Employee Spotlight: Walking for Earth Month
Crossposted from King County Parks Plog
by Gabriel Avila-Mooney, DNRP Communications Specialist
So normally, my preferred mode of movement is on two wheels, but being that it’s Earth Month and walking apparently doesn’t emit any carbon pollution, I decided to try out this whole walking thing. Not really to get anywhere, but you know, for my health. Turns out — it’s not so bad.
At first I was thinking someplace with dirt. But as it was my first time, I thought I’d keep the bar low. Someplace flat, but with direction. And nothing too technical. I didn’t want to be dodging anything: trees or branches, other people, dogs off their leashes, roots or piles of rocks, vermin or other larger wild animals.
I decided that one of King County Parks’ Regional Trails was just the ticket. I parked at Marymoor Park in Redmond, sliding into the spot backwards in case of a quick getaway. The parking lot looked good for walking, nice and flat, paved, but a bit too many cars.
It only took me a few seconds to locate the trail. It was wide and flat, perfect for a beginner like me. I reviewed my notes: “place one foot in front of another in a general direction”. Seemed easy enough. I mean, children do this, right?
After a couple of false starts, I was off. Wind blowing through my hair, arms pumping wildly, I inhaled the brisk, slightly damp morning air. This wasn’t so bad. I was doing it, it was Earth Month, and I was walking. Seriously, have you tried this?
There were a few other fellow “walkers” out there. I said hello, gestured madly at my moving feet, and said, “we’re walking, huh?!” They smiled but seemed less impressed than I was. Oh well, some people just take to things more naturally than others, I guess.
Whatever you have planned for Earth Month, I’d suggest doing it, but walk there, or just walk around in general. It’s great. Take it from me, I’m a walker now!
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Featured Job: Engineer IV
Salary: $98,904.00 – $119,558.40 Annually
Location: King Street Center – 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Term Limited Temporary, Full Time, 40 hrs/wk
Department: Department of Transportation – Transit Division
Job Number: 2018RL08026
Closing: 05/08/2018 11:59 PM (GMT -8:00)
Description: Join our team! Metro’s Speed & Reliability group is looking to hire an Engineer IV position to lead a team of professionals whose mission is to advocate and deliver transportation engineering solutions that promote excellent transit service. We are seeking an individual who can represent Metro on various interagency and technical committees, lead and coordinate Metro and project teams related to corridor planning and conceptual development planning, advocate for Metro on major capital projects constructed by other public agencies with significant impacts to Metro operations, provide direct guidance to Speed and Reliability team, and work well with addressing complex and politically sensitive issues. Please Note: Competitive candidate will be contacted to participate in an interview that will occur during the week of May 21. We ask that candidates be available during this time if selected for an interview.
Contact: For more information, contact Reeshema Lewis, PHR, Senior Human Resource Analyst, at 206- 263-8413 or Reeshema.Lewis@KingCounty.gov.
Learn more about this position or all available jobs.
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Social Media Spotlight: King County Archives on Pinterest
King County Archives has a great collection of boards on Pinterest! From 
buildings and bridges to a board covering the 1962 World’s Fair era, there is a lot to see and enjoy.
Follow King County Archives on Pinterest today.
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Pet of the Week: Tiny!
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
His name may be Tiny, but our Pet of the Week is not!
This young Rottweiler / German Shepherd mix can be reserved until he gets to know you. However, when he comes around, Tiny can be quite cuddly! He loves going for walks and exploring.
Tiny is energetic and loves to play – so that makes him one of our “Rambunctious Red” pets. He tends to calm down when the people around him stay calm, and he does best when he has lots of exercise and something to keep his mind busy.
He’s a very smart boy who already knows “sit” and “down.” Tiny will learn so much more with the right incentives, like treats and toys!
Tiny may not get along well with all dogs, and may do best as the only dog in his new home. If you do have other dogs, he will need to meet them before being adopted. Because he can be a little insecure, Tiny would do best in a low-traffic, adults-only home with people who understand and have experience with an insecure, adolescent dog. He would love to learn how to become more confident and relaxed with his new family, and if you’re willing to work with him to help him become come the best dog he can be, then Tiny may be the one for you!
