‘Metroadeo’ featured precision drivers at their finest
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Metro Transit’s finest operators competed this week to prove just how awesome and precisely they can drive a 40-foot-long Metro bus at the annual ‘Metroadeo.’
Drivers snaked their buses through left and right turns, passenger stops and tight spaces. It takes care to adjust your speed and set up just right to perform each of the maneuvers, all scored by judges with a sharp eye and high expectations for precision.
“Our operators are great, but the top Roadeo finishers are amazingly good– true technicians of their craft,” said Rob Gannon, Metro Transit interim general manager.
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How we use the socio-ecological model to address gun violence
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Our health officer, Dr. Jeff Duchin, recently wrote a Seattle Times op-ed demanding more national and local effort to address gun violence. He wrote the article following the devastating mass shooting in Orlando, but gun violence is much more than mass shootings – it includes suicides, homicides, assaults and unintentional deaths that involve a firearm – which occur throughout our country and community in single incidents or small groupings, every day of the year. Each of these types of gun violence occurs at its own unique intersection of risk factors, and in public health, we work to minimize risk factors to prevent disease and injury.
Read more at Public Health Insider
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Congratulations! Gary Archer is Metro Transit’s 2016 Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year!
Crossposted from Metro Matters
In a surprise ceremony last Wednesday, lead mechanic Gary Archer was named Metro Transit’s 2016 Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year – to the smiles and applause of his coworkers and team at South Base in Tukwila.
It’s the second time Gary has won the award, unprecedented in Metro’s history. Archer was selected by his peers, more than 600 vehicle maintenance workers across Metro’s seven bus bases. Gary first won the Employee of the Year award in Vehicle Maintenance in 2003.
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KCIT: Tier Four Board 101 video
KCIT has a strategic plan to develop projects and processes that ladder up to the priorities of King County’s Best Run Government initiative. To make sure teams stay on track, we work from a Tier Four Board. It tracks goals, projects, value, metrics and the names of those who are accountable. Every two weeks, the leadership team gathers around the Tier Four Board to talk about progress.
But not everyone knows about the Tier Four board and why it matters to every KCIT employee. So CIO Bill Kehoe walked the leadership team through “Tier Four Board 101“.
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Hot Topics: Exec talks about career growth and advancement in new video
King County Executive Dow Constantine used the launch of a new employee video series, “Hot Topics,” to talk about one of the biggest issues that came out of last year’s Employee Survey: career growth and advancement.
“It’s clear that we aren’t doing enough to provide genuine, equitable career development and growth opportunities for all employees, and that’s something that I am committed to fixing,” Executive Constantine said. “That’s because I want King County to be a place where you can pursue your passion for public service and take your career in a wide range of directions.”
In the video Executive Constantine discusses what employees said in the survey and 2015 Equity and Social Justice workshops about development and advancement at King County, and what is being done to respond.
Please take a moment to watch the Executive’s video by clicking the image below. You can also watch three other short videos in the inaugural edition of “Hot Topics” here or the full 20-minute show here.
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Soundgarden helps Executive launch the SoundGuardian, King County’s new environmental research vessel
Members of the iconic Seattle band Soundgarden help Executive Constantine launch the SoundGuardian, King County’s new environmental research vessel. The new 48-foot vessel will be used by field scientists at the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks to collect samples in Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Duwamish River.
For more information view the video on King County TV or read more in the official press release..
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Data-Driven Justice Community Workshop at the White House
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter
Adrienne Quinn, Director of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), Jesse Benet, DCHS Diversion and Reentry Coordinator, and Cindy Spain, United Healthcare (Managed Care Organization – WA Apple Health provider), attended a day-long convening at the White House called Data-Driven Justice Community Workshop on June 13. Fifty-five counties and seven states were represented at the event, each sending human services leadership, police chiefs, commissioners/judges, and diversion and reentry subject matter experts to discuss the intersection of data science with intentional diversion practices to support the more than 11 million individuals churning through U.S. jails each year.
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Protect pets from Fourth of July fireworks
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Fireworks are beautiful to look at, but they can be scary for our pets. The bangs and booms are hard on their sensitive hearing, and even the calmest pet can get upset by the unfamiliar loud noises.
To help your pet cope with the noise from fireworks, and reduce the chance that it runs away, Regional Animal Services of King County offers these tips:
Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your home while fireworks are audible. You can also use soothing music or television as a distraction. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room.
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Featured Job: Information Technology Division Director
Closing date: Continuous (Until Filled)
Salary: $114,920.00 – $145,683.20 Annually
Job Type: Appointed
Location: King County Elections – 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
Department: Department of Elections
Description: With a growing commitment to providing an accessible voting experience to the residents of King County, the Department of Elections is looking for a dynamic and visionary leader to manage the daily operations of the Information Technology Division. Just like industry leaders in our region, we are looking for an out-of-the-box thinker, who will break down barriers and challenge us to continuously improve. We are looking for a high-quality executive who is an innovator and change agent with the ability to leverage our resources to maximize our talent and results. The primary goal of this position will be to make decisions leveraging technology and resources to maintain high customer service levels while implementing strategies and guiding principles which align with the business needs. This leader will interface with internal management, state/federal and regulatory agencies, as well as County department and agencies.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
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Wastewater Treatment Division: From intern to process analyst
As shared from the DNRP WTD Watermark Newsletter
Jessica Tanumihardja recently joined West Point [treatment plant] as the newest process analyst. Prior to WTD, Jessica was an engineer-in-training at Northwest Water Systems and earned her graduate degree in environmental engineering from the University of Washington.
Jessica first learned about WTD by meeting HR staff at a college job fair. “They were really nice and friendly so I applied for an internship in project management.” Jessica worked with Project Manager Erica Jacobs and others during her internship.
After graduating, Jessica received emails about King County jobs. “I saw a post for a process analyst,” said Jessica. “I had such a good experience during my internship, and really liked the people and work environment, so I applied. I also felt comfortable because I already knew some of the systems!”
Read more about Jessica’s journey from intern to King County employee in the latest issue of the Watermark newsletter (PDF), which also features articles on water education, transferring knowledge and celebrating 50 years of the West Point treatment plant.
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