Biography
 Cheri L. Walter |
CHERI L. WALTER ,MA, LICDC |
Cheri L. Walter has provided more than 30 years of diversified, progressive leadership and management within non-profit organizations, association and large state departments in Ohio. Ms. Walter holds a Master of Administration from Tiffin University and is a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA), representing the county Alcohol, Drug Addiction Services and/or Mental Health Boards. OACBHA functions as the statewide unifying voice for quality and cost effective treatment and prevention services in Ohio.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Walter served as Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and played a key role in the merger of the Department of Human Services and the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services into ODJFS. In her role as Assistant Director of ODJFS, Ms. Walter was responsible for supervising Child Support, Communications, Internal Administration, Legislation, Ohio Health Plans (Medicaid), Management Information Systems, Office for Children and Families, Research/Assessment and Accountability, and the Chief Inspector, including creating the first Office of Civil Rights for ODJFS. Prior to her service at ODJFS, Ms. Walter was Deputy Director of Program Services for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for over 8 years. As a member of the Governor’s Council on Recovery Services, Ms. Walter assisted in the writing, lobbying and implementation of House Bill 317 that created the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services.
Ms. Walter’s leadership qualities include expertise as a change agent, facilitator, crisis manager and problem solver. She is experienced in assessing and resolving complex operational and organizational inefficiencies, and has a personal commitment to improving the quality of leadership in business organizations. Her problem-solving leadership style helps to propel organizations to a higher standard. Cheri firmly believes that the most effective means of improving systems is by bringing all of the parties to the table, and giving them an equal voice to develop a shared vision.
