Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director of Performance, Strategy and Budget, has been recognized by the Association of Government Accountants with their 2018 Excellence in Government Leadership Award. This nationally recognized award is given to professionals who exemplify and promote excellence in government financial management, outstanding leadership, and innovative management procedures. It recognizes the cumulative achievements of state or local government professionals who have served as a role model and consistently exhibited the highest personal and professional standards. “This award represents cumulative career achievements, all of which were available to me due to the… Read More

Congratulations to Jennifer Hills, director of King County’s Office of Risk Management Services! She’s been named Public Risk Manager of the Year by PRIMA, a risk management association for public agencies. Jennifer received the award during PRIMA’s annual conference in Indianapolis. Jennifer has been a King County employee for nearly 20 years and has spearheaded several initiatives, including implementation of Enterprise Risk Management. ERM is moving King County from being a risk-averse organization to one that takes smart risks that enhance value. The award also honors Jennifer’s staff at ORMS who have… Read More

Records and Licensing Services’ Nickie Ford, Animal Services Coordinator with RASKC, did the due diligence and good work necessary to gain approval for a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals worth $6,700. The grant will cover the cost of retrofitting stainless steel kennels with portals, joining adjacent kennels and creating multi-room “kitty condos” similar to those recently purchased through a Petco Foundation grant. The ASPCA grant will cover the cost of 50 portals installed, and the installation should be complete by the end of summer. The… Read More

This article is by Corinne Easter, Administrative Specialist with the King County Office of Risk Management Services Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director of Performance and Strategy of King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, ventured into indigenous Taiwan with the intention of learning about artisan boats but came back with much more: a greater sense of community 6,000 miles away and right in his own office. Jacobson gave a presentation about his visit and his learnings at a May 17 Lunch & Learn. Sitting down with Jacobson before the event, he reflects on what he was… Read More

Jeff Baird, senior prosecuting attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, retired after decades of service to the residents of King County. His last day was April 30, and he was recently featured in a story in The Seattle Times. Baird began working with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office during the summers while a law student at the University of Washington in the late ‘70s. Since then, Jeff has spent his career working on the “something really horrible” cases, including the prosecution of three serial killers in Washington: Gary Ridgway, the Green… Read More

On April 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued its first-ever loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) for $134.5 million to the King County Wastewater Treatment Division to help finance the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station. Organizations have to be invited to submit an application, and the deadline is tight. Dan Kaplan, WTD financial services administrator, devoted one year to the pursuit of the low-interest loan, which will save ratepayers $32 million in interest payments over the life of the loan. Dan had to first analyze and determine this was… Read More