Crossposted from Metro Matters The Puget Sound Business Journal honored King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison with a Woman of Influence award, recognizing a leader whose clarity of purpose, steady approach, and commitment to community are transforming how our region moves. The award was given at a ceremony on Wednesday night in Seattle. “She is only the second woman to lead Metro, and her example is paving the way for future generations of women in public service,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. Every weekday, Metro delivers more than 300,000 rides. That number… Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters Every day, hundreds of thousands of riders step onto King County Metro buses and count on a smooth, safe and welcoming ride. For many lucky passengers, that ride has been in the capable hands of Jack Millman — a driver whose calm presence and consistent kindness have made commutes better and lives brighter. Now, Jack Millman, who has delivered exceptional service for more than two decades, has been named King County Metro’s Operator of the Year. “Today, it is my absolute privilege to recognize Jack — someone who represents the very… Read More

Crossposted from the DES Express On Oct. 28, Tina Shields, P-Card Program Manager in Accounts Payable for the Finance and Business and Operations Division, will reach a rare milestone: serving King County for 40 years. The King County Council recognized Shields at their meeting on Sept. 16. “I came from a very poor background,” Shields said. “I’m one of those people that’s not going to give up even if the odds are against me.” After working at an insurance company for five years, Shields started her career at King County as an… Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters They enjoy watching the Seattle Sounders and Manchester United. One is a “Proud Country Girl” who enjoys being outdoors. They fish, hunt and travel and play softball and volleyball. Those who ride with them say one went the extra mile to return a lost phone: “I can’t tell you how happy I am to have it back, knowing it was safely with him the entire time.” Another rider talked about their ability to help a distraught passenger: “I was so impressed with her ability, in the midst of snow and… Read More

John Parrott, director of King County International Airport-Boeing Field, received the President’s Award of Distinction from the Northwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NWAAAE) during the chapter’s annual conference in early October. Dave Decoteau, who serves as the airport’s deputy director, was elected first vice-president of NWAAAE during the same gathering in Colorado Springs. Read more. Pictured below: On left, John Parrott, Director of King County International Airport-Boeing Field, and on right, Dave Decoteau, the airport’s Deputy Director and recently elected first vice-president of NWAAAE.

Within days of leaving active duty in the Army, he started as a corrections tech at the King County Jail — where both of his parents worked at the time. Decades later, he’s taking on new challenges as a supervisor. Read more. Pictured: Corrections Program Administrator John Hurt, left, is congratulated by Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Director Allen Nance.

Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Project/Program Manager III with the Balanced You team, sits down with Debra Berliner, Communications and Education Team Manager, Immunization Branch at Public Health – Seattle & King County. They discuss vaccine safety, access, and community impact. Deborah explains that children’s immune systems are strong enough to handle multiple vaccines at once, and that doing so is both safe and convenient. She shares that all children ages zero to 18… Read More

National Customer Service Week is Oct. 6-10, and it’s an opportunity to recognize the hundreds of employees at King County who serve and support our customers every day. “We focus on the customer” is an Executive Branch core value. To standardize the customer service approach at King County, the Customer Service Playbook offers guidance and tips for employees who support customers, both internal and external. Providing exemplary customer service is what we aspire to at King County. It’s what we must do to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Thanks… Read More