title
Adopt and present a resolution of appreciation honoring Jeff Jewell upon his retirement for his distinguished service to the citizens and veterans in Solano County (Supervisors Thomson and Vasquez)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisors Thomson and Vasquez wish to honor Jeff Jewell upon his retirement after more than 38 years of serving Solano County residents and veterans. Mr. Jewell has spent countless hours volunteering for veterans’ organizations in Vacaville and throughout the North Bay.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the resolution materials are included in the Board’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
SUMMARY / DISCUSSION:
Jeffrey “Jeff” Jewell was born October 15, 1954 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Mr. Jewell grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin within blocks of Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. His father worked in sales and mother was a teacher. Mr. Jewell has one brother and three sisters. He was active in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts and Order of the Arrow. Mr. Jewell was also active in his church, serving as an altar boy.
After high school graduation, Mr. Jewell enlisted in the Air Force. As a service-member, he volunteered for Big Brothers, as a Scout leader and the Suicide Hot Line. He also taught English to Japanese business men and women while stationed in Japan. After the Air Force, Mr. Jewell continued his community service work with the Community Action Counsel where he worked the Suicide Hot Line.
Mr. Jewell was a letter carrier for the Fairfield Post Office from 1981 to 1987. He was the first to implement an employee involvement program with management to help reduce grievances with the post offices in the Bay Area. For his efforts, Mr. Jewell was honored as the Shop Steward of the year in 1987. This included the National Association of Letter Carriers for the entire East Bay, encompassing all 52 post office locations.
Mr. Jewell returned to school in 1989. Over the next several years, he earned four degrees, including an Associate of Science degree in Business from Solano Community College in Suisun City; a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Chapman University in Orange, California.
Mr. Jewell worked as a Veteran Benefits Counselor for Solano County from 1991 to 2001, helping thousands of veterans and family members with their VA Benefits.
Mr. Jewell became an active participant in the Vacaville Veterans community starting in 1991, serving as the Chairman of the Annual Community Holiday Dinners for twenty-five, hosted by the Vacaville Veterans. He is the past Commander in Vacaville of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, United Veterans Memorial Association, and past Chairman of the Vacaville Veterans Building Association.
In March 2001 Mr. Jewell began working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Concord Vet Center, as a therapist working with Combat veterans, including providing community outreach to veterans and their families. He is the lead bereavement counselor in the area, working with families that have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. During this time, he also served on the Department of Veterans Affairs National Homeless Veterans Working Group.
Mr. Jewell spends his off-duty time working with veterans and family members. He is on the executive board of the North Bay Stand Down for homeless and/or at-risk veterans, now in its seventeenth year at the Dixon Fairgrounds. The event is known for giving homeless veterans a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out toward becoming productive members of society.
Mr. Jewell became the Director of the Sacramento Vet Center in March 2010. He returned to the Concord Vet Center in 2017 to serve as its director. Mr. Jewell and his wife, Lynn, live in Vacaville and enjoy spending time volunteering in the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to recognize Jeff Jewell; however, this is not recommended, as this is an opportunity to recognize and honor Jeff Jewell for his outstanding service to Solano County residents and veterans.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County Veterans Services Department
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION