Faces of Boone County Putting out fires Al Hyser didn’t have to become a firefighter. He was making a comfortable living, working as a sales rep for Carlson Distributors, a Rockford-based building materials company. But the Belvidere native was looking for something more fulfilling. He found it when he came home to serve his hometown as a firefighter. “That was the key to my decision,” he said. “As a salesman, people are talking about what products you have or do not have; in fire service, you can see the end product. On a citizen’s worst day, we can be difference makers. I can’t think of a better way to serve the community. I would do this all over again.”
For the health of Boone County The health of Boone County is Amanda Mehl’s top priority. Mehl is the public health administrator for the Boone County Health Department, which works to keep the almost 54,000 residents in Boone County safe. Mehl joined the department five years ago as director of personal health services, responsible for clinical nursing and health outreach education. Last fall, she replaced retiring administrator Cynthia Frank. “We are fortunate to have a great health department with a tremendous staff,” Mehl said. “Our team is committed to the health and wellness of our community.”
Putting students first When Dr. Dan Woestman, was hired as Belvidere School District’s superintendent in 2016, he wasted little time getting to work. First, he started getting to know the personnel and schools. Then he spent a day in each school; rode the bus with the students; met with parents and toured each school. He was a substitute teacher in various classes, dined with students and teachers and held town hall meetings with community members. “The work we do happens in the classroom,” he said. “It doesn’t happen in my office.”
10 |
Hyser joined the Belvidere Fire Department in 1995. In 2010, he became a lieutenant and four years later, he was promoted to captain. In 2015, he was named chief. “The most satisfying part of my job is watching the department grow in different ways,” he said. “Aside from emergency response, the most important aspect of our jobs is fire prevention. We have increased our presence in the schools. Training is also important. We are starting to see the fruits of our labor.” Hyser oversees a staff of 28, which includes firefighters, lieutenants, captains and one administrative assistant. The department responds to about 3,000 calls a year, mostly medically related, along with fire, rescue and public assistance calls. In addition to covering Belvidere, the fire department responds to Cherry Valley Fire As the administrator and a registered nurse, Mehl’s role is to oversee the clinic and 17-person staff, including nurses, nutritionists and licensed environmental health practitioners. Many of the staff speak Spanish, to accommodate a growing segment of Boone County’s population. “In public health you never know what is coming next,” she said. “If we experience a large-scale outbreak of salmonella or influenza, for example, my role is to lead the department in the prevention of a communicable disease threat to the community.” The local health department investigates more than 70 illnesses – from the Zika virus to foodborne illnesses. “We are the unsung heroes of population health,” Mehl said. “Any health Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Woestman, the oldest of six children, developed a love for education at an early age. He attended public schools until seventh grade and then was home-schooled for a year, before attending St. Xavier, a private, all-boys high school. “I loved high school,” he said. “It gives you an opportunity to learn and feed your curiosity.” Others encouraged Woestman to study economics in college; Woestman, however, had other plans. He wanted to be an English teacher. After his freshman year at Brigham Young University, Woestman went on a twoyear Mormon mission trip to East Germany, where he taught English. “I enjoyed the social work and the interaction with the people,” he said. “I also realized that I wanted to be a
Department as a rapid intervention team. It is also a member of Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, a regional mutual aid system, headquartered in Illinois, with 1,500 member fire departments across the Midwest. Hyser and his wife, Lisa, have been married 26 years and have two sons, Eric and Garrett, and a 1-year-old granddaughter, Madison. During his free time, Hyser enjoys working out and rooting for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago White Sox. He also serves as a volunteer coach for the Belvidere Bucs football team. Most importantly, he is happy to be serving his hometown. “I love Belvidere and hopefully I am making a difference,” he says. “There is a sense of community here. We keep pushing forward to make Belvidere a better place. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
department flies under the radar, keeping the community safe. We’re your tax dollars hard at work. We’re always investigating matters that can easily spread throughout the community. “I love Boone County,” she added. “It is a place with a great history and hardworking individuals. Sometimes it’s easier to work in preventative health care in smaller communities. It’s easier to bring partners together for projects. Boone County has a lot of potential.” Away from work, Mehl enjoys dancing, teaching Zumba and traveling with her husband, Carmelo, who works for the Winnebago County Health Department.
teacher.” Woestman returned to BYU where he finished his degree in education. He also met his future wife, Sarah, in college. The couple has three young children. In addition to his professional work, Woestman is a High Priest in the Northern Illinois leadership for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assisting youth pastors and youth leaders. “My faith is very important to me,” he said. “Being in a leadership position for a congregation has helped me lead people professionally. It’s not just telling people what to do, but connecting their hopes and dreams.”
www.belviderechamber.com
ILBELCW17 design.indd 10
5/12/2017 11:51:40 AM