Carbon County has named its new chief adult probation officer.

During the commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, the board acknowledged the court appointment of Janene M. Holter of Tamaqua as the new head of that department, effective April 1. She replaces Matthew J. Kimmel of Lehighton, who retired from the position Feb. 2 after serving as the chief for just under two years.

A graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, Holter has had an extensive career in the criminal justice field, including in Carbon County.

The daughter of the late Dr. George and Patricia Holter, she completed her internship in the Carbon County District Attorney’s office before graduating from Alvernia University with a degree in criminal justice. She then went on to become a case manager at Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol in Lehighton.

In February 1997, Holter was hired as an adult probation officer under the leadership of Chief Ron Kokinda.

Holter credits Kokinda for encouraging her to continue her education.

She graduated from Marywood University with a master’s degree in 2002 and enrolled in a doctorate program at Alvernia, graduating with her doctorate in philosophy with a concentration in leadership and community in 2018.

She left Carbon County in June 1999 to serve in the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Over the last 25 years, she has held several positions within the state agency and retires at the end of the month.

“I never thought I would be coming back to Carbon,” Holter said Friday, noting that she is looking forward to her new endeavor and credits her parents for helping guide her career path. “I had a great journey starting with an internship in the Carbon DA’s office. ... I never thought I would be the chief of adult probation. I believe God places you in positions for a reason. God has a plan.”

“I’m excited to be back home.”

She will be sworn into the position by the courts on April 1.