Five questions with Chris O’Claire, Division Director for Mobility, King County Metro
Why did you start in your role with King County?
I started at King County 15 years ago as an intern in the Service Development. I joined Metro because I was passionate about making a positive impact on the environment. And, I was immediately drawn to public transportation as a way to reduce carbon emissions by getting people out of their cars. But what keeps me here is the people – the employees that are committed to providing the best public transportation and the customers.
For me, the ability to connect customers to their families, workplaces, medical facilities and communities via the various public transportation opportunities we offer is the icing on the cake.
What do you do in your role?
As the Division Director for Mobility, I oversee the planning and preparation for all services, including the development of market innovations for our customers and employers, the connection of our customers on a daily basis to the system, and the delivery of all non-fixed route services. I try to stay at a strategic level, guiding leaders in the mobility division to make decisions, assess risks and allocate resources.
Why did you choose this field as your career?
Somehow the career chose me. I am an environmental economist by training, with a real desire for serving people. Public service is a real passion of mine, as I aspire on a daily basis to improve our communities.
What is the biggest challenge of your job?
Managing my time is the biggest one. As a Division Director, I feel pulled in many different directions by colleagues, stakeholders, customers, elected officials, etc. I try to focus on assessing risks rather than managing details. What I love most is connecting with people – from hearing about what inspires employees professionally or personally to listening to customers on how they thrive or struggle with our services. I love finding pockets of time to connect with people.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The people! Metro employees inspire me to come to work every day. The commitment we share as a team to deliver the best services to our customers is a big draw. Additionally, I come to work to be challenged on a daily basis. More recently, I’ve been trying to live by our four Pro-Equity Compacts and I am focused on being “comfortable with discomfort.” I am challenging myself to listen deeply to others and think openly around how to lead with a new mindset around delivering services where needs are greatest.
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King County Council recognizes 2019 Disability Awareness Month
Click to view the full proclamation.
On Oct. 16, 2019, the Metropolitan King County Council proclaimed October as Disability Awareness Month in King County, celebrating the many contributions that people with disabilities make to our community and workforce. The proclamation is a reminder of our continued efforts to break down barriers so that people of all abilities can share their unique abilities, perspectives and talents.
Signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.
This proclamation is a testament to all the hard work by activists with disabilities and their advocates around the nation. At King County, we celebrate those efforts but know that our work is ongoing and we will continue to advocate, serve and promote our values of inclusion. View the full proclamation here. The announcement can also be seen on the Council’s Twitter and Facebook.
As we prepare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the passing of the ADA, we are asking for employee volunteers that identify as having a disability and allies to coordinate events next Oct. Please email Christina.davidson@kingcounty.gov if you are interested in helping to plan events/trainings for Disability Awareness month next year.
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Please join us in the Annual Giving Drive
Dear Fellow King County Employee and Giving Partner,
We want to share something amazing about our Employee Giving Program – thanks to the generosity of the people who work here, we celebrate having raised more than $32 million since our program began in 1988.
What does that mean for our community? It means numerous children have learned to read. It means countless seniors at risk for hunger have eaten hot, nourishing meals. It means increasing numbers of animals have gone to live in their forever homes. And it means researchers have achieved groundbreaking results to advance medicine.
The theme for this year’s Annual Giving Drive is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The time is always right to do the right thing.”
Today, and every day, our shared passion shines throughout the King County Employee Giving Program. The program supports you in all the ways you give with year-round options and resources, including volunteering.
We invite you to join us in this year’s Annual Giving Drive both by taking action on behalf of a cause important to you and by sharing your giving story. With so many ways to give and nearly 1,200 nonprofit organizations, you can participate in numerous ways.
From now through November 22, go online or use a paper form to pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits through:
- Payroll Donation: Choice of onetime, once per month, or twice per month deductions.
- Time Donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department’s lead ambassador for details.
- Check: Made out directly to a nonprofit.
- Sick Leave for Volunteer Service: Eligible employees may use up to three sick days per calendar year to volunteer at an Employee Giving Program nonprofit or local school.
- Credit Card: Support your coworkers at special events!
Every individual contribution matters in helping our diverse community thrive. Just $5 per pay period can make a genuine difference to people, animals, and our environment. Learn more at kingcounty.gov/giving.
We are both huge fans of the Employee Giving Program, and we invite you to join us!
Your 2019 Annual Giving Drive Honorary Co-Chairs,
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Training Spotlight: Basic First Aid/CPR/AED, renewal
Basic First Aid/CPR/AED, renewal, multiple dates: The “Medic First Aid” program provides basic first aid, CPR, and AED (automated external defibrillator) training. The renewal option is for those who hold a current First Aid/CPR/AED card. It consists of a brief review of primary topics, followed by performance of each skill. This certification is valid for 2 years. Learn more and register here.
View more training and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Third payday of the month, Oct. 31
Almost all King County employees get paid on a biweekly basis, every-other-Thursday, resulting in 26 pay periods per year. You usually receive two paychecks per month, but Oct. 31 will be your third payday of the month. The net dollar amount of these “third” paychecks may be larger because not all deductions are taken out. For example, Deferred Compensation, supplemental insurance premiums, Benefit Access Fees, and Employee Giving donations are not deducted from these checks.
