Hello. Fall has officially arrived! I hope you had a pleasant summer and stayed cool during our heatwaves. Jay is on a well-earned break, so I will share updates with you.

In-person End of Summer Social: Thank you to everyone who attended our End of Summer Social at King Street Center (KSC) on Sept. 12. The festive event featured ice cream and popsicles, a scavenger hunt, and photo booth. This was a wonderful opportunity for us all to gather, socialize, and for some, meet colleagues in-person for the first time. The Core Team and I enjoyed organizing this event. We look forward to more in-person events. Check out fun photos from this event here.

We Are Racially Just Training: Thank you for completing the We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work online training. To reach our True North – a welcoming community where every person can thrive – we must achieve racial justice. “We are racially just” is a core value of King County. Recently, our Learning and Development team in collaboration with the Office of Equity, Racial, and Social Justice, launched the training which will help to ensure each of us understands what it means to be racially just and what we can do in our own work to advance racial justice at King County. If you have not completed the training, please schedule time during your workday to complete it as soon as possible. New employees must complete the training within 90 days of their date of hire as part of their onboarding. To find the training, go to your KC eLearning NEOGOV Learn dashboard.

Performance Appraisals: This year's performance appraisals are due Oct. 20. The evaluations will be the same appraisal format in NEOGOV Perform and include three primary categories: values/competency evaluation, development goals, and accomplishments. Note: All DHR employees should have a Racially Just development goal for 2024 as we continue to prioritize work to support this value. If you have questions, contact Elisha Mackey.

Flu shot clinics: Flu season is upon us, and the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated. Thanks to our Balanced You team, King County offers onsite flu shot clinics at County worksites which are open to all employees. You must register in advance. You can also get vaccinated at pharmacies and healthcare clinics. Details here.

Upcoming flu shot clinics:
Chinook Building: Oct. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 401 5th Ave. Register here.

Courthouse: Oct. 12 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. at 516 3rd Ave. Register here.

New KSC resources video: A big thank you to our Communications team! They have completed the second video in their tour series, which focuses on services and amenities at KSC. I hope you will check it out in the Move News section of the newsletter.

Indigenous Peoples' Day Holiday: On Monday, Oct. 9, King County will recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day to show respect for and celebrate the rich heritage, culture, contributions, and strength of local and regional American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous communities. Working together we can create a future at King County and across our region where Native American people are visible, recognized, and thrive. 

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

Adrienne

Renee Richards was the successful candidate for the career service Business and Finance Officer IV in the Director’s Office. Renee joined the Director’s Office in June 2022 serving in a special duty assignment. Renee has 26 years of public sector experience, including nine years as a Business and Finance Officer with Central Payroll. Her past work experiences include accounting, payroll, employee benefits, and union leadership roles.

During her free time, Renee loves spending time with her family outdoors and enjoying the cool Washington weather.

Renee’s first day was on Sept. 5. Congratulations on your promotion, Renee!

Tim Carter was the successful candidate for the career service Safety Manager position with the Central Employee Services Division.

Prior to joining King County, Tim supported the Drinking Water, Drainage and Wastewater, and Solid Waste lines of business at Seattle Public Utilities. Tim evaluated hazardous work conditions and developed safe work procedures to keep essential City services operational while protecting the health and safety of frontline staff.

As the Safety Manager, Tim will oversee and manage safety programs that enhance and promote a safety-oriented workplace culture while also ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

Tim’s first day was Sept. 5. Congratulations on your promotion, Tim!

Gwen Ichinose Bagley joins the Career and Culture Division as an Organizational Development Practitioner.

Gwen has more than 30 years' experience working in the non-profit sector in a variety of roles from team member, supervisor, multi-teams supervisor, and C-Suite roles. Her most recent position was with the YMCA of Greater Seattle, serving as the Senior Vice President/Youth Development Officer where she co-developed strategies to design and deliver programs and services that focused on healthy holistic development for infants to young adults. She has a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and is currently a doctoral student in the same field of study with Gonzaga University.

Gwen enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, reading nonfiction, crafting, watching food competition shows, and has a renewed love for building with Legos.

Gwen’s first day was Sept. 5. Congratulations Gwen and welcome to King County!

Crystal Yost was the successful candidate for the Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) Talent Acquisition Analyst role on the Talent Acquisition Team.

