YOUNGSTOWN — Nancy Mosca, president of Mahoning County Public Health, says the board is “very satisified” with the performance of first-year Health Commissioner Ryan Tekac and has approved a three-year contract extension.

Tekac is among the key health officials in the Valley who have kept the public informed during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The board unanimously approved the contract at a health board meeting this week. The terms of the contract remain the same as during his first year as health commissioner, which ends Jan. 31. He will continue to earn $49.04 per hour or $102,000 per year.

A provision in the contract provides that the initial rate of pay can change during the three-year contract.

Tekak took over as health commissioner following the retirement of Patricia Sweeney, who was commissioner about eight years. Tekac was environmental director for the department from March 2015 until being appointed deputy health commissioner in November 2019. He became health commissioner Feb. 1, 2020.

About a month later it became apparent that the coronavirus was taking hold.

Tekac was hired in September 2003 as sanitarian in training and was promoted to registered sanitarian in October 2005 when he passed the state registered sanitarian exam and met the state requirement of two years experience on the job as a sanitarian in training.

He earned a master’s degree in public health from Youngstown State University last May.

He earned a master of science degree in civil / environmental engineering in May of 2013 from YSU and earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from YSU in May 2003.

Mosca is nursing director for the Center of Nursing Professional Practice at Akron Children’s Hospital. Her term as president of the board expires in March.