Tiny is current on his vaccinations and microchipped. His adoption fee includes a certificate for a free veterinary exam and the option of 30 days of free pet insurance through Trupanion.
You can find out more about Tiny on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet, or visit him in person at our Pet Adoption Center in Kent.
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Sometimes being a “quitter” is a good thing!
King County Employee Health and Well-Being wants to help you quit tobacco use for life
Crossposted from Employee Health and Well-Being
We all have those long lists of goals we hope to reach—take a class, read a book, quit smoking … and sometimes it can be overwhelming! However, you are not alone in the race to accomplish everything on your “To Do” list, especially when it comes to ending tobacco use.
King County Employee Health and Well-Being is excited to partner with Quit For Life, a free tobacco cessation program to help King County employees and/or immediate family members (18 years or older) reach their goal of quitting tobacco once and for all.
Last year, the quit rate for King County employees was reported to be 55 percent thanks to the Quit for Life program!
The Quit for Life program is one of the nations most recognized and successful programs helping thousands of people reach their goal to quit tobacco for good. Enrolling is easy! Simply go online or make a call to talk to a Quit for Life coach who will help you create a quit plan that works for YOU.
Worried about cravings or withdrawal symptoms? No problem. Your Quit for Life coach is available to you anytime you need them and will support you throughout the program with suggestions on medications to reduce nicotine cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms, or just be an ear to get you through the day.
And for those who are constantly on the go, check out “Text2Quit” that sends reminders and tips right to your mobile device!
As far as the overall benefits of quitting tobacco use? How about normal blood pressure, better circulation, easier beating heart and much more!
Are you ready? Get started today by calling 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (1-866-784-8454), or online at www.quitnow.net/kingcounty/
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Report it to Stop it: Let’s put an end to sexual misconduct on our services
Crossposted from Metro Matters
By Rob Gannon, King County Metro General Manager
Today Metro launched an important public awareness campaign to encourage reporting of unwanted sexual harassment and misconduct on board our services.
We’re working with the King County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Transit Police, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, and local law enforcement to increase awareness, encourage reporting, support victims, and reduce misconduct through our “Report it to Stop it” effort as part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
All of us have a critical role to play in keeping one another safe while riding Metro services.
Sexual misconduct occurs daily on public transportation across the world. Bus riders, regardless of gender, race, or age, can be targeted in incidents of indecent exposure, lewd behavior, unwanted touching, harassment, or unwanted comments. But these incidents go largely unreported, allowing offenders to continue victimizing people.
Dozens of victims or bystanders contact Metro police, transit operators and customer service each year with reports of sexual harassment or misconduct. And that’s not the whole story—by some estimates 50 to 90 percent of incidents are underreported or unreported.
We want to put an end to it. Beginning with today’s launch of the “Report it to Stop it” campaign, we call on you and our riders on Metro buses, vanpools, and Access to report sexual misconduct and help us catch offenders by:
- Telling their driver at the time of the incident,
- Calling the Metro Transit Police, 206-296-3311, or
- Calling 911
We’re prepared to take seriously reports of sexual harassment and misconduct. We have thought through every step of our process from the time an employee becomes aware of an instance of sexual misconduct, and are making sure people responsible at each of those steps are aware of what they should do.
It’s important for everyone to know that if a person experiences sexual misconduct, it’s not their fault. It is of the utmost importance that anyone who has the courage to report something to a Metro employee is believed and supported. Anyone who has been a victim, or thinks someone else might be, can find support 24 hours a day at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, 888-998-6423.
I ask you to join me in appreciating the work of the many Metro employees who joined forces to prepare us for this effort:
- Our Metro Transit Police have made this a priority since 2013, dedicating resources and collaborating with other agencies to make sexual misconduct investigation a top priority.
