King County Sheriff Deputy highlighted in Vashon newspaper
Retiring King County Sheriff Deputy Kurt Lysen was celebrated in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber with a featured profile for his 38 years serving the public of King County. The article highlighted his personal and professional background, his passion for being involved in the community and includes quotes from colleagues, friends, and fellow volunteers.
“Vashon is a unique community that requires a unique type of policing. Kurt was the perfect and most effective deputy Vashon could ask for,” said Deputy Jeff Hancock. “What I saw that set Kurt apart from all the other deputies working the island was his true love for the island and for the people who call Vashon home. He had a vested interest and commitment to making Vashon safe.”
Read the full profile here, titled “King County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurt Lysen retires.”
Share this:
Training Spotlight: Skype 101, You’re the Boss: Now What? and King County Bridge Fellowship/Mentoring Learning Event
Skype 101, Jan. 16 and 18: To support a more agile work force, King County has purchased a Microsoft package that includes the Skype software. This software has many uses and allows employees to avoid relying upon email for electronic communications. Skype was not only designed as a quick communication tool but also provides capabilities of remote meetings, video presentations as well as a great training tool. Register and learn more here for the 16 and here for the 18.
You’re the Boss: Now What? Feb. 28: Has your job position changed and now you are in charge? Are you adapting to a new supervisory role? In the two-class workshop gain insight in how you can efficiently make the transition to supervisor and how to effectively support and coach your team. Register and learn more.
King County Bridge Fellowship/Mentoring Learning Event, March 6: The Department of Human Resources’ learning and development program supports King County employees to learn, grow, and advance their King County careers. In order for an organization to stay robust, we must invest in our greatest resource – our employees. We invite you to come and learn about two of our premiere programs. Register and learn more.
Share this:
Equity and justice highlighted at 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
On Thursday, Jan. 10, King County’s 32nd annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration was held at The Sanctuary Seattle in downtown Seattle. The event focused on a unifying theme, drawing from a popular Dr. King quote, that truthfulness and love can have a profound impact on the world: “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”
Executive Constantine shared how the event theme aligns with the work King County is doing to achieve equity and social justice for all residents.
“Dr. King’s reference to unconditional love underscores that our struggle for racial justice requires both our minds and our hearts,” said Executive Constantine. “In King County, in the county that bears Dr. King’s name, we are more determined than ever to continue this quest.”
The event featured keynote speaker Ijeoma Oluo, the local New York Times bestselling author of “So You Want to Talk About Race” as well as commentary from several King County officials. The King County Native American Leadership Council provided a Land Acknowledgement. Rose Dotson, Executive Assistant with the Department of Assessments and member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, and Matias Valenzuela Director of the King County Office Equity and Social Justice, opened and closed the ceremony. King County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Larry Gossett also spoke throughout the event, welcoming guests and introducing the keynote speaker.
Additional performances were given by Michael Hepburn, a King County Prosecuting Attorney in the Civil Division, and Sharon Nyree Williams, a spoken word artist. Michael played piano and led the audience to sing the opening and closing event songs, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Yes, We Can.” Sharon performed lively original poetry, inspiring the audience and eliciting several cheers.
For more information about the annual celebration of King County’s namesake, visit the King County website. View photos and video of the event below.
Share this:
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Lunch and Learn, Jan. 25
King County and the City of Seattle have embraced the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program as an effective and credible alternative for local law enforcement to booking people into jail for criminal activity that stems from untreated mental health or substance use disorders. By working with law enforcement to channel these individuals into community-based interventions, LEAD effectively disrupts their cycling repeatedly through our criminal justice system and gives them the tools and opportunity to achieve stability in the community.
Learn more about this innovative program at a LEAD Lunch and Learn held Friday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at Seattle City Hall. The event will feature opening remarks from City of Seattle and King County leaders, a panel with community organizations and LEAD participants, and a brief question and answer session.
LEAD diverts people engaged in low-level drug crime, prostitution, and crimes of poverty away from the criminal justice system–bypassing prosecution and jail time—and connects them with intensive case managers who can offer crisis response, criminal justice system coordination, and access to community services including counseling, treatment and housing.
For questions or more information contact Carolanne Sanders, LEAD Program & Jail Diversion Specialist, at Carolanne.Sanders@kingcounty.gov.
