Metro receives national recognition for ‘first of its kind’ battery-bus software
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
Foundry’s CIO, a national publication that focuses on the use of technology in business, is recognizing a King County Metro program that is the first of its kind in North America. Software measuring the effectiveness of the infrastructure that powers our battery-electric bus fleet received the CIO 100 award from the publication. Read more.
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Relaunching the True North and values that guide our work
Dear fellow King County employee,
I am excited to announce that we are relaunching our Executive Branch values and our True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Our True North captures the heart of our work and is a navigational point. Our values guide our work, our decision-making, and the way we show up for one another and our customers. They define the type of organization we are and strive to be, moving us closer to our True North and our goal of becoming the Best-Run Government:
- We are one team
- We focus on the customer
- We drive for results
- We lead the way
- We are responsible stewards
- We respect all people
- We are racially just
- We solve problems.
For each value we have produced a short video featuring fellow King County employees and leaders sharing what the value means to them and their work. We are kicking off the relaunch with our We respect all people value. It doesn’t matter where we work at the County; it is imperative that we treat every person we work alongside and serve with respect. Respect is the foundation of everything we do, and we need to seek to understand all perspectives, beliefs, and values. We need to engage all people in decisions that affect them and recognize all people for their contributions and accomplishments. I encourage you to watch this video to learn more.
In 2019, I launched our True North and values, and we began a monthly learning focus on each. When COVID-19 struck King County at the start of 2020, we put a pause on the values rollout, but we never stopped living them. In fact, our response to the pandemic demonstrated our values in action as we led the way for the rest of the nation. We joined together as one team to solve problems and steward our region through the pandemic. We were guided by our We Are Racially Just and We Respect All People values as we delivered solutions that focused on the customer. We drove for results that followed the science and saved thousands of lives.
Thank you for your commitment and dedication to serving King County, our residents, and region. I look forward to our continued journey together making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine (he/him/his)
King County Executive
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Relaunching the True North and values that guide our work
King County Executive Dow Constantine has announced the relaunch of the Executive Branch values and True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
“Our True North captures the heart of our work and is a navigational point,” Executive Constatine said, “Our values guide our work, our decision-making, the way we show up for one another and our customers.”
These values define the type of organization King County is and strives to be:
- We are one team
- We focus on the customer
- We drive for results
- We lead the way
- We are responsible stewards
- We respect all people
- We are racially just
- We solve problems.
Executive Constantine launched the True North and values in 2019 with a monthly learning focus on each. When COVID-19 struck King County at the start of 2020, a pause was put on the values rollout, but employees never stopped living them. For the relaunch, a short video will be produced for each value featuring fellow King County employees and leaders sharing what the value means to them and their work.
“We are kicking off the relaunch with our We respect all people value,” Executive Constantine stated. “It doesn’t matter where we work at the County; it is imperative that we treat every person we work alongside and serve with respect. Respect is the foundation of everything we do, and we need to seek to understand all perspectives, beliefs, and values.”
“I encourage you to watch this video to learn more,” he added.
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Multiple wins in disassembly and recycling collaboration with Weld Works
From DNRP News
A productive collaboration between King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) and local staffing organization Weld Works not only resulted in the successful disassembly and recycling of offices and cubes on the sixth floor of King Street Center, it provided jobs and training to a diverse labor pool in need.
Weld Works is a non-profit serving the construction, manufacturing, and retail industries with purpose and heart by bringing together companies hiring in construction, clean-up, and general labor with a pool of individuals interested and ready to work to get the job done. The program connects people in transition, often from incarceration, to a path of dignified, long-term employment.
The collaborative effort involved King County’s Green Jobs and Solid Waste Division’s (SWD) Construction and Demolition programs, as well as with the Facilities Management Division (FMD), and the Department of Human Resources getting together to arrange the partnership with Weld Works.