Representatives from every section at Metro teamed up to design a campaign that will make a difference. Major Dave Jutilla and his Metro Transit Police team worked in partnership with others across our agency, bringing together staff from every section and the general manager’s office to learn about this important issue and coalesce around our campaign to raise awareness and encourage reporting. - By partnering with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, we infused our training and communications with the professional expertise of those who work with victims and their families.
- Five of our own employees courageously volunteered to participate in the photo shoot for the campaign advertising.
Our campaign features posters and brochures on board our buses and Access vans, promotion through news and social media, information on our website, and presentations to community organizations. This is not a one-time effort. It is part of our ongoing work to make safety a priority—a continuation of our “Community on a Bus” theme that began last fall with our “All are Welcome” campaign.
If we are successful, our joint multi-year effort with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center and the King County Sheriff’s Office/Metro Transit Police is expected to result in an increase in the number of reports. In turn, the Metro Transit Police expect to better coordinate investigations with local law enforcement and bus riders so they can hold offenders accountable through successful prosecutions to reduce the problem.
Thank you for helping us remain vigilant in reporting any misconduct on our services, making transit safer for everyone.
Take care of each other and be safe.
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Senior Leaders meet with Juvenile Detention employees
Two members of Executive Constantine’s Senior Leadership Team recently met with a group of employees from the Juvenile Detention Division to hear about the work they are doing to help the young people entrusted to their care.
Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams and Chief Performance Officer Gary Kurihara sat in on the daily briefing of about 20 employees at the Youth Services Center to hear about their work, the challenges they are facing, and what they can do to remove any barriers.
“Employees know more than anyone about the work they are doing, so it’s imperative that senior leaders go out and meet with them and learn from their experiences,” Kurihara said. “What really struck me was the genuine care that these employees have for the youth at the juvenile facility, and their commitment to making sure that their experience is one of learning, growth and healing.”
The King County Juvenile Division is responsible for the care and custody of youth in detention. The employees work hard to provide a therapeutic environment of rehabilitation and learning to help youth involved in Juvenile Court develop into healthy, productive adults.
“This group of employees had some really good suggestions and ideas for what we can do at the leadership level to help them better serve young people in detention,” Abrams said. “It was really gratifying to hear directly from them, and there is a lot that I was able to take away, to learn from, and to see how I can help them be more effective in their work.”
In his 2018 State of the County address, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that all of the programming work within the Juvenile Division will be placed in the care of Public Health, building on the highly successful juvenile programs that are already generating tremendous results – work that Juvenile Division employees have been at the forefront of.
“It’s something that I am really passionate about – how do we as an organization put our employees in the best position to succeed in their work,” Kurihara said. “By listening to the people who are doing the work, we can find out what they need and try to make the changes so they can provide even better service to our customers.”
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Sign-up for the Big Backyard 5K and get your $5 hoodie today!
The ninth-annual Big Backyard 5K presented by Kaiser Permanente is happening on Sunday, June 3 at King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond. This run/walk is an event for the whole family, and it’s dog and stroller friendly! All participants will receive awesome t-shirts, refreshments, snacks, a chance to win prizes, and the satisfaction of supporting King County Parks! The chip-timed course winds around the magnificent (but flat) Marymoor Park and, for kids ten and under, there is a free 1/4 mile Kids Dash.
And thanks to our friends at Harborstone Credit Union, the Big Backyard 5K hoodies that everyone has grown to love will be available for purchase for just $5 through April 30.
More incentive? Use the promo code KCPSave5 and receive a $5 discount on your registration fee as a King County employee. And if you refer a friend, you will get a collectible BBY5K coffee mug! (Limit one mug per referred individual).
Register as an individual or team today and support Your Big Backyard!
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Administrative Professionals step into the spotlight
This article is by Corinne Easter, Administrative Specialist with the King County Office of Risk Management Services
Today King County is celebrating its superhero Administrative Professionals at the third annual Administrative Professionals Recognition Event at the City of Seattle’s Bertha Knight Landes Room from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., located at 600 4th Ave in Seattle. All King County employees are invited to attend this exciting event and help us celebrate this special day (please review the HR Bulletin regarding employee attendance at County-sponsored events).
