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Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Matthew Damschroder inspires innovation to support the agency's employees and the Ohioans they serve. That's one reason he is The Center for Community Solutions Award for Public Service in Honor of John A. Begala winner in 2024.
From leading the working group who thoughtfully explored SNAP employment and training which resulted in a comprehensive plan and system improvements, to supporting working families by enabling them to maintain access to SNAP as they earn more so they don't have to choose between job and food, Director Damschroder’s diligent work around SNAP propels Ohio towards becoming an exceptional place to live and thrive, benefiting tens of thousands of families in the state.
About Director Damschroder
Mr. Damschroder was appointed interim director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) by Gov. Mike DeWine in March 2021 and was named permanent director in July 2021. No stranger to the important work at ODJFS, he and his wife have been foster parents and have two adopted children. He understands how adoption and foster care can change a child's life – and the lives of the adoptive and foster parents!
About his work
At ODJFS, he has inspired innovation and transformational change to improve services to customers and support employees. With the help of talented, passionate employees throughout the agency, ODJFS has:
- Implemented a new system for employers to pay and track unemployment taxes
- Added tools to safeguard our technology systems and benefits programs against fraudsters
- Implemented new policies and programs to help unemployed Ohioans return to work faster
- Incentivized employers to sponsor apprenticeships by covering training and tool costs
- Modified our benefits self-service portal to simplify user experiences
- Simplified application and renewal forms to apply for nutrition benefits
- Expanded machine-learning tools to automate business processes
- Modernized shared services with county offices to give them greater flexibility in delivering their services
- Created a program for employees to share innovations and suggestions to improve services and processes
- Made it easier for the public to engage with ODJFS by moving to a new user-friendly website at jfs.ohio.gov
- Led the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic when extraordinary numbers of Ohioans needed benefits, bad actors were scamming the system, employees had to be shifted to remote operations, and federal and state policies were changed frequently
Prior to joining ODJFS, Mr. Damschroder served as director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services since January 2019.
While at DAS, he brought a focus of customer service to the agency. Under his direction, there was a renewed effort to provide innovative and secure technology through the Office of Information Technology and its InnovateOhio Platform. He also focused on customer-centric improvements to the State's procurement functions and helped further Gov. DeWine's efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in State government, including making the State of Ohio a model employer for individuals with disabilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Damschroder led DAS efforts to utilize information technology and data to help health officials make informed decisions and communicate with the public while using DAS procurement and logistics expertise to secure and distribute more than 140 million pieces of personal protective equipment.
Prior to joining DAS, Mr. Damschroder served in the office of then-Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted. There, he first served as Secretary Husted's State Elections Director from 2011 to 2014, then as the Assistant Secretary of State and Chief of Staff.
A native of Columbus, Mr. Damschroder holds an M.A. in Public Policy and Management from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Max M. Fisher College of Business, both at The Ohio State University.
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