Mike Fong named Chief Operating Officer
Dear fellow King County employee, Today I named Mike Fong to serve as Chief Operating Officer in my office and join my senior leadership team. Mike will be responsible for managing Executive branch departments and ensuring that we continue to deliver on our key priorities – best-run government, regional mobility, confronting climate change and building equity and social justice – for our residents. His extensive experience in public service and strong community connections make Mike a great addition to our team and will ensure we are moving together to fulfill my agenda for an inclusive, equitable region. From transportation… Read More
Working together on our priorities
People choose a career at King County because they want to make a difference in their communities and the lives of the people who live and work in them, and their efforts are guided by four key priorities. “Over the last several years we have been working in four priority areas – best-run government, regional mobility, confronting climate change and building equity and social justice – to make King County a better place to live, work and raise a family,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a recent email to employees…. Read More
Whitney Abrams announces Dave Sarju appointed Director of Human Resources Division
Dear King County Employee, I am excited to announce that King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed Dave Sarju as Director of Human Resources Division, starting full-time on August 14. Dave has more than 25 years’ experience in developing people, teams and workplace culture in public, private and non-profit organizations and delivering more value to customers. Dave will report to me as Director of Employee Engagement and Support, and play an integral role in implementing Executive Constantine’s Investing in You strategy to ensure we are building a workplace where you have the… Read More
Creating a stronger, safer and racially just community
Dear fellow King County employee, We are all dealing with strong feelings of anger, grief and despair over the tragic death of Charleena Lyles in Seattle on Sunday. We all have many questions, and await more details as they emerge. Meanwhile, we continue to witness acts of violence and terrorism and the senseless loss of life across this nation and around the world with startling frequency. This is a difficult time for many of us. I invite you to come together with fellow employees tomorrow, Friday, June 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the… Read More
Executive meets with employees to hear ideas on improving veteran services
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently met with eight employees to hear their experiences and thoughts on what King County can do to improve services to veterans, seniors and vulnerable populations, the people who would receive support from the Executive’s proposed Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy. The employees from the Department of Community and Human Services, District Court and Public Health – Seattle & King County, many of whom are veterans themselves, provide an array of support services to veterans and other clients, such as case management, housing assistance, healthcare and… Read More
From the Hip: Othniel Palomino, Chief Administrative Officer, District Court
Implementing change management effectively Managing the process of a major change is one of the most significant leadership challenges that most of us will face in our careers. King County District Court is currently in the middle of one of the most significant organizational changes in its history. We are leaving the 34 year old IBM mainframe based system managed by the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). We manage over 200,000 case filings annually using this system. The project has required us to replace 14 ancillary systems developed over time,… Read More
Investing in You
Dear fellow King County employee, Over the past few years, we’ve done a lot of work to make King County a workplace that supports you, your ideas and your passion for public service. Through our annual employee survey, Equity and Social Justice focus groups, and engagement action plans we asked you what you need to do your best work and have been acting on what you said. Today I am launching Investing in You, which builds on our employee-focused efforts in Equity and Social Justice, Best-Run Government: Employees and Continuous Improvement and… Read More
Remembering and honoring our fallen heroes
Each year on Memorial Day we pause as a grateful nation to honor the service and the ultimate sacrifice of the men and women who gave their lives fighting to preserve freedom here at home and around the world. As we honor those we have lost, let us also remember the thousands of dedicated men and women who continue to put their lives on the line every day to protect us all. Our gratitude and respect for the fallen moves us to act upon our duty to their families and their brothers… Read More
Renewing King County’s commitment to veterans and helping the region’s growing senior population
King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced an initiative to strengthen the county’s capacity to connect veterans to opportunity, help veterans, seniors, and vulnerable populations gain or maintain affordable housing, and add new services to help the region’s rapidly growing senior population. If approved by voters in November, the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy will replace the existing levy, which will expire Dec. 31. The current levy – which King County voters overwhelmingly renewed in 2011 – has connected hundreds of thousands of veterans, active service members and vulnerable populations to… Read More
Walk in the Shoes – Othello Encampment
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to join Walk in the Shoes of a County Employee winners Mary Dunbar and Della Lorenzen from Public Health – Seattle and King County for an afternoon on the job. Mary has been a social worker with the Kids Plus program in our Downtown Public Health Center for the past three and a half years. Della is a Personal Health Services Supervisor there. As part of the Health Care for the Homeless Network, their team of three social workers and two Public Health nurses are… Read More
Employee News 