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If you are a fan of the science fiction thriller The Matrix, you might think when I mention NEO I am referring to the protagonist played in the movie by Keanu Reeves. While I enjoyed the film, both the cinematography and plot, NEO on my calendar does not refer to the One who will bring peace to the Matrix. But, it is one event that brightens my week!<\/p>\n
NEO is the Human Resources abbreviation for New Employee Orientation. I make it a priority to participate in all of our NEOs. Pre-COVID, I would try and arrive at the HR Conference room early and talk with our new employees individually where they were sitting.\u00a0 But with our Zoom NEO, I have incorporated these individual discussions into my welcome with them.\u00a0 The consequence of this has been that Mary Ransier, who heads up the NEO with the HR team, has had to expand the time for my welcome from 10 to 45 minutes!<\/p>\n
But I think the time is well spent. I ask each new employee to share their answers to three questions: Where are you from? What were you doing before coming to work for Pierce County?\u00a0 And, why did you choose to come to join the Pierce County family?\u00a0 Their answers tell me a lot about them, our recruiting efforts, and our reputation.\u00a0 AND they get to hear each other\u2019s answers, too.<\/p>\n
Each group is a little different, but this week was representative.\u00a0 We had 13 new employees working for eight different County departments.\u00a0 They came from Colorado, Alaska, Illinois, California, Texas, Vermont, New York, Maine, Whatcom County, Spokane, and Pierce County!\u00a0 Six had significant private sector or non-profit experience.\u00a0 Four were veterans: two Marines, one Army and one Coast Guard. Only two came directly from working for another county, but another seven came from \u201cnon county\u201d governments doing similar work.<\/p>\n
Four new deputies came from the Seattle Police Department \u2013 but two of them live in Boney Lake, one in Gig Harbor.\u00a0 So, they shortened their commutes and serve in the county where they live!\u00a0 Most came because of Pierce County\u2019s reputation as an employer, two were encouraged by their friends, some came for promotions or additional pay. One had recently retired from Central Pierce Fire and others were very new in their careers.<\/p>\n
Once our newest employees are done sharing, I talk about the critically important work we do on behalf of our community and why it is even more important in a pandemic.\u00a0 I share our five values \u2013 Integrity, Accountability, Partnership, Respect, and Innovation.\u00a0 I give them examples of how you have been exemplifying these values and help them appreciate the team that are joining.\u00a0 Candidly, I must be careful with my stories or I run significantly over my time!<\/p>\n
I then finish my remarks by sharing how seeing them and listening to their stories encourages me.\u00a0 We are adding a strong new group of diverse employees to our family.\u00a0 I know you will enjoy working with them – they will make us better and help us serve our community even more effectively!<\/p>\n
Finally, I want to close with a sincere thank you to our recently retired Sheriff Paul Pastor.\u00a0 Sheriff Pastor has been the longest serving Sheriff for our community.\u00a0 He helped lead our community and the PCSD through some of our darkest times, like the murder of the Lakewood Four and the losses of Deputies Kent Mundell, Daniel McCartney, and Cooper Dyson.\u00a0 He was a leader who showed compassion, empathy, and humor.\u00a0 I have known Paul for many years before I was elected Executive.<\/p>\n Thank you for your service to the people of Pierce County, Paul.\u00a0 Fair winds and following seas.<\/p>\n If you are a fan of the science fiction thriller The Matrix, you might think when I mention NEO I am referring to the protagonist played in the movie by Keanu Reeves. While I enjoyed the film, both the cinematography and plot, NEO on my calendar does not refer to the One who will bring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":2602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38509],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/files\/2020\/10\/IMG_8095.jpg\")
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\nBruce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"