Deputy DAs, Investigator Honored for Excellence

/

Six District Attorney’s Office prosecutors and an investigator were recognized at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting for their outstanding contributions to public safety over the past year.

The prosecutors were nominated by their peers for their extraordinary work and selected by the San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Association.

Supervisors honored the following:

  • Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Barlow

  • Deputy District Attorney Julie Lynn

  • Deputy District Attorney Jessica Paugh

  • Deputy District Attorney Nicole Rooney

  • District Attorney Investigator David Soliven

  • Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel

  • Deputy District Attorney David Williams, III

“I’m honored to lead such outstanding deputy district attorneys and investigators, who seek justice every day on behalf of crime victims in San Diego County,” DA Summer Stephan said. “They truly represent the dedication and quality of our entire prosecutorial team.”

PerkSpot Alert: Holiday Shopping

/

The holidays are right around the corner. Shop for loved ones on PerkSpot and save big! You can find discounts on jewelry for that special someone, flowers and chocolates for party hosts, gaming gear for your children and even treats for your pets.

PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts through more than 400 service providers and retailers, from movie theaters to florists and jewelers. Go to SDCounty.PerkSpot.com and shop. If you are new, click on “Create an Account” to register.

Each month, one of the most popular PerkSpot deals will be highlighted on InSite.

In Touch – The Greatest Gifts

/
Helen_Official.jpg

The season of giving is here. And I want to share with you a few gifts that mean more to me than anything.

They’re words of thanks from the people we serve.

You all work every day to make a positive difference in people’s lives. So when we get notes from people we’ve helped, confirming in their own words that we really did make a difference, they’re just like little presents to me.

I’m happy to say that while each one of these comments is precious, they’re not rare. We get a steady stream from our operations in every corner of the county. But I’ve picked out a few that really struck me. I hope that even if a story is not from your department, you’ll feel pride and satisfaction as part of our one County team.

Some are long or have private details, so in many cases I’m sharing excerpts.

This one is from a former probationer to Officer John Betts.

I wanted to take the time to contact you and say with utmost sincerity: thank you.

You always supported me and did your best to make a difficult time in my life as easy as you could. Life has absolutely been very rough since that time, but as of recently, I was finally able to enlist in the U.S. Army. I ship out soon and will finally be able to achieve my dream. You played a part in getting me this far, and I owe you for it.

…you put your trust in me to behave and treated me like an equal man, and that allowed me to conduct myself in a manner that would see me to my goals.

This is a perfect example of the approach to rehabilitation Probation now takes. Yes, they’re keeping us safe. But they’re doing it by giving the people they supervise respect and the direction to fully participate in the community.

Many County jobs involve working with people at the worst moments of their lives. After a violent incident at an office complex, the County’s Behavioral Health Services was there to counsel traumatized workers. A manager wrote:

…we had a much needed session with Dr. Laura Vleugels and Amanda Kaufman for our tenants. They have been knowledgeable, compassionate, patient and helpful. We have never dealt with anything like this, and having their professional support was such a blessing.

Thank you for all the critical work you do. We are lucky to have you!

People often don’t realize all the ways we offer support until they’re in a crisis themselves.

Winding up in a hospital is stressful enough. Dealing with government forms on top of that doesn’t help. So one patient was extremely moved by the work of public health staff who visited him in a hospital and placed him in housing for his recovery. 

They both made me feel comfortable and no tension or high anxiety existed. [They] guided me like skilled tacticians through the paperwork and requirements of the program. I’m deeply grateful and highly honored to be able to be given an opportunity although through my illness it humbles me to participate in such a program. And again all three of the County employees who assisted me in this arduous task did a excellent job. All I can say is Thanks, Thanks, Thanks.

It’s a great case of our HEART principles in action.

We know Purchasing & Contracting rules are there for very good reasons. But they can be tough to navigate, for employees and public alike! So Purchasing staff have their work cut out for them when helping people through the system.

"...In the 10 years of participating in bid processes across the nation, I have never seen a better, more professional, more transparent bid process than that conducted by Kristen. Her courtesy and outreach were unmatched. You have a great asset in Kristen and she reflects well for the County."

You get praise for your procurement, that’s something!

There’s so much to like about this next one from a repeat customer, most recently dealing with Environmental Health.

[They] chose to go the extra mile for their customer. lt just leaves you with a good feeling. Not that this experience was unusual. I have been to the County Operations Center about 5-6 times for various issues and while I have not always gotten the results I sought, I have always gotten the sense that the people working those desks are knowledgeable and want to help you succeed if they possibly can. The whole way things are done at County Operations impresses me as about as rational and efficient as you could hope for – no small achievement given the thicket of rules, regulations, and records that they contend with.

It’s true – we can’t always give people what they want. What we can always do is be helpful,  informative and understanding. And the fact that this customer has consistently had positive interactions with us speaks volumes about the entire culture of exceptional customer service we’ve developed. 

Here’s more evidence of that culture, in a few short messages from visitors to our Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk offices.

This office has always provided the best experience. Thank you for your 5-star service.

I felt like I was at a retail establishment – not a county facility.

This is an office that every county office in California should copy.

Exceeding expectations. Serving as a model. Each remark has a little bow on it in my eyes and brings me so much joy.

I’ve focused here on messages from the public to those who interact directly with them. But I understand well that for every person working at a counter or in the field, there’s a whole network of employees behind the scenes performing jobs that contribute to the customer’s experience. The thanks we get extend to you. Gratitude has a magical quality: there’s no limit to how much it can be shared.

