By Teresa L. Benns
SAGUACHE — David A. Bitler, a former Lutheran pastor now living in South Fork, has accepted a position as Saguache County administrator beginning immediately, former County Co-Administrator Wendi Maez confirmed Tuesday. Maez has reverted to her previous position as Saguache County land use administrator.
The county has been actively working on acquiring a new administrator since February. Peggy Macintosh of Westcliffe was the last county administrator prior to the hiring of Maez and Lyn Zimmer as co-county administrators in 2005. Bitler’s engagement followed a series of executive sessions to interview prospective candidates.
According to his resume submitted for the position, Bitler has an extensive background in community relations, collaboration and development, non-profit leadership, court administration, conflict resolution and financial management. He lists himself as experienced in the areas of supervision, problem solving, advocacy, relationship building, program development and networking.
Other experience listed includes increasing revenues and cost savings, moving programs to evidence-based and best practices, creating policy, grant acquisitions and working with social services and the state judicial system. Saguache County’s concerns over the past few years has been to improve its financial management systems, tighten budget reins, create a policy manual and various challenges in the county, including the need for a new jail and addressing public health issues.
Bitler has overseen new construction projects from start to finish and supervision of youth programs, domestic violence shelters, prevention programs and care of the poor. He also has overseen advisory committees monitoring professional misconduct and social concern and has worked as a Health and Human Services collaborative board member. Bitler currently serves on several boards, committees and teams in counties outside Colorado.
His last executive position was in Longmont at the Inn Between, a sizable housing development providing shelter and training for the homeless. Bitler retired from his position as a pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2009. He later was a director of diversion services for the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Jefferson County (Golden).
Bitler’s credentials include a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, a Bachelor of Science degree in social services from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. and Clinical Pastoral Education at Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital, Columbus Ohio and St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth, Minn.
Bitler describes himself in the resume as possessing “an excellent track record of dependability and reliability, a strong sense of responsibility, an exceptional communicator with a consultative style and an excellent strategist. Bitler’s goals for his new position in Saguache will be covered in a future article.