Share this:
Transportation employee honored at state awards ceremony
Road Maintenance Manager Jeremy Ferguson was recently honored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) Washington State Chapter for his achievements in the public works profession. The Night of Excellence conference recognizes individuals for personal and team accomplishments.
First, Jeremy received the June Rosentreter Spence Award, which recognizes efforts to recruit individuals into the public works field, especially those historically underrepresented such as women, minorities, and people with disabilities. His recognition for this award can be viewed in this video. Jeremy was also a co-recipient of the APWA Committee in Action Award for his work on the Diversity Committee. This award recognizes a committee that provides exceptional value to the American Public Works Association membership and public works professionals by developing educational opportunities that foster understanding, awareness, and involvement for diversity.
The APWA described Jeremy as “a true leader in promoting diversity and inclusion, not only within APWA but within King County and the community. He has been a work-horse for the Diversity Committee giving presentations, and taking other actions to engage conference attendees in diversity.”
Pictured at left: From left to right APWA WA President Scott Egger, King County’s Jeremy Ferguson, and former APWA WA President Kirk Holmes. Pictured below: Jeremy with coworkers and out in the field.
Share this:
“What is a Presiding Judge and why do we need one?”
A new podcast from King County Superior Court features Judge Laura Inveen, who has been on the bench for 26 years and spent the last two years as Presiding Judge. We talk to her about what a “PJ” does and how she works with 52 co-equal colleagues.
Share this:
Featured Job: Marketing and Service Information Supervisor
Salary: $107,762.09 – $130,276.64 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: MTD – Metro Transit
Job Number: 2018EE09146
Closing: 1/17/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
King County Metro – recently named North America’s most outstanding large transit system – is a leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. We provides mobility services that connect people and communities in Seattle and King County. We operate more than 200 bus routes covering about 2,000 square miles, a complementary paratransit program, and one of the largest vanpool programs in the country. We also offer and are developing a wide array of innovative mobility programs to help meet our customers’ changing needs and growing demand.
We are seeking someone to manage our marketing and customer communications efforts. We’re looking for a person who’s energized about helping current and new customers get where they need to go. The successful candidate will have strategic marketing and branding experience and customer communications experience to connect the diverse people of King County and the region with our services.
This position leads a talented staff of 20 employees in Metro’s Marketing & Promotions, Service Information, and Distribution Services groups. They are supported by two chief-level managers and an administrative specialist.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
Share this:
Pet of the Week: Pearl
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
This girl needs a new home in the New Year – meet Pearl, our Pet of the Week!
She was brought in by a good Samaritan last May, and thought she had found her forever home. Unfortunately though, Pearl had to come back to us because her adopter was allergic. They did say that Pearl was a great pet, potty trained, and super well behaved.
Read more from Tails from RASKC
Share this:
Kudos! King County Metro Transit receives rave from Seattle Times readers
This piece was featured at the top of the Seattle Times’ Rant and Raves list for December 30, 2018. Kudos to our efficient King County Metro Transit!
“RAVE To Sound Transit, King County Metro Transit and Seattle Center Monorail for providing me and my out-of-town visitor a pleasant adventure from Auburn into Seattle, all on public transportation! From the kind attendant in Auburn who alerted us that we were on the wrong side of the train platform, to the friendly enforcers who boarded the train to verify riders had paid. Once into Seattle, everyone was gracious, polite and knowledgeable guiding us from purchasing tickets to directing us on our stops to the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and back to Auburn.”
Share this:
Featured Training: Lean Problem-Solving Basics and Introduction to Career Development,
Lean Problem-Solving Basics, Feb. 5: Do you feel like you tackle the same problems over and over again? In order to effectively solve problems once and for all, they must be solved at the root! Attendees will learn basic A3 Problem Solving, the powerful method borrowed from the Toyota Production System (TPS), learn techniques to incorporate problem solving and continuous improvement in daily work and build on existing Lean practices within your organization. Register and learn more.
Introduction to Career Development, Feb. 5: In this workshop you will learn the key elements of career development, identify your individual interests and values as they relate to career options, explore similar job classifications, learn the importance of competencies when identifying career options, leverage tips for engaging in conversations with your leadership, and gain the knowledge of how to research and seize career opportunities. You will choose a partner and participate in various exercises together. Register and learn more.
Employee News 