmental Health Association.
Duties/Responsibilities
The duties of the Executive Director include:
- Managing the department’s day-to-day operations;
- Serving as the department’s Personnel Director;
- Coordinating with the Health Commissioner for long-range strategic planning and program development;
- Preparing the annual budget and overseeing all budget expenditures and appropriations
- Administering all departmental grants (federal, state and local);
- Presenting educational programs to community groups and organizations;
- Working with legal counsel to coordinate all legal actions and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws;
- Assisting in the coordination of duties in the absence of the Health Commissioner.