Social Media Spotlight: King County Department of Public Defense Twitter
The Department of Public Defense zealously defends the rights of indigent clients in King County and tries to helps address the underlying issues that brought them into the criminal justice system by placing them in drug treatment programs, mental health programs, or other alternatives to incarceration. The department strives to connect clients to a holistic suite of services – from housing to job training – so as to break the cycles that can lead to arrest. Follow KC Public Defense on Twitter today! Click here to view all King County social media pages.
Tech Tip: How to get calls to the right place
This week’s inaugural tech tip comes from the Skype team. Skype for Business is a fabulous tool. It allows for conference calls, screen sharing, and instant messaging just to name a few. In short, it’s the best communications system you’ve ever had! This week’s Skype tutorial shows you how to forward calls, send Skype calls to voice mail, send your calls to someone else while you are away and integrate your personal cell into the Unified Communication system. It’s 18 minutes long and will be the best 18 minutes you’ve invested in… Read More
Kudos! King County Water Taxis receive rave from Seattle Times readers
This piece was featured at the top of the Seattle Times’ Rant and Raves list. Kudos to the Water Taxis for a job well done! “RAVE To King County Water Taxis and their crews for their work to accommodate the large increase in passengers due to the Alaskan Viaduct closure. From using larger buses for shuttles, coming up with ways to speed boarding, and adding the Spirit of Kingston to fill in when possible, their efforts are really appreciated by both regular and new passengers.”
Developing the next generation of King County employees
Crossposted from the DES Express blog Like many of our region’s employers, King County is facing a “silver tsunami.” Members of the Baby Boom generation, born between 1946 and 1964, are set to retire in huge numbers in just a few years. Many of them have decades of institutional knowledge that could be lost when they leave. There’s also another demographic challenge facing the County: Millennials, those born between 1981 and 2000, are more likely to pursue tech-oriented careers. Many Millennials aren’t even aware of the lucrative job opportunities available in the… Read More
ESJ Fairs draw crowd, offer fun mix of activities and facts
The second of three Equity and Social Justice Fairs, held Monday, May 16 was a loud, crowded success. With more than 15 groups represented, attendees milled about, chatting and participating in various activities. Spin wheels, pop quizzes and jeopardy-like games attracted people to displays for the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Department of Public Defense, and Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget among others. Each display did a wonderful job of engaging passersby in discussions, asking questions and handing out informative one-page updates around ESJ efforts. Using all kinds of colorful… Read More
Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Reminder! Yesler Way Bridge to close for construction starting May 23
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin construction to rehabilitate the Yesler Way Bridge, located at the intersection of Yesler Way and Terrace St. over 4th Ave S. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as May 23 and expected to last through fall 2017. As a result of this project, some transit routes may be affected during construction, including KC Metro routes: 27, 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 252, 257, 268, 304, 308, 311, 312, 355; Sound Transit routes: 510, 511, 512, 513, 554, 590, 594, 595; Community… Read More
Employee shares County business insights with other staff and students
King County is a public sector leader in using technology to help customers access services and complete transactions online and on the go. It takes a dedicated team of problem solvers to identify solutions that make sense for customers – inside and outside the County. One of those people is IT Senior Business Analyst Barb DeLauter, who uses her people skills to impact both her work at King County and her community. Initially, she began her 11-year career in Elections, but has since moved throughout King County before moving to the Department… Read More
Making the King County website accessible for all
This article is featured courtesy of the King County Department of Information Technology To make the King County website more accessible and useful for residents with visual and hearing challenges, King County Information Technology (KCIT) staff met with deaf and blind residents and advocates on April 26 to learn how to make existing and planned websites and mobile apps more user-friendly. KCIT Director and Chief Information Officer Bill Kehoe took part in the conversation, along with the KCIT Business Solutions teams, and King County’s ADA Compliance Officer Melony Joyce. Their discussion was… Read More
Kathmandu to King County: Risk-taking Army veteran finds his niche
Throughout his travels in Nepal, Utah and Washington, Yub Giri has stayed focused on his priorities. First it was pursuing a degree in civil engineering at Brigham Young University. Then he joined the U.S. Army, working as a dental assistant, map reading instructor and Barrack Maintenance Supervisor in addition to other duties. Now he’s intent on making the most out of his Vets 4 HIRE Fellowship, and credits the people he’s met along the way for getting him started on a successful transition to civilian life. “Here at King County people want… Read More
Cutting red tape speeds up hiring process for King County
For human resources professionals, there is nothing more frustrating than overseeing an extensive recruitment process, only to lose your top candidate thanks to unnecessary delays in the hiring approval process. That’s what was happening to King County recruiters when they sought to hire successful candidates above step one of a position’s pay scale. The process often took weeks, with the County code requiring an approval process that often involved 15 to 19 handoffs before it could be completed. It was time-consuming and by the end of it, hiring personnel found that they were losing candidates. “Many people told us it was going to be impossible… Read More
Employee News 