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Miller takes over from Ranck as PCCS director
In whatever has happened in Andrew Ranck’s nearly 10 years at the helm of Putnam County Comprehensive Services, one thing has remained constant.
Put the person at the center of every decision and you’ll do fine.
Those were Ranck’s words of wisdom during a surprise farewell reception in his honor Thursday at the PCCS office, but it’s not exactly new advice. It’s an individual-centered approach that Ranck inherited from predecessor Chuck Schroeder and now passes on to J.D. Miller, who is completing a yearlong transition as the new executive director of Putnam County Comprehensive Services.
It’s a credit to the stability of the Greencastle-based non-profit serving citizens with developmental disabilities that Miller will be just the third executive director since 1972.
“I’ve been very blessed to have Andrew. I’ve been leaning on him a lot,” Miller told the Banner Graphic back in August on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the founding of PCCS. “I’ve been with the agency for 13 years, and this was all part of our strategic plan and succession planning. So whenever I heard, it was a little shocking at first. But it was something we were talking about and planning for, so it’s just succession planning taking place. I think everything so far has gone really, really well.
That transition is now complete, with Ranck bowing out, his move to Indianapolis from Greencastle complete. When Ranck arrived, it was a homecoming of sorts for the 1991 DePauw University graduate, and he was pleased with the reception he received.
“I was impressed with how Greencastle accepted me and let me join different groups, different clubs and be a leader not just for the agency, but recognizing the need for leadership in the town as well,” Ranck said. “That’s been really important to make sure I’m not just PCCS, I’m Greencastle as well.”
That’s been clear with Ranck not only getting involved with Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals and Kiwanis Club of Greencastle, but serving terms as president of both groups.
Through his PCCS-Kiwanis connection, Ranck was instrumental in forming the Kiwanis Aktion Club of Putnam County back in 2016. The Aktion Club’s mission is to provide adults with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills and to serve their communities, in the mold of Kiwanis.
Of course, PCCS was always a big focus, considering the organization serves clients well beyond Putnam County. In fact, it serves 26 counties from offices in both Putnam and Johnson counties.
“I didn’t realize the need we would have to focus not just on Greencastle and Putnam County, but we have a whole other world down in Franklin and Greenwood, a whole other office and region down there. Twenty-six counties is pretty impressive,” Ranck said. “That was challenging, but the team I inherited and the team I’ve developed since then has helped me out so much being successful in Greencastle and beyond.”
Looking over the last several years, of course, no issue was bigger than the COVID-19 pandemic. During his farewell, Ranck noted that he was especially aggressive in the measures he took to keeps staff and clients safe, but also offered no regrets. The results speak for themselves.
“I know there were times during Covid that I got over the top, and I won’t apologize for that,” Ranck said. “More than 400 people between staff and consumers, and not one passed away from Covid. That’s a credit to you all.”
Now such responsibilities fall to Miller, though the Putnam County native comes with plenty of experience with PCCS and its client-centered approach.
A 2005 South Putnam graduate and 2009 DePauw grad, Miller began his PCCS career in 2010 as a direct support professional in the men’s group home. He moved into administration as the quality assurance director in 2016, then associate director in 2018, followed by his most recent promotion this year.
“I have worked in about every position, and Andrew had too,” Miller noted. “Working from that DSP all the way up to executive director, you have a different perspective on things and can see how some changes that we make administratively might affect day-to-day operations of our staff that are working directly with individuals that we serve. That’s definitely been something that I pride myself on as I’ve come up through the ranks.
“And our DSPs are our backbone, doing the day-to-day work. Very thankful for them.”
Besides his experience, Miller credits the mentorship he’s received.
“Thank you to Andrew for being a mentor, especially for me these last eight years,” Miller said. “I want to thank Andrew, and PCCS definitely thanks you, for everything you’ve done in your tenure these last 10 years. We’re definitely appreciative.”
He also credited Schroeder, who spent more than 40 years at the helm before handing over the reins to Ranck.
“I’ve had a great foundation with Chuck laying the foundation for Comprehensive Services and then Andrew continuing to build on that,” Miller said. “The two of them laying that for me, we should be able to continue that success and then grow and provide more quality services going forward for the individuals that we serve.
“The board has been great in placing their confidence in me; the staff, also, placing their confidence and trust in me; and the individuals served, obviously, placing their confidence in me. I think with all of those people having all the confidence, that we’ll continue to be successful.”
Present for that anniversary celebration, Schroeder was quick to credit his two successors and everyone else involved in the success of PCCS.
“I just want to thank Andrew for carrying on and looking forward to J.D.,” Schroeder said. “I appreciate you all showing up – it’s good to see familiar faces. Because of you is where we are now.”
Before Ranck’s departure on Thursday, Miller tended to one last piece of business, as the departing director was presented with a piece of mixed-media art titled “Kadog Says Farewell.”
A crudely-sketched dog on a multi-colored background, the Kadog piece clearly moved Ranck.
He explained that Kadog was one of the very first drawings to emerge when PCCS began an art program for its clients back in 2016.
What began as a two-week study for PCCS has grown into a program that utilizes visual art as not only a form of creative expression but as a source of income for PCCS clients. The client who created Kadog is no longer with PCCS, but Ranck still sees the dog as a symbol of the program and of people with developmental disabilities as a whole.
“Kadog is not like other things, but he’s still important,” Ranck said. “He’s like our people because they’re not perfect dogs or cats, but they are perfect.”
Based on the reception he received from clients and staff upon his departure, it seems Ranck has been a perfect fit for PCCS.