For more information about your paycheck, go to Payroll or speak with your department Payroll representative or timekeeper.
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Discount available for employees at HomeStreet Bank and Disney on Ice
King County partners with HomeStreet Bank to offer employees the Hometown Home Loan Program. This employer-assisted housing program offers a wide selection of home loan options, whether you are buying your first home, refinancing, or remodeling. Visit the website for more information.
Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, WA, Oct. 30-Nov. 4, 2019. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-248-8740, option 1. For questions call the number or email FeldDirectGroups@feldinc.com. Savings will be applied at time of purchase. Order tickets before the deadline on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 11 a.m.
View all available discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
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Getting to know Mohamed Nimeri
Pictured: From left, Mohamed Nimeri, Pavement Engineer, and Paul Cook, Maintenance Manager.
Mohamed Nimeri grew up loving airports. The family moved a lot for his father’s work as Sudan’s ambassador to several countries, so he had quite a bit of experience flying. Although he is from Sudan, he grew up in “a lot of countries,” including the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
King County International Airport recently hired Nimeri as its pavement engineer. He is advancing the state of the industry in pavements, and is one of King County’s most highly trained pavement experts.
Nimeri recently completed graduate school, earning master’s and doctoral degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. In the past five years at UNR, he worked as a researcher, managing large-scale pavement experiments, designing flexible and rigid pavements, and performing laboratory testing.
Prior to his work at UNR, Nimeri managed construction projects in several Middle East countries, where he supervised geotechnical investigations, laboratory testing, and infrastructure work. He also designed retaining walls, shoring systems, and dewatering systems.
Talking with Nimeri, though, you find out he’s quite humble.
“A Ph.D. gives me a license to make mistakes and still get away with it,” he joked.
There are millions of dollars worth of paving projects scheduled at King County International Airport in the upcoming six-year Capital Improvement Program, including $8 million in small runway paving and about $22 million in main runway paving, said Paul Cook, Maintenance Manager.
“By bringing Mohamed on, we’ll be able to do this more scientifically and with metrics,” Cook added.
“Pavement continually deteriorates from day one,” Nimeri said. “You can invest in preventing the problems rather than fixing them.”
Nimeri loves spending time with his wife, Karima, and four children, Lina, Shahd, Ali, and Omar. He is a huge fan of soccer, loves listening to audiobooks and podcasts, hiking, basketball, and volleyball. He also enjoys meeting new people and learning about new cultures.
Please join us in welcoming Mohamed to the airport!
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Research results show students across U.S. put high value on FLASH curriculum
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Students in different parts of the country overwhelmingly find the FLASH sexual health curriculum, produced by the Family Planning program at Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), valuable and worth recommending to their peers.
As part of a multi-year study being conducted in the South and Midwest, more than 90 percent of students surveyed say they will use the skills they learned in class in their real lives, and more than 90 percent would recommend FLASH to a friend.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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ESJ Opportunity Fund now accepting applications, deadline Nov. 22
The Office of Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) is now accepting applications for the Equity and Social Justice Opportunity Fund. The Opportunity Fund is a competitive process that provides resources to King County employees to develop and implement projects that work to advance equity, social justice and King County’s mission to lead with racial justice in support of the ESJ Strategic Plan. Read more in the overview here and download the application here.
Applications are due by or before November 22, 2019. For questions contact Tynishia Walker at TWalker@kingcounty.gov or at 206-263-0534.
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PeopleSoft team receives innovator award
Pictured: From left to right, Carmel Call, Director of the Business Resource Center; Paco Aubrejaun, SVP for Oracle PeopleSoft; Mike Betschart, PeopleSoft Manager; Joe Isaacks, PeopleSoft Development Technical Lead, and Rebakah Jackson, VP Strategy and Product Management for Oracle PeopleSoft.
Thumbs up to the PeopleSoft team for recognition as an innovator at the recent Oracle OpenWorld conference. They created a disaster recovery option on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, selective adoption (PUM) and improved the user experience with fluid pages.
The team now has a world-wide presence on the PeopleSoft web site. Mike Betschart also made his first official YouTube appearance.
The PeopleSoft team
- Mike Betschart, the PeopleSoft Manager plus his leadership team:
- Tracey Dang
- Hannah Gacey
- Joe Isaacks
- Rey Rodriguez
Technical Team
- Curtis Hanson
- Jay Hsiao
- Ken Kaspersen
- Prasanth Kondugari
- Ampalavanar Mohanakumar
Analyst Team
- Jackie Brown
- James Clopton
- Steve Farnell
- Justin Grover
- Mildred Llarenas
- Terry Olsen
- Kathleen Petersen
- Robert Shroder
- Kevin Wessel
- Morgan Williams
BRC Shared Services team
- Xiaoiu Chen
- Robert Cho
- Geoff Campbell
- Marjorie Mills
- Rupinder Walia
Employee News 