Cook County welcomes Kristen Trebil-Halbersma as new administrator

After over nine months of vacancy in the role, Cook County has a new county administrator, Kristen Trebil-Halbersma. She takes on the job left by James Joerke in October of 2024, and temporarily filled by interim administrators Rowan Watkins and Rena Rogers.

Trebil-Halbersma’s first official day was Aug 4. She is new to county administration, but not new to government work. She brings with her a background of working within the judicial branch. Most recently she worked for the National Center for State Courts, where she worked as a coach and consultant.

Though she is changing branches of government, Trebil-Halbersma said she thinks her background with the courts has given her skills that will help her in this new role. She said, “I do think that my past experiences are quite aligned with this new role, and will really set me up for success here in Cook County and serving as the County Administrator. You know, for example, I’ve got experience working with health and human services in the past, and working with the sheriff’s office, working with space planning as well.”

In addition to her previous work planning physical spaces, she said she has experience with organizational planning, as well. “I supervised in my past role a strategic planning team that did organizational assessments nationally,” she said. “Those skills will be helpful as I look at the county organizational structure and the county needs and trying to determine, you know, what are some of the things that would benefit the county as we move forward?”

Trebil-Halbersma said that she was drawn to Cook County by the administrator job, but that she also already knew and likes the area. She owns a cabin in Lutsen and has hiked the Superior Hiking Trail. More than anything, however, she said the community is what attracted her to the position. “Every time that I’ve come up to Cook County, everyone is just so welcoming and gracious and wonderful individuals.”

Community members interested in meeting the new administrator can attend a meet and greet at the Cook County Community Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Kristen Trebil-Halbersma spoke to WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski August 12, 2025