And now my turn. My thanks to you all for another amazing year. Like the customers said, you really are the best. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with loved ones, and I look forward to new messages from happy customers in the new year.

Recent InTouch columns

Protect the Public's Information - and Your Own!

Here's to Employees in the Hep A Fight

Sorrow and Solidarity in the Face of Tragedy

All InTouch columns

Use Your Flex Spending Dollars Before You Lose Them

/

Time is running out to spend your Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Reimbursement (HRA) dollars on approved medical expenses.

Employees have until Dec. 31 to use their FSA/HRA on doctors’ office visits, prescription copays, eyeglasses and contacts, dental work and many other health expenditures. For a complete list of eligible purchases, please refer to ASI Flex.

All documents and supporting receipts are due on or before March 31, 2018.

In addition, you may be able to roll over some of your unspent 2017 funds into 2018. Employees can carry over up to $500 into their 2018 Health Care FSA or HRA. The $500 is a combined amount for the FSA and the HRA. This IRS guideline applies to employees not enrolled in a high deductible health care plan.

If you are not sure how much you have left in your FSA or HRA, check your account balance through ASI Flex’s website.

Reminder: Dependent Care Flex Spending Account dollars do not carry over

For more information on the Department of Human Resources’ Benefits division, visit their website on InSite.

Best of the Batch

/

There’s a delicious County Employees’ Charitable Organization announcement. The 2017 CECO Bake-Off champion is Donatella Aguinaldo! Her fresh mango cheesecake cupcake beat out the competition of other cakes, cookies, cobblers and other confections earlier this month during the annual fundraiser.

Aguinaldo, a Departmental Payroll Specialist with the Department of Animal Services, is an avid baker that likes to whip up both sweet and savory treats in her kitchen. She said her cupcake is a favorite with friends and family.

If you missed the bake sale, no-knead to worry. You can still give to CECO. Here’s how to get involved.

Glam Up Season with ERG Holiday Party

/

Get red-carpet ready and come celebrate the holidays with your fellow County employees at the annual Employee Resource Group holiday party!

This year’s Hollywood Holidays-themed fete will be on Dec. 16 from 6-11 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego (8110 Aero Dr., San Diego, 92123) and will include a nod to everyone’s favorite films. Anyone can come to the three-course, plated meal. The night will include entertainment, prizes and, of course, a red carpet. The fun is open to employees, ERG members, families, friends and kids under two are free with a paid guest.

Tickets are $36, but if you snag one before Nov. 30, you’ll get a free raffle ticket. Raffle tickets will be sold at the event for $1 each, 10 for $5 or 25 for $10. They’ll win you things like gift cards, baskets of goodies and there are even a few special surprises.

RSVP at Eventbrite, but make sure you purchase your tickets by filling out the bottom of this form and send it with cash or check payable to APACE to Mailstop P-511H Attn: Mary Grace Sadile (APACE). You also have the option of paying via Venmo (@APACE-APACE).

Got more questions? (Yes, wear that sparkly dress or the navy dapper suit.) Email apace@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Shop at AmazonSmile and Support CECO

/

Donating to charity is as easy as a smile. Simply shop on AmazonSmile and a portion of the sale will go to the County Employee’ Charitable Organization (CECO).

AmazonSmile functions the same as Amazon, but the online retailer donates 0.5 percent of purchases to a charity of your choice. You don’t pay anything extra. So get shopping! Smiles are just an online purchase away!

Using AmazonSmile is easy.

  1. Instead of visiting the standard Amazon website, go to smile.amazon.com.

  2. Sign in to your Amazon account or create one.

  3. If it is your first visit, pick your own charitable organization. Type “San Diego County Employees' Charitable Organization” or “CECO” as your charity.

  4. Shop as you normally would! (You will see eligible products marked as “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on product detail pages.)

  5. Save the AmazonSmile link as a favorite and always shop from there.

CECO donates all the money it collects to community organizations and employees in need. See recent recipients.

There are several other ways to support CECO throughout the year. Make a biweekly donation via payroll deductions for as little as $2 per pay period. See CECO pledge instructions. Or you could make a one-time donation by contacting your CECO Department Representative or a member of the CECO Executive Committee.

Employee Wellness Softball Tournament Is a Hit

/

Team Scared Hitless won the 2017 Employee Wellness Intramural Softball Tournament.

Sixteen teams took the field at Sweetwater Lane County Park on Sunday in the first-ever Employee Wellness Intramural Softball Tournament. The day-long event was a sure hit!

Congratulations to team Scared Hitless for clinching the championship. The runner-up was team Center City.

Scared Hitless Team Roster:

  1. Cecil Ashley, Protective Services Worker

  2. Loriann Carroll, Senior Protective Services Worker

  3. Jose Cintron, Protective Services Worker

  4. Steven Gachette, Protective Services Worker

  5. Rosina Flores, Assessment Clerk

  6. Brian Morris, Protective Services Worker

  7. Jade Nieto, Protective Services Supervisor, CWS South Region

  8. Carlos Olmeda Jr., Program Specialist II

  9. Lisa Quadros, Protective Services Worker

  10. Richard Pagdilao, Protective Services Worker

  11. Lisa Salsbury, Protective Services Worker

  12. Chris Soriano, Admin Analyst II

  13. Nicole Turner, Protective Services Worker

  14. Karlis Thorpe, Protective Services Worker

  15. Sergio Vazquez, Human Services Specialist

Miss out on the fun? Don’t worry, you can click through the gallery.