 Happy 2013, everyone! Welcome to a new year and a new format for the DEL employee newsletter. DEL recently contracted with a service called GovDelivery that will streamline and make our communications more efficient. In a few days, you (and anyone else who visits our website) will be able to subscribe to DEL topics of interest to you. You can receive information by email or by text message. I encourage employees to sign up for bulletins from DEL so you can see how it works. Other state agencies, including WSDOT and Revenue, are using this service. GovDelivery also will be the tool we use to send listserv messages to our many audiences. We are excited to have this service on board to kick off the new year.
We will let staff know when other features are available for you and for our licensees and partners. You will not see a big change to our website or to our social media channels; most of the heavy lifting happens behind the scenes. You will notice less overlap between the employee newsletter and the external newsletter. That’s because we will be sending you the external newsletter in addition to the employee newsletter.
DEL Communications Manager Kara Klotz is the point of contact for this GovDelivery and both newsletters, so please let her know if you have questions about either topic.
By Sheri Bruu-DeLeon
As my children grow older, it sometimes seems we have less and less in common. I can’t buy clothes for my girls and our tastes in music are worlds apart, but there is one TV show we all enjoy–Hoarders! For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure (or horror) of viewing this program, the premise is simple. A team of experts spend two days helping people who hoard anything and everything clean up.
Despite our mutual affection for this program, my girls and I watch from two very different perspectives. They watch for the education; picking up clues about how the hoarder was propelled into an abyss of waste, in hopes they’ll be able to prevent me from ever being featured on this program. I watch however, with relief as I frequently note, “At least I’m not that bad.”
Waste, from almost everyone’s perspective, has a negative association. In an office environment, it’s often seen as not doing what needs to be done as fast, efficiently, or cost-effectively as could be. In the Lean culture, waste is defined as, “Any non-value-added activity.” An activity is considered value-added if it meets these three criteria:
- The customer must care about it (be willing to pay for it).
- It must modify the product or service (changing the fit, form, or function.
- It has to be done right the first time.
While Lean has identified eight wastes, four are specific to the office environment:
-
Information: Redundant input and output of data, unclear or incorrect data, data (input or receipt) that is never used, incompatible information systems, etc.
-
Process: Defects, rework, workarounds, approvals (signatures), waiting, incompatible work, overproduction, etc.
-
Physical environment: Waste related to the movement of people or objects.
-
People: Unclear role (unclear responsibility, authority, and accountability), lack of training, interruptions, multitasking, underutilization of talent, hierarchy and structure, recruitment errors, lack of strategic focus, handoffs, etc.
Few offices are eager to point out waste and display it proudly. However, in an office that’s adopted a Lean culture, waste is actually seen as an OPPORTUNITY for continuous quality improvement. Staff relentlessly search for waste, get excited when it’s discovered, shamelessly display the waste, and finally spring into action to decrease or eliminate it.
I challenge you right now to look at a process in your office and identify one wasteful action (non-value-added activity) within that process. Then ask yourself and others involved in that process how that activity can be minimized or eliminated. Sometimes it’s as easy as agreeing and “just doing it”--other times eliminating waste takes a bit more work. The first step however, is identifying it. Use this form from leanofficeinnovation.com to help you. Once you’ve identified the waste and minimized or eliminated it, crow about it! Let everyone in your office know and me too. Send me your story – sheri.bruu-deleon@del.wa.gov .
 |
|
Tell us about your career path and how you chose DEL and early learning work.
I was an automotive technician for 18 years, I worked mainly for Toyota and was a diagnostic technician working with computers and computer subsystems. After an injury in 2008, I started a retraining program in computer security. I was offered an internship with the Department of Early Learning. After my internship and finishing school with a certificate from the NSA (National Security Agency), I was offered a full time position at the Department of Early Learning.
The number one reason I’m pleased to be working at DEL is knowing our agency is having a daily direct effect that improved the lives of children in Washington state.
What do you enjoy most about working at DEL?
Every day is a different day with new challenges and issues to overcome. I enjoy talking to staff members in offices throughout the state and helping them continue the great work we all do for kids. I also enjoy traveling to some of our state offices and meeting our staff members that share a commitment to helping kids. Because our agency is small it also feels like a family.
What’s the last book you read?
Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver. I also stay current in the computer field by reading a lot of computers books.
Who or what inspires you?
