Hello. Spring has sprung and with it, new beginnings.

DHR has officially moved to King Street Center (KSC). To help you settle into our new workspace, we added a new segment to this newsletter called Move News. This segment includes helpful resources for you such as workspace, mail, and copier information.

In the April newsletter, we will include details about KSC signage and engagement opportunities:

• Directional signs to elevators, Director’s office, lounge, and restrooms
• Video and in-person tours to help you navigate around the building and our 8^th floor space
• Open house and drop-ins with DHR leadership
• Opportunities to have a photo headshot taken in our new media room
• Workspace name and photo displays, and signature blocks
• And more, so stay tuned!

Performance Excellence Awards Update: I am pleased to share some of the great work that is being done in DHR. The Core Team and I have selected and submitted nominees for the 2022 Performance Excellence Awards. The awards recognize individual employees and workgroups whose innovations and improvements deliver excellence for our customers, organization, and region.

Congratulations to our DHR Individual Leadership nominees:

• Michael Strutynski for multiple HR system improvements and project implementations
• Sherry Stroud and Janna Wilson for a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion review of Benefits

Our project-based nominations are:

• People and Service Categories: Junelle Kroontje for Employee Giving Program – Ukraine Response
• ESJ and People Categories:
  • Increasing Gender Inclusivity - Policy, Workforce Equity, and Learning and Development teams along with FMD and County employee advocates
  • Increasing Diversity in Management, Supervisory, and Highly Skilled Roles (Top 20%)

These nominations highlight significant accomplishments that are only possible when we collaborate. More people than we can count helped King County increase diversity in hires at the highest levels of pay and in supervisory positions.

Award recipients will be announced later this year. Congratulations to everyone. I look forward to celebrating your accomplishments.

Thank you again for your hard work. I appreciate your commitment and teamwork.

Adrienne

Ashley Cole joins DHR as a TLT Claims Assistant

Ashley Cole joins DHR as a Term-Limited Temporary Claims Assistant with the Workers’ Compensation team. She has been in healthcare for 15 years with most of her experience in the claims field. In her spare time, she loves to dance, listen to jazz, write poetry, and be next to the water.

Ashley’s first day was March 20. Congratulations Ashley, and welcome to King County!

Pride Cannaday joins DHR as a Business System Analyst-Senior

Pride Cannaday was selected as a Senior Business System Analyst with the Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Operations Section (BPROS) after a competitive process. He has served in a Special Duty Assignment with the System and Data team since May 2020. Pride started his career with King County in Roads Services in 1997 as a Timekeeper and held several roles throughout the years as a Fiscal Specialist III, Administrator I, and Administrator II. Pride is a big Seahawks and UW Huskies fan. In the summer he likes to take trips with his family to Ocean Shores and the Long Beach peninsula.

Pride’s first day was March 20. Congratulations Pride!

Magan Do joins DHR as a TLT Health and Well-being Manager

Magan Do joins DHR as a Term-Limited Temporary Health and Well-being Project/Program Manager III with the Balanced You team. Magan (pronouns: they/she) comes to DHR from the Executive's Office where they supported federal grants management and human resources. Prior to joining the County, Magan spent many years at a community-based foundation, most recently serving as the grantmaking director. In addition to philanthropy, Magan has worked with youth, houseless communities, and capacity building organizations. You can find Magan exploring King County’s many parks or trying a new recipe.

Magan’s first day was March 20. Congratulations Magan, and welcome to DHR!

Ashlee Perez joins the Talent Acquisition team as a TLT HR Associate

Ashlee Perez was selected as a Term-Limited Temporary HR Associate with the Talent Acquisition Team. Ashlee most recently worked as an Office Assistant and HR Partner for Pierce County Planning and Public Works. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in the kitchen trying out new recipes, exploring the great outdoors through hiking, and traveling to new places to learn about different cultures.

Ashlee’s first day is April 3. Congratulations Ashlee, and welcome to King County!

Have your say in upcoming ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh sessions

Participate in the All Come Awareness Raising Sessions to learn more about the current ESJ plan and future engagement opportunities. Join virtually: 

• Tuesday, March 28 from noon to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.

Click here to learn more.

Did you submit your annual financial disclosure? All forms are due by Saturday, April 15, 2023

You need to file an annual financial disclosure form, so search for an email from donotreply@neogov.com that says "System - Task Ready." Please contact Leslie Mullins if you have questions.

Jacqueline (Jax) Gerardi was selected as a Senior Public Records Act Analyst with the Office of Risk Management Services, Public Records Program after a competitive process. She had served in a Special Duty Assignment with them since June 2022. She was the Executive Assistant for DHR’s Central Employee Services Division since 2019.

Jax’s promotion was effective March 18. Congratulations Jax!

Congratulations to Mike Nilson on his March 31 retirement! Mike joined Metro almost 33 years ago prior to the merger with King County. Mike had been an Accounting Supervisor for Sears when he joined Metro’s Accounts Payable staff. Less than two years later, he joined their payroll department where he really enjoyed the work. When Metro and King County merged, Mike became part of Central Payroll Operations where he has worked ever since.

Throughout the years he has worked through multiple payroll system changes and become a well-experienced user of each. Mike has always been there to support others through those system changes and every payroll production.

During his payroll career, he trained numerous people in central payroll including how to become payroll department timekeepers. He is always happy to help others and is a well-respected and a sought-after resource. Mike has the reputation of always being helpful, knowledgeable, and reliable. He is grateful for the years he has worked at the County where the benefits are great and he has made many good friends.

In his retirement, besides spending more time with family and friends, he looks forward to attending Mariners and Husky games. Thank you for your incredible three plus decades of service. Congratulations and enjoy your retirement Mike!