Celebrating Black Women at Metro
Cross-posted from Metro Matters Metro understands that to become anti-racist and pro-equity, our celebration of Black History Month must be centered on the experiences of those who continue to push us to model and champion our values. This year, Metro is celebrating Black women at Metro and the difference they make in operations by sharing their stories of hope, perseverance, and resilience. Read more.
KCIA’s Kevin Nuechterlein presents at national transportation conference
Cross-posted from Plane Talk Kevin Nuechterlein, Capital Project Manager at King County International Airport (KCIA), was one of three KCIA employees who attended the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting, the world’s largest transportation research conference. More than 8,000 people attended the event in Washington, D.C., participating in more than 600 workshops and sessions, including a “Fireside Chat” with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Nuechterlein served as a panelist during a session about community engagement, sharing lessons learned on earlier projects and upcoming airport plans to work with… Read More
Megan Clarke, new King County CIO, featured in Government Technology
Megan Clarke, former Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the city of Burbank, CA, took over King County’s IT Department in January. The announcement was recenlty featured in Government Technology. Prior to joining King County, she worked as a CIO for Stanford University, the University of Southern California, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Read more.
Metromance: Two bus operators who drove straight to a fairytale!
Cross-posted from Metro Matters The year was 1981. Paul Schwartz and Debra Revere were both assigned to the Ryerson Base in Seattle. Paul had begun driving for Metro in 1979 and Debra in 1980. In a truly perfect Metro moment, the two met in the base bullpen (the lobby for operators). Their first conversation: Discussing Paul’s selection as Operator of the Month. In July of 1982, Debra sent a request to the popular live NPR radio program “A Prairie Home Companion” to have Paul wished a happy birthday during the broadcast. During the broadcast, she… Read More
On the beat in Burien with Detective Mark Hayden
Cross-posted from the Sheriff’s newsletter Detective Mark Hayden has been serving the Burien Police Department and its community for almost 20 years, most recently as the full-time resource officer for downtown Burien. Recently, Undersheriff Jesse Anderson joined Detective Hayden for a stroll through the Burien Farmers Market, where they interacted with community members and business owners. They all expressed their gratitude for the difference Det. Hayden made with his presence on foot patrol.
Air Support and Medic One winter training
Cross-posted from the Sheriff’s newsletter The Air Support Unit’s Rescue Specialists and King County Medic One Paramedics Rescue Specialists recently conducted three days of winter training in the mountains near Alpental. Crew members trained to prepare the team for operations in the snow and rugged mountains in King County and throughout Washington. They received lectures and practical skills training in recognizing and evaluating avalanche conditions and terrain. Crew members also got practical experience locating and extracting avalanche victims, rigging rope systems for lowering and raising patients in litters, and methods for safely… Read More
Leading with Love: Meet the new co-chairs of the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika affinity group
For the next two years, Guru Dorje (he/him) and Helen Potter (she/they), are co-leading the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika (AANHP) Affinity Group. Their vision and goals for 2023 include collectively creating and defining an American Asian Native Hawaiian Pasifika identity through discussion, debate, and learning, and determining what a collective AANHP identity feels like and looks like in practice, taking into account similarities, as well as differences. Learn more about the new co-chairs here. The next AANHP virtual gathering will be Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. via Teams. If you are interested… Read More
With her robe, Judge Hawk takes responsibility for making justice real
Cross-posted from King County Superior Court When Judge Jaime Hawk was helped into her black robe on Jan. 26, it wasn’t the first time she’d worn it. For more than five months, she’s performed the work of a King County Superior Court judge. And yet the formal ceremony — called an investiture — still had the air of something significant. Welcoming Judge Hawk to her new-ish role, Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary I. Yu noted the role judges play in creating and maintaining “a legal process that is predictable and rule-bound, where every individual has… Read More
Animal Control Officer Shepherd recognized in The Seattle Times
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express It’s not every day members of the public take the time to thank employees for their good work. Someone did recently, recognizing Animal Control Officer Dominique Shepherd for helping with an aggressive dog. Someone wrote to the Times’ Rant and Rave column: “RAVE to Bruce at King County Parks and Officer Shepherd from Regional Animal Services of King County who quickly responded to an aggressive dog issue. Many people who are affected appreciate their dedication and efficiency.”
From professional chef to heavy-duty field mechanic: A ride-along with Brian Becker
Crossposted from the DES Express Brian Becker spent the first 16 years of his career as a professional chef. Now he’s got nearly that much experience as a mechanic. Becker sees many similarities between the two careers. Plus, his dad was a mechanic and he grew up tinkering with cars, so it seemed like a natural transition. Becker has been a heavy-duty mechanic at Fleet Services for about four years, and is one of six field mechanics there. His job is to service all sorts of vehicles and equipment at the wastewater… Read More
Employee News 