New Western U.P. Health Department chief named

HANCOCK -– Kate Beer M.P.A., C.P.A., C.G.M.A., has been named the new Health Officer-Administrator of Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.

Courtesy Western U.P. Health Department

HANCOCK — Kate Beer M.P.A., C.P.A., C.G.M.A., has been named the new Health Officer-Administrator of Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. On October 1st, Beer will begin as health officer, the top public health official serving the 71,000 residents of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties, succeeding Guy St. Germain, who retires September 30th.

Beer has worked at the health department since June 1996, where she currently serves as director of accounting and finance. She also served as the executive officer of the health department’s former home health company.

Beer earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting from Western Michigan University, and a master’s in public administration from Northern Michigan University.

Beer lives in Aura with her husband, Craig, and daughter, Emily, a student at L’Anse High School. Their son, Charlie, is a student at Michigan State University.

“I am very excited about the new assignment,” Beer said. “I look forward to working with community partners to safeguard and improve health in the Western U.P. region.”