The fourth Wednesday of every April is National Administrative Professionals Day. King County recognizes this day and has taken it a step further by implementing an innovative program specifically focused on administrative professionals. At the request of Rhonda Berry, Public Health’s Deputy Executive of Operations, and with Whitney Abrams’s, King County’s Chief People Officer, sponsorship, the King County Administrative Professionals Development and Recognition Program (APDRP) was created and operates to support and recognize employees year-round. The APDRP is gaining momentum each year. So, who are administrative professionals?
“Administrative professionals work in a variety of classifications such as fiscal specialists, health program assistants, customer service and in many other areas,” Theresa Roscoe, Career Support Services Manager explains. “We look more at core roles, responsibilities and skills sets, rather than job titles.” The Program supports this vast audience and aims to provide development and recognition to support employees in meeting their career goals. Each department is asked to identify one administrative professional as a representative on the Administrative Professionals Advisory Committee (APAC). Members from human resources, management, and union labor representatives are also at the table to bring a holistic perspective and work together to identify employee needs, provide services, resources, and training.
The Program acknowledges that many times administrative professionals work behind the scenes to make things happen. This is why the program strives to make these professionals feel more confident and valued as partners in the organization. Lili Stansberry, of Career Support Services, states, “Employee development is a key component to this goal. Depending on the employee, they may require honing their professional skills, or transitioning into a completely different position.” Although an employee may be unsure about the career path they want to explore, the Program provides resources and opportunities to help them discover and move forward in pursuing their interests. Many administrative positions have common skills that are overlooked. The APDRP helps them identify these talents and utilize them in pursing the employee’s desired career goals.
Another crucial element of the Program is bringing administrative professionals out from behind the scenes and recognizing these shining stars at the annual event. Each year, the APAC hosts an event where employees are honored for their hard work, dedication, and excellence. This year’s nominees will be acknowledged at the event, as well as being acknowledged within their individual departments. Each department will receive certificates of recognition and gold pins for each of their nominees to be recognized outside of the event. This year is expected to have the largest attendance in the Program’s history. Cyndi Schaeffer is the keynote speaker with Harold Taniguchi, DOT Director, and Donna Rodgers-Yates, Public Health Administrative Professional, as the MC’s.
The APAC is always looking for feedback and welcomes all comments. More information about the program can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/administrativeprofessionals or by contacting them at AdministrativeProfessionals@kingcounty.gov.
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Jay Osborne appointed Director of Human Resources Division
King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed Jay Osborne as Director of Human Resources Division, effective April 30, 2018. Jay was selected as the successful candidate after a nationwide recruitment that attracted more than 100 applicants.
Jay has served King County for almost 30 years and his experience, skills, and commitment to excellence will be vital as HRD transitions to a standalone people-focused department beginning January 1, 2019. He has acted as Interim Director of HRD since December 2017 and has been instrumental in leading the work to create a HR department that will be charged with implementing Executive Constantine’s Investing in YOU strategy, and supporting employee engagement and workplace culture development in HRD and across the County.
Jay started his career as a summer hire with the Parks Division in 1988, and served as the Deputy Director for the Road Services Division in DOT prior to accepting the Interim Director position with HRD. He offers strong leadership skills, vast budget process knowledge, and a solid operations background in HR as a people manager and deputy director. He also has extensive labor experience, having previously served as a Shop Steward and Policy Chair for Professional & Technical Employees Local 17.
Jay is known for building teams and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, as well as developing people, particularly in the midst of transition. His empathy and understanding, along with his straightforward and decisive style, are some of the qualities that will support HRD as it becomes a new department and help us deliver on our Investing in YOU work to ensure we are building a workplace where you have the tools and support to innovate, achieve your career goals and do your best work.
A native of the Northwest, Jay enjoys travelling, reading and gardening. Jay and his brother also raise grass-fed cattle on his family’s ranch in Eastern Washington. Congratulations, Jay!
Employee News 