first on decorahnews.com: Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health Executive Director Patrick Smith announces retirement plans

The head of Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health, Patrick Smith, has announced plans to retire this June. Smith has headed the mental health facility since July of 1999. At that time he replaced Des McIvor, who retired after 23 years of service at Northeast Iowa Mental Health.

Employment ads for a new Executive Director started running on Tuesday of this week. Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health will conduct a nationwide search for a replacement for Smith.

Smith says his 11 years at NEIBH were "the most challenging, most satisfying years of my career." He presided over the organization as it changed from being dependent on money from the Winneshiek County Board to earning revenue from fee-based services.

Smith says there are plenty of changes in the wind for the mental health care industry, which makes this a good time to let someone else guide the organization for the next ten years. He says he's pleased that he's retiring at a time when NEIBH is on "solid footing." Says Smith, who turns 66 next month, "It's time."