Crystal brings 19 years of experience in public sector human resources, including 12 years at the University of Washington and seven years at the City of Seattle. She specializes in recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, policy administration, and career development. She also actively participates in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) projects and initiatives, aiming to make talent acquisition more equitable. Crystal brings her passion for anti-racist work and HR expertise to King County's HR Services Delivery Division.

Crystal is a longtime Washingtonian who has called King County home for more than 20 years. She currently lives in West Seattle with her husband, their daughter, along with their cat, Spike, and energetic dog, Max.

Crystal’s first day was Sept. 18. Congratulations Crystal and welcome to King County!

Lauren Orichio was the successful candidate for Supported Employment Program Manager on the Disability Services Team.

Lauren is excited to jump into the work of Supported Employment Program Manager. Originally from New Jersey, Lauren has been in the Pacific Northwest for the last 10 years. She has a background in teaching special education and has been in the Supported Employment field for the last eight years.

When not working, you can find Lauren baking, roller blading, or finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors, most recently whitewater rafting!

Lauren’s first day was Sept. 18. Congratulations Lauren and welcome to King County!

Beza Ayele was the successful candidate for the Ruth Woo Fellow role on the Learning and Development Team. Originally from Seattle, Beza has a deep love for writing, critical thinking, and continuous learning. Recently completing Cultural Studies Master of Arts program, her research focused on the intersections of Black women, Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and education, broadening perspective on the idea of Black excellence. Prior to the fellowship, Beza had been working at nonprofits in Seattle and currently volunteers at the Ethiopian Community in Seattle (ECS).

In her free time, Beza enjoys attending live music events, playing Bejeweled and eating Tillamook cookie dough ice cream. 

Beza’s first day was Sept. 18. Congratulations Beza and welcome to King County!

Charmie Sieng was the successful candidate for the Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor role on the Central Payroll Team. Charmie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in 2010, which provided a strong foundation for her career. Charmie gained valuable experience throughout the years, starting as a Payroll Tax Accountant II at Boeing for five years. Charmie then moved to Starbucks serving as a Payroll Tax Analyst Lead where she oversaw payroll tax processes and projects. Outside of work, Charmie enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Charmie’s first day was Sept. 25. Congratulations Charmie and welcome to King County!

Jeannette Quintero joins HR Services Delivery Division as the Human Resources Manager II in a Special Duty Assignment assigned to the Department of Public Defense.

Jeannette joined King County in 2021 as a Senior HR Analyst with the Department of Public Defense bringing a strong foundational HR background with experience and passion for managing equity and inclusion initiatives at the state level. Prior to joining the County, she held various roles as an HR Generalist, HR Assistant Director, and DEI Partner.

An avid soccer fan, Jeannette enjoys watching her daughters play soccer on the weekend, and as a family, she enjoys evening walks with their three German Shepherds, Wilson, Darth, and Storm.

Jeannette’s first day was Sept. 2. Congratulations, Jeannette!

Valerie Garza joins Central Employee Services Division as the Deferred Compensation Plan Administrator within the Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Section (BPROS).

Valerie has 20 years of experience with King County working in administrative roles with various departments including Public Health, Metro Transit, and Natural Resources and Parks.

A California Chicana transplant, she currently resides in North Seattle with her husband, and two school-age children. She spent last summer vacation hiking through four national parks including Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef, and the Golden Spike National Historical Park where she and her family were eaten alive by “No-See-Ums” insects. Her family is working towards the goal of visiting all 63 national parks (Did you know there were 423 national park sites?). In her spare time, you can find Valerie spending time with her family or engaging in one of many hobbies. She loves gardening, mediative practices that can help destress, reading a book/broadening the mind without traveling, and cooking/tasting her way through the world.

Valerie’s first day is Sept. 30. Congratulations on your promotion, Valerie and welcome to DHR!

Robert L. Miller is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. In 2017, he moved to Seattle to expand professionally and personally. His previous work was in event management, coordinating community events for the City of Bellevue and large-scale events at the Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP. He's excited to meet new people, learn new skills, and have a little fun in the process.

Congratulations Robert and welcome to King County!

Teal Christensen is a recent graduate of the University of Washington's Library and Information Science Master's program. Before joining King County, she worked at Disability Rights Washington and Pacific Northwest Ballet. In her spare time, she volunteers for GeekGirlCon, reads romance and science fiction, and spends time with her fluffy black cat, Prince Charmont.

Congratulations Teal and welcome to King County!

Emma James' professional background includes experience as a teacher, a Public Health - Seattle & King County COVID-19 Contact Tracer, Customer Success Manager, and Program Manager. In her free time, she enjoys paddle boarding, dancing, rock climbing, and trivia.