My son Andrew inspires me to be a better human being to all those around me. It’s fascinating how a 10-year-old can change your view of the world and make you think about things differently.
What do you do in your spare time?
I play the drums with a friend of mine. I also play guitar, poorly some would say. I like to watch our Hawks play and Green Bay. I like spending time with my son and family. I also like to play video games when I find the time for that.
If you won an all-expenses-paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Germany the place where I was born and visit relatives and go on some tours to castles and perhaps a boat trip down the Rhine river.
What have you done to help a child today (or recently)?
I am always helping my son with his homework. Like me, he is lacking in the math department.
|
|
New employees
Julie Langley Flores, ECEAP PreK Specialist, Jefferson Building
-
Where are you joining us from and what did you do there?
I was a Child Development Coordinator for Enterprise for Progress in the Community [EPIC] in Yakima Valley.
-
Who makes up your family?
My husband Ray, son Matthew and his family in Spokane, my daughter Melissa and her fiancé in Seattle, extended family members, my soon-to-arrive first granddaughter, and of course several family pets.
-
What word or phrase best describes you?
Show-n-shine and College Game Day!
Teri Clay-Poole, Portable Background Check Fiscal Technician 2, Jefferson Building
-
Where are you joining us from and what did you do there?
While taking time off from work to raise my high-spirited daughter, I completed my AAS in Business Administration and Certificate of Completion in Accounting at South Puget Sound Community College. With the costs associated with continued education being prohibitively high, I chose to re-enter the work force. Prior to 2004, I was full-charge bookkeeper for two Olympia businesses, The Tea Lady and Capital Dive Shop.
-
Who makes up your family?
My immediate family includes husband Scott, 8-year-old daughter Taiga, and an extremely nervous tuxedo kitty named Rootbeer.
-
What word or phrase best describes you?
Stubbornly tenacious.
Sharon Armstrong, Family Home Child Care Licensor, Seattle Office
-
Where are you joining us from and what did you do there?
My background is diverse. Most recently, I served as External Affairs Specialist with the Port of Tacoma. This was an administrative role supporting the Communications team. My most recent relevant experience was as Family Support Manager with Educare/Headstart, through Puget Sound ESD. I also served Puget Sound ESD as ECEAP Family Support Coordinator. I also worked with the Renton School District as Family Liaison, with an Adult Ed program called Even Start, with GEAR UP and as Career Center Specialist at Renton High School.
-
Who makes up your family?
Myself, and I have an almost 9-year-old boy named CJ, a 22-year-old son named Anthony and my husband Cedric. Cedric is a talented music writer and producer and CJ is a talented dancer who loves to read. Anthony can out-stat anyone, young or old, when it comes to basketball and baseball…and he is a very talented writer. We also have a blue-nose chihuahua named Buddha.
-
What word or phrase best describes you?
I guess I would say optimistic.
Laticia Williams, Family Home Child Care Licensor, Seattle Office
-
Where are you joining us from and what did you do there?
A couple of years ago, I worked with CA/DLR/OFCL as a licensor.
-
Who makes up your family?
My immediate family includes my husband, Raymond, and our children Olivia, Quincy, Mason and Jackson.
-
What word or phrase best describes you?
Candid.
Welcome to our new team members!
Promotions and Transfers
Karen Christensen was promoted to Licensing Supervisor in the Spokane Office effective Jan. 1.
Judy King was promoted to Strengthening Families Washington Administrator (SFWA) effective Jan. 1
Shannon Blood transferred in her current position as Home Visiting Program Specialist to the SFWA team under Judy King.
Goodbyes
The following employees have left DEL:
Barb Determan, ECEAP Specialist
State service anniversaries
Linda Shea: 33 years
Joyce DeShaye: 29 years
Judy Bunkelman: 27 years
John Allen: 22 years
Kandi Latimer: 21 years
Judy Prellwitz: 20 years
Lisa Emmett: 15 years
Joel Roalkvam: 15 years
Robert Scott: 14 years
Lindsay Cortina: 12 years
Olivia Harris: 11 years
Laticia Williams: 11 years
Shirlee Schlemmer: 9 years
Kathy Clark: 7 years
Laura Beltran: 6 years
Scott McMillin: 5 years
RaShelle Davis: 4 years
Gina Lewis: 4 years
Cammey Rocco: 4 years
Joy Patzke: 2 years
 The Tri-Cities Office held a sock exchange last month to celebrate the holidays.
|
