Staff commended for their life-saving work
Operations would like to recognize the professionalism of all involved in last weekend’s incident where a woman fell in between the cars of the train at Pioneer Square station and became pinned against the platform. Charles Dedrick was on North Control handling this incident simultaneously while managing the Mariner’s post-game trains. Abdi Ibrahim was the first field responder who kept the Link Control Center (LCC) informed on the first responders’ arrival and assisted with passenger transfers during the single track. And most importantly, the quick reactions of the operator, Naweedullah Payam, who… Read More
Greg Wilson receives award from Washington Alliance for Better Schools
Greg Wilson, a Program Manager within Public Health’s Environmental Health Services Division, won the inaugural Outstanding Leadership Award from the Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS). WABS is a collaborative of school districts and industry leaders working to support students. They give this award in recognition of a person or team who has demonstrated outstanding engagement with WABS over time. Greg was selected due to his collaboration with WABS for over a decade, providing instructor support and coordinating teacher externships, and for his consistent advocacy for partnerships between WABS and Public Health…. Read More
Metro’s newest Bus Operator of the Year: Lisa Nault
Dear colleagues, On Thursday afternoon, I joined several King County employees and leaders at East Base to celebrate Lisa Nault—Metro’s 2022 Bus Operator of the Year. Metro awards Bus Operator of the Year annually to individuals who personify excellence, safety, and customer service. I have been fortunate to be part of these celebrations for many years and am honored to be able to recognize Lisa with this award for the first time as Metro’s General Manager. Our operators are the finest in the nation and no one embodies this more than Lisa…. Read More
Lorre Wijelath named Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
KCIT is pleased to announce that Lorre Wijelath has been selected for the permanent leadership role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Lorre has served as the interim CISO for the past 11 months and was selected for the permanent position after a competitive recruitment process. Lorre joined King County in 2020 as a member of KCIT’s Security and Privacy team. Since then, Lorre developed King County’s first data privacy program, responded to critical security incidents, and led significant enterprise initiatives to improve cybersecurity. Previously, Lorre worked with the federal government to… Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, July-August 2023
Crossposted from Metro Matters They style hair, fix vacuums, garden, run gift shops and study geopolitical history. What they have in common is they enjoy being behind the wheel, serving the public and getting people where they need to go. They are our “rolling ambassadors,” the kind, courteous and helpful smile that greets you every day when you ride with us. They represent over two centuries of driving experience. The operators who drive your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back to their community. Meet your… Read More
Nora Bennett named Chief Treasury Officer
Crossposted from the DES Express The Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) is pleased to announce that Nora Bennett has been selected for the permanent leadership role of Chief Treasury Officer. Nora has served as the interim Chief Treasury Officer for the past eight months and was selected for the permanent position after a competitive recruitment process. “I’m excited to continue working with the FBOD/Treasury team,” Nora said. “It is an honor to lead such an amazing group of professionals who care deeply about their jobs and the people of King County.” Read… Read More
Collaborative culture sets the Inquest Program apart
Crossposted from DES Express Inquest Program employees see and hear things that many others never do. Even months or a year after an inquest hearing, those graphic images and sounds are hard to shake. The collaborative culture of the program not only helps employees successfully perform their jobs; it helps them deal with what is by its nature a stressful work environment. One staffer remembers the video of a police shooting victim’s children, being led from the scene by a neighbor. More than a year later, the employee remembers asking a colleague… Read More
Thanking the leaders of King County’s Best Starts for Kids
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections A message from DCHS Director, Leo Flor on the outgoing Best Starts leadership team. Since King County voters first approved the Best Starts for Kids Levy in 2015, Sheila Ater Capestany (she/her) and Marcy Miller (she/her) have grown a powerful idea into a cutting edge, nation-leading program that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of children, youth and families all around the region. Following a strong first levy, voters renewed Best Starts for Kids in 2021 and the groundbreaking investments in the health and well-being of our… Read More
Celebrating the team behind your pay
As we celebrate National Payroll Week, we’re highlighting the work of the Central Payroll Operations Team which ensure that all employees are paid accurately and on time every pay period. Central Payroll Operations works hard to ensure paychecks are received in a timely, smooth manner, with no hiccups or inconveniences to employees. The team also handles payroll taxes and provides employees with annual W-2 forms. “Payroll seems like it would be really simple: department timekeepers report time and time off, Human Resources reports changes to positions or pay rates and employees magically get a… Read More
Uprooted and transplanted, Max and his trees find new homes
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories from King County People from around the world have found themselves calling King County home, with only an estimated three in 10 Seattle area adults born in Washington. One of these Seattle transplants is Max Solis, who uprooted from Los Angeles in 2019. “I felt like I was in the wrong place, like there was no future for me in California,” Max says. “I really feel like I’ve found my place in Seattle.” It should be of no surprise then to learn that Max has found himself looking over his… Read More
Employee News 