Congratulations Emma and welcome back to King County!

Joe Mergl spent the last four years as a Sales Director for an interior design and home staging company in Seattle. His prior experience has been in corporate and field visual merchandising for almost 16 years. Joe is currently enrolled online with Arizona State University to complete his degree in Urban and Environmental planning, in hopes of continuing his career in either transportation planning or urban planning and sustainability.

Joe currently lives in Burien and has been in Washington for the past 16 years. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, traveling with friends and family, and working in the yard. 

Congratulations Joe and welcome to King County!

King County offers an alert and warning system called KCInform that notifies King County staff about county emergencies. You can add your personal email, home phone number, and work email and phone number to stay informed. Providing your personal contact information is voluntary, but will help King County reach you at home, work, or on the go in an emergency. KCInform will only contact you during an emergency or to test the system.

To register, update, or verify your current information, email kcinform@kingcounty.gov. Click here for more information. King County will conduct a test of KCInform on Oct. 19 during the Great Shakeout. Look for more information in October.

Travis Gershaneck joined DHR in July 2022 as the Veteran Fellow II with the Career Support Services Team where he provided administrative support developing weekly content such as articles, posters, brochures, and videos for publication in the countywide Employee News, Learning Compass, and UpFront for people leaders. He also played a key role to develop and execute the strategic communications campaign for the Professional Development Scholarship Fund to help highlight the program benefits and encourage employees to apply.

Travis’ last day with DHR was Sept. 8. We thank him for all of his contributions to DHR and the Career Support Services Team and wish him all the best!

Peter Di Turi joined DHR in Aug. 2021 as the Term-Limited Temporary NEOGOV Learn Systems Liaison where he provided support to access, training, and overall system use of the Learn management system for county employees, contractors, and external resources. He also chaired the eLearning Advisory Committee and worked on the Governance and Accessibility and Equity sub-committees. Peter recently accepted a Senior Management System Analyst position with the Real Property Services Division at Seattle Public Utilities.

Peter’s last day with DHR was Sept. 12. We thank him for all his contributions to DHR and the HR Systems, Analytics, and Operations Team and wish him the very best in his new role!

Magan Do joined DHR in March 2023 as the Term-Limited Temporary Health and Well-Being Project/Program Manager III with the Balanced You Team covering for an employee on leave. She came to DHR from the Executive's Office where she supported federal grants management and human resources. As the Health and Well-Being Project/Program Manager III, Magan managed key well-being projects and initiatives working in close collaboration with County partners and our Communications Team.

Magan’s last day with DHR was Sept. 15. We thank her for all her contributions to DHR and the Balanced You Team and wish her the very best!

Emily Fraser joined DHR in April 2022 as a Safety and Health Professional – Certified where she advised on health and safety concerns, conducted incident investigations, and ensured assigned departments and division procedures and actions complied with King County’s Accident Prevention Program. She also developed reports to better inform key partners of safety trends. Emily recently accepted a role as a Wastewater Safety Plan Officer with the Wastewater Treatment Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

Emily’s last day with DHR was Sept. 15. We thank her for all her contributions to DHR and the Safety Team and wish her the very best in her new role!

Jennifer Kang joined DHR in Jan. 2023 as a Payroll Administrator where she processed payroll for all County employees and provided support and training to assigned departments. She also participated in key meetings with the Business Resource Center to look at ways to improve the user experience and program effectiveness of PeopleSoft. Jennifer recently accepted a role as the Volunteer Coordinator with the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.

Jennifer’s last day with DHR was Sept. 15. We thank her for all her contributions to DHR and the Central Payroll Team and wish her the very best in her new role!

Balanced You partners with Vivecorp to bring you free bi-weekly 30-minute workouts to break up your workday. Each session is run by a certified trainer. Learn how to properly do various exercises during live yoga, stretching, cardio, and strengthening sessions. 

Classes are for all levels from beginner to advanced. No special gear is needed. The sessions are all body weight movement. A yoga mat is optional. Upcoming classes:

Yoga: Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Register here.

Stretching: Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Register here.

Here is full fall schedule.

Mindfulness fall schedule

Balanced You partners with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. All classes are held live on Zoom. Upcoming classes:

Cultivating Happiness and Joy: Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register here.

Mindful Leadership 2: Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Mindful Self-Compassion at Work: Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. Register here.

Here is the full fall schedule.