“The workers not only did a great job removing the cubicle walls and panels, they were able to recycle a lot of the material that otherwise would have been landfilled,” said Kinley Deller, SWD’s Construction and Demolition Project manager. What’s more, Deller said the collaboration resulted in FMD exploring future opportunities with Weld Works for the disassembly and recycling of panels, as well as furniture, for future County projects.
Also as part of the effort, the County’s Green Jobs Program provided job application training to Weld Works workers assigned to the project.
“The purpose of the clinic is to better equip community members with resumes that reflect the work conducted on County projects as well as train participants on tactics to effectively navigate the NeoGov application system for open positions, growing the County pool of qualified applicants,” said Michael Carter, Green Jobs Program manager.
Learn more about King County’s Green Jobs Strategy here.
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Seattle Symphony employee discount: Battleship Potemkin
Experience Battleship Potemkin projected on the big screen with a full symphony orchestra performing the accompanying score by Dmitri Shostakovich live to the film.
Battleship Potemkin is still considered one of the greatest films of the 20th century. Directed and co-written by Sergei Eisenstein, it presents a dramatization of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin rebelled against its officers.
King County employees are eligible for discounted tickets for this unique event. Enter the passcode SILENT before selecting your seats at check out.
- Thursday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
- Satureday, April 22 at 8 p.m.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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New Mindfulness schedule for spring 2023
Balanced You continues to partner with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. Browse through the new spring 2023 mindfulness schedule to see new topics and register for a class. All classes are held live on Zoom.
Mindfulness is a practice that can help you quiet your mind, find focus, and reduce some of the stress many of us experience. We have classes available for all employees that will teach techniques such as mindful movement, mindful relationships, and more.
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Safety tip: Safe Commute Options
Our top priority is your safety and security at work, and we are continuing to partner with law enforcement, community, and other governments to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment in and around our facilities.
King County offers employees a variety of Safe Commute Options to help you arrive to your destination with confidence. The Walkpool, Walking Bus, and Vanpool programs provided by the Employee Transportation Program are available for your benefit.
Check out the Safe Commute Options video to learn more.
Remember, in the case of an emergency call 9-1-1. To report a non-emergency incident, contact FMD Security at 206-296-5000, email FMD.Security@kingcounty.gov, or file an incident report at www.kingcounty.gov/IncidentReport.
For more information on employee safety programs and resources, see the Future of Work Personal Safety at Work intranet page (employees only) and the Safety at Work page.
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Shout outs: Sharing stories about King County employees, programs, and events
All across King County things are happening – exciting things. Incredible things. Things that might surprise you.
Sometimes a person or a program deserves broader recognition, and you may be just the person to provide that shout out.
At Employee News, we want to highlight the great work that employees are doing across departments, branches, and agencies. If you have an idea for an employee, team, or program that should be highlighted, we want to hear from you!
Email kcemployees@kingcounty.gov and share some details with us, including the program or employee/s, and a person to contact. We email two editions of Employees News each week – every Tuesday and Thursday – to all King County employees, so there are plenty of opportunities to share your news.
Thank you for everything you do for King County and its residents. We look forward to sharing your stories.
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“It took a village”
Sheriff Cole-Tindall recently completed a 19-week re-certification at the Washington State Police Academy.
From Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall
Attending the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) was nothing less than a journey, and I want to thank everyone who supported me along the way.
To our personnel at the range, the track, and Basic Training Unit: it was remarkable to see you in your element. You are true professionals, and your dedication to the essential work you do is inspiring.
I also want to thank the command staff, Undersheriff Jesse Anderson, and Kim Johnson who took care of me and kept the wheels on this big bus moving. There are so many that helped me along the way, and I say it “took a village” to get the Sheriff through the Academy.
Again, words cannot express how grateful I am for everyone who played a part in my completion of BLEA. My success can be attributed to you.
It is an honor, and I am truly humbled, to lead the King County Sheriff’s Office.
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Still looking for a 2023 calendar?
The 2023 Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Calendar is still available for download.
The 2023 calendar features the artwork First Family by Grace A. Washington, and the quote “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You can download copies to print or display on your phone or computer. For more information and links to the calendar, click here.
Employee News 