Five questions with Jesse Kent, Project/Program Manager III, Department of Local Services
When did you start in your role with King County, and what is your official title?
I started at King County in March 2019. I am the Manager for the Service Partnership Program within the Department of Local Services (DLS). The department works to ensure the local service needs of unincorporated communities are met. We have created service partnerships with other King County departments to help determine needs, better coordinate services, and monitor service delivery in the unincorporated areas. These partnerships help to define the relationship, services and processes in unincorporated King County between Local Services and other County agencies.
Before coming to King County I was doing research and working on my degree in particle physics. While doing this I started thinking about my future long-term and realized I’d like to get back to public service. When a friend recommended I apply to a position at King County, I did.
What do you do in your role?
My work varies. Part of it is managing relationships with service partners, and producing the Local Services quarterly report. The report pulls together data from across partner agencies and other sources on service delivery in our various community service areas. I also help Local Services with performance management and special projects that require technical data analysis.
Why did you choose this field as your career?
I chose this field because I like to work on and solve problems with a team in a data driven way and this seemed like a great place to do that. The people in Local Services are wonderful to work with and are committed to making the lives of unincorporated area residents better. I really appreciate the way that King County is vested in its employee’s personal and professional wellbeing, and the County’s values resonate with me and how I want to approach my work.
What is the biggest challenge of your job?
Honestly, scheduling and coordinating with people from across the county and its varied lines of business. I really dislike planning meetings and things that resemble party planning, so it’s a bit of a tongue in cheek answer.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I really enjoy the people I work with both service partners in other agencies, and the people in the Local Services Director’s office. Also, there is great variety in my work and in the things King County does in unincorporated areas, I don’t have very many boring days. It’s great to learn about all of these services.
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Nominate team members for 2019 Performance Excellence Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the Executive’s second-annual Performance Excellence Awards. The recognition program – the first of its kind at the County – honors employees and workgroups for their exceptional contributions in performance, leadership, and innovation.
Anyone in the Executive Branch can nominate a team or individual for a Performance Excellence Award until Jan. 10. You’ll find information about the awards here, including nomination categories, criteria, and forms.
Executive Constantine introduced the Performance Excellence Awards last year, and five teams were recognized for their outstanding performance in 2018. The awards program has been expanded to include more categories and increase the number of teams and individuals who will be awarded in 2019.
The Performance Excellence Awards are a great way to show appreciation for team members who are delivering outstanding results for King County residents. Submit your nominations by Jan. 10.
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Giving Tuesday: Make a Difference Today and All Year Long
As our Annual Giving Drive winds down, you can still make a difference through the Employee Giving Program.
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving powered by social media and collaboration. To join the movement, and make it easy to give all year round, we’ve reopened the online pledging system for payroll donations for one day only! Give now.
More than 500 past contributors have yet to renew payroll for 2020. Renewal is easy — but not automatic. Renew now.
If you’ve already pledged — thank you for your generosity!
On Giving Tuesday and all year, we work with hundreds of nonprofits to make our community and world healthier, stronger, and more vibrant.
Thank you for all you do.
Learn more www.kingcounty.gov/giving Questions? employeegiving@kingcounty.gov
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KCIT update: Transitioning to Windows 10
The push to upgrade all Windows 7 operating system computers to Windows 10 operating systems continues, and King County Information and Technology (KCIT) is on track to meet a Jan. 14 Microsoft deadline. On that date, Microsoft will stop supporting the Windows 7 system. Only a limited number of county devices will be allowed to continue with the Windows 7 system, as they run specialized software not compatible with the Windows 10 system.
Because of the switchover to Windows 10, KCIT will not allow devices with the Windows 7 system to connect to King County’s VPN network as of Jan. 9. Users should expect to see a banner notifying them about this change on the VPN connector soon. It is important to note King County does not support personal devices, and it is up to users to ensure their operating system is current with all county requirements.
For questions, contact the KCIT Help Desk at 206-263-4357 or submit a Help Desk ticket.
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Metro’s updated web-based Trip Planner offers better searching, real-time departure predictions, plus a whole lot more!
Crossposted from Metro Matters
King County Metro continues making your transit experience better and easier with the launch of its improved web-based Puget Sound Trip Planner. The new site includes upgraded accessibility features and a responsive design for mobile users, along with a list of other notable enhancements. The new web-based Trip Planner is live and ready for use now.
Read more from Metro Matters
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Featured Job: Communications Coordinator (Communications Specialist IV)
Salary: $88,416.84 – $112,073.11 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: DNRP – Natural Resources & Parks
Job Number: 2019MK10902
Closing: 12/10/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Pet of the Week: Smalls
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
You’re killin’ me Smalls – with your cuteness!
Our Pet of the Week is a seven-year-old pittie mix. This handsome boy came to us in early October. At the Pet Adoption Center, Smalls is a bit scared of his surroundings. However, when you talk to him and take him for walks, his nervousness eases a little. He does take a bit of time to relax around new people, but once he does he’ll stick to you like glue.
Read more from Tails from RASKC
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Happy Thanksgiving to all our employees
A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our King County employees. The work you do, supporting one another and enriching our community, makes a real difference in creating a beautiful, welcoming region for everyone to thrive. Enjoy this time with loved ones and know that we appreciate you.
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King County’s Peter Keum given state GIS Day award
At the State of Washington GIS Day event in Olympia last week, King County’s Peter Keum was awarded the first ever ‘Government Helping Government GIS Recognition Award.’
The award recognizes extraordinary GIS professionals who work for a government agency, but who go beyond their normal duties and outside their normal working days and hours to help other government agencies in Washington State. Peter was nominated by his peers for volunteer activity that included organizing user groups, promoting the use of drones for spatial data collection by government agencies, and supporting Native American Tribes to implement GIS solutions.
Peter is a GIS Analyst who works for King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division.
Read more from GIS & You
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Seattle Public Safety Survey runs through Nov. 30
The City of Seattle is seeking feedback from people working or living in Seattle in its annual Seattle Public Safety Survey.
The survey is conducted independently by Seattle University researchers, and asks a series of questions to determine safety and security concerns in Seattle. The results of the survey will be reported to the Seattle Police Department and “be used in conjunction with crime data to direct Seattle police resources and services to target unique needs of Seattle’s micro-communities,” according to the City of Seattle.
The survey is open to people 18 years of age or older who live and/or work in the city of Seattle. It runs through Nov. 30 and all responses are confidential. It is available in 11 languages and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Learn more at publicsafetysurvey.org.
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