Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Janet Schalansky today announced the appointment of Stephen M. Fincher, a 14-year agency employee who most recently was Chanute Area administrative service chief, to the position of Chanute Area director.

Mr. Fincher, a southeast Kansas native, takes over for O.D. Sperry, who will retire as Chanute Area Director on December 8 after 34 years with the department.

The Chanute Area covers the counties of Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson. It is one of 11 SRS areas covering the 105 counties of Kansas.

Secretary Schalansky said that during his tenure with SRS, Mr. Fincher has been a key participant in many statewide workgroups. She said he has been very active in the southeast Kansas community and is recognized for his work on community boards, committees and workgroups.

"Steve has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Southeast Kansas community and will continue the excellent efforts at coalition-building carried out by O.D. Sperry," she said.

Mr. Fincher has held progressive positions in the division of Economic and Employment Support (EES) within SRS. He has supervised EES units in Labette, Montgomery, and Cherokee counties and before welfare reform was a supervisor in the Income Maintenance division in Montgomery County.

Mr. Fincher joined SRS in 1986 after a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy. He held active duty assignments both in the United States and overseas. He and his wife Carol are the parents of two married adult sons and two daughters, one a junior at the University of Kansas and the other a junior at Parsons High School. The couple has two grandchildren.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001