KCIT’s Aaron Barak featured in magazine emphasizing cybersecurity
Security is the heart of all that King County Information Technology (KCIT) does. Aaron Barak, Chief Technology Officer for the department, recently discussed cybersecurity issues for local governments in GovCIO Outlook magazine, including the constant stream of threats from foreign bad actors attempting to gain privileged information or a backdoor into critical services. Read more here.
We want to hear from you: Share your feedback about service in the winter storm
Crossposted from Metro Matters A message from Rob Gannon, General Manager of King County Metro For the first time ever, King County Metro enacted its Emergency Snow Network for four days – from Saturday, Feb. 9, through Tuesday, Feb. 12 – when one of the worst snowstorms in decades hit the region. It was a challenging period for all of us, and I want to thank our riders for their patience, kind words and helpful feedback. We know it was cold, inconvenient and stressful, but we were inspired by the way you… Read More
Are you a woman in tech? We want your thoughts!
The King County Information Technology Equity and Social Justice team will celebrate Women in Technology in March, and are seeking the feedback of employees who are women in tech around King County. If that is you, please briefly answer the following questions and email your answers to Elaine Porterfield at EPorterfield@kingcounty.gov by Feb. 25. Please feel free to share this request with other women throughout the county who also work in technology. Thank you in advance for your participation! What led you to a career in Information technology? What role could technology play… Read More
King County Executive Constantine names Rachel Smith as Deputy Executive
Executive Dow Constantine announced that Rachel Smith will serve as Deputy Executive, responsible for directing strategic initiatives, coordinating senior leadership, overseeing intergovernmental work, and managing administration of the Executive’s staff. Smith will continue to serve as Chief of Staff. She joined the Executive’s Office in 2014 as Director of Government Relations. Prior to King County, she worked in government relations at Sound Transit, supporting the agency’s delivery of projects and services across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Before that, Smith served as a policy advisor to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and performed… Read More
DNRP employee Kelly Heintz receives prestigious land conservation award
Kelly Heintz, a Natural Lands Planner with the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, was recently honored at the annual Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (MTSGT) Celebration Dinner as a long-time partner and advocate for public lands, conservation, and recreation in the region. The MTSGT leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance the landscape from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature. The Jim Ellis Spirit Award recognizes Kelly for her work as a dedicated and effective open space and… Read More
Kudos to employees for continued dedication!
Several people gave kudos online to our hard working employees in roads, healthcare and public safety who are unable to take a snow day. Their service and commitment during the challenging weather kept King County moving and its residents safe. Additional thanks to those employees who kept our animal friends safe, ensured pet adoption centers were open, and responded to community calls for help. We appreciate your passion to continue providing humane animal care. Kudos to our employees for their excellent service and hard work during these difficult weather conditions!
Training Spotlight: Basic Data Visualization and Grammar Refresher,
Basic Data Visualization, April 10: Our ability to gather and collect data has steadily increased over the past decade. But data alone is not information and does not easily convey a compelling story. This half-day introductory course will allow participants to understand why data visualization is important, explore ways to tell a story with data, and mock up data visualizations in whiteboard exercises, using tips explored in class. Register and learn more. Grammar Refresher, April 10: Confused about grammar and punctuation? This fun, hands-on class will help you master the latest rules, avoid common errors, and… Read More
The time is right to get moving: Check out tools that support your fitness goals
Balanced You partners with more than 40 gyms and fitness studios in the Puget Sound area to offer employees and their families exciting discounts. Whether you’ve been wanting to try yoga, learn self-defense, take up indoor rock climbing or just get moving, there are many options to get you started. Learn how King County’s own Jamie Holter achieved her goals through a gym discount.
Pet of the Week: Zoe
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Do you need a furry alarm clock? Our Pet of the Week Zoe is ready for duty! This younger brown tabby came to us because her previous family had to give her up. They tell us that Zoe is shy, loving, and playful – and lets you know when she’s ready to get her day started! Her personality color is “Bashful Blue,” meaning she is a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. Once she gets to know you though, she will be a… Read More
A just-in-case map gets the call
Crossposted from GIS and You A little over a year ago, I wrote a post for GIS & You which featured the more than two-dozen map products that we in the King County GIS Center have derived from the King County Metro Transit System master map, a product we redesigned and rebuilt with Metro in 2012. One of those additional maps, first created not long after that new 2012 system map, was a public Emergency Snow Network map. Metro, in coordination with area jurisdictions, including the City of Seattle, has long designated a network of high-ridership… Read More
Employee News 