Mau approved as new county health officer

Nick Mau, Shawano and Menominee counties’ assistant health officer/director, was promoted to health officer/director at the June 26 Shawano County Board of Supervisors meeting.

His appointment was recommended by the county’s executive committee and the board of health and veterans service.

Mau succeeds Terri Harmala, who resigned earlier this year.

“With community needs becoming more and more complex in public health, we need to continue to be more flexible and adaptive,” Mau said. “I believe the two most important ways to achieve better public health outcomes is, be continuing to develop innovative partnerships with community groups and agencies, as well as engaging community members that we serve. There’s a role for data collection, but it’s those direct stories and the lived experiences of the residents we serve in this community that are needed to drive public health improvement.”

Julie Hasser, human resources director, told executive committee members June 19 there were five applicants for the job. One candidate did not meet all of the qualifications, and two others were eliminated after phone interviews, she said. Two candidates, including Mau, were interviewed for the post.

Mau has a master’s degree in public health from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree with a major in public health and a minor in psychology from Carroll University in Waukesha.

Mau served as the community health educator for the county from 2016-21 and as the assistant health officer since April 2021.

“I’ve been with the department for about eight years. I’ve really been thrilled with the direction of the department,” Mau said. “We attained national accreditation back in 2017. We are currently in the process and almost in the final stage of being reaccredited through the next five years. That’s a really big deal for a small, rural county.”

Mau also has experience as a project coordinator with Wisconsin Asthma Coalition as well as experience as a project coordinator with Injury Prevention and Child Death Review for Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin.

Locally, he serves on the FRESH Project as an executive board member.

The annual cost for the appointment is less than what was budgeted for 2024. Wages will total $92,976 and fringes will be valued at $45,084.01 for a total of $138,060.01.

The county will now seek to fill the assistant health director position.

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com