Training Spotlight: Leadership for Women

Leadership for Women, Dec. 4: Examine the issues and challenges facing women in leadership positions and how a values-based leadership style is critical to becoming an effective and authentic leader. During this three-hour course you will develop your Value-Based Leadership Mission Statement. Your mission statement will help you to lead according to your values, stay focused during challenging times, and simply your decision-making. You will also learn 17 reasons women make great leaders. Register and learn more.  View more training and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning. 

Stress less during the 2019 holiday season: Self-care tips to consider during this busy time of year 

Crossposted from Balanced You The holidays can be full of joy, loved ones, and fabulous food. They also can be triggers for sadness and fatigue. It’s especially important to practice stress management this time of year. Balanced You and King County’s Making Life Easier program offer the following tips to help you enjoy the season to the fullest. Take time out Pay attention to your own needs. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take time for yourself. Learn how to reduce stress via a free-of-charge mindfulness class. Due to popular demand, Mindfulness Northwest has added an additional online class for King… Read More

Take winter by storm 

Crossposted from DES Express  Are you ready for fall and winter storms? Power outages? Snow? You’ll soon be receiving details from your leadership about your role in emergencies. Whether you are a first responder, a mission-critical employee, or a non-mission critical employee in emergencies, you’ll need to be prepared. You may need to be able to stay at or get to work and function in an emergency, get home from work, and be sure you and your family can weather a storm without assistance for several days. When a major earthquake hits, you’ll… Read More

King County Regional Veterans Court celebrates Veterans Day and court graduates, Nov. 14 

Regional Veterans Court (RVC) will celebrate all veterans and graduates who have successfully completed the court program, on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at 1 p.m. at the King County Courthouse (Courtroom E-326). All are welcome to attend!  RVC is a specialized track within King County District Court that connects veterans in the justice system to health and behavioral health treatment, housing, and other services they may need to re-stabilize their lives. The court helps veterans stay out of further involvement in the justice system, and reduces the use of jails and emergency services by veterans…. Read More

Welcome Alysha Kaplan to the OEM 

Crossposted from DES Express  We recently had an opportunity to chat with Alysha Kaplan, the Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) new deputy director. She comes to King County from Washington State Emergency Management Division (WA EMD), where she worked for 13 years. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation.  Read more from DES Express

Thanking our veterans for their service

Dear fellow King County employee, Every year, we dedicate November 11 as a day to honor America’s veterans. For more than 100 years we have joined together to salute the brave individuals who have served in our nation’s armed forces, placing themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom and security. King County is home to some 115,000 veterans of all ages. Among their number are 1,277 people we work beside every day, fellow King County employees in every branch and department of King County government who have served or are currently… Read More

Pet of the Week: Sparky 

Sparky is an 11 year-old, male, black and white, shorthair cat (A581600). His personality color is BLUE, meaning he is a gentle and loving boy who likes to take things slow. Sparky is very affectionate and he loves gentle head and cheek scratches. He has a big purr and doesn’t stop the whole time you are petting him!   Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. 

Featured Job: Equity and Social Justice Coordinator – Council 

Salary: $74,185.00 – $99,770.00 Annually  Location: Seattle, WA  Job Type: Appointed  Department: KCC – King County Council  Job Number: 2019-10765  Closing: 11/14/2019 11:59 PM Pacific  Learn more about this position or view all available positions. 

2019 Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards

Last year, I launched the Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards to recognize individual employees and workgroups whose innovations and improvements are delivering excellence for our customers, our organization, and our region. The awards recognize the employees and teams who are achieving exceptional improvement results for the people we serve and driving us toward our True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. In 2018, we honored 15 nominees and five award recipients for their hard work and service excellence. This year’s award categories will include Innovation, Leadership Excellence, and the Road… Read More

You can make a difference through the Annual Giving Drive

Dear fellow King County employee, The Annual Giving Drive brings King County employees together to advance education, provide clean water to villages all over the globe, expand access to safe, warm shelter, and buy food for some of the 1 in 6 Americans that struggle with hunger. It’s also an opportunity to help those impacted by natural disasters, here at home and around the world. The 2019 hurricane season devastated communities in the Caribbean and the southeastern United States, with Hurricane Dorian causing severe damage and loss of life in the Bahamas,… Read More