Lisa Kocer has been named the permanent director of health and human services in Mower County.

The Mower County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to solidify Kocer’s six-month stint as the head public health and human services official into a permanent position moving forward.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I think this is a great opportunity.”

Kocer, previously the community health director, was appointed the interim director last August after previous director Julie Stevermer resigned.

Since then, the board and other county staff have praised Kocer for her performance as interim director. At December’s truth in taxation meeting, former commissioner Dave Hillier urged the board to hire a full-time director since human services — the county’s largest department — is a complex business and can be subject to fines and other issues if things aren’t completed properly.

With Kocer’s permanent move into the top spot, the department will now streamline and report to her, as well as an assistant health and human services director. The assistant director position replaces the community health director spot and will be responsible for grants, contracts and other duties.

Kocer said she looks forward to finding more ways for the department to be efficient and better serve the county.

“I’m just really proud that this has worked out and hopefully, the transition will continue to be as smooth as possible,” she said.