Government Green Fleet Award

The Fleet Services Division earned national recognition as a Government Green Fleet Award winner. King County ranked 17th among local, state, and federal government agency fleets across North America. This is the fourth consecutive year that King County has secured a spot in this contest.

NACo Achievement Award

King County Information Technology received an Achievement Award for Information Technology from the National Association of Counties for our Integrated Data Hub project.

2019 Digital Edge 50 Award

IDG’s CIO and the CIO Executive Council recognized King County Information Technology with a Digital Edge 50 Award for Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality/Augmented Intelligence. The Digital Edge 50 Awards recognize projects driving IT innovation.

America’s Best-In-State Employers 2019

King County was named to Forbes magazine’s list of “America’s Best-In-State Employers 2019,” ranked number 16 among employers in Washington. This recognition shows that we are making progress on our efforts to build a workplace culture of respect, innovation, and performance excellence.

CAP Organizational Leadership Award

The Center for Accountability and Performance, affiliated with the American Society for Public Administration, awarded King County the CAP Organizational Leadership Award for 2019. The annual CAP Organizational Leadership Award recognizes outstanding management strategies that result in a culture change, sustained improvements, and demonstrated positive effects on government performance and accountability.

Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award

King County Metro was named the best large transit system in North America by the American Public Transportation Association, the nation’s leading public transit advocacy organization, citing achievements in ridership, safety, access, customer service, financial management, commitment to equity, and sustainability.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve: Above and Beyond Award

The Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented King County, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), and several County managers with awards in recognition of their support of County employees who currently serve in the Reserve and National Guard.

National Association of Counties’ Digital Counties Survey: First Place (1 million or more population)

King County Information Technology took first place in the 15th Annual National Association of Counties’ Digital Counties Survey.

2018 James Ellis Regional Leadership Award

The Municipal League Foundation awarded the Seattle Foundation and King County’s Communities of Opportunity with its 2018 James Ellis Regional Leadership Award, which recognizes the individual or organization who has contributed significant leadership to the region in the examination of regional public policy problems and solutions.

Bus Safety and Security Excellence Award

The American Public Transportation Association recognized King County Metro with a national 2018 Bus Safety & Security Excellence Award for its Transit Operator Assault Program, which helped reduce assaults on operators by 53 percent since 2008. That drop is despite a 17-percent increase in ridership over that same period.

Emergency Management Accreditation Program 2017: King County Emergency Management

Only 30 county-level emergency management agencies in the U.S. have achieved this mark of professional excellence.

The National Association of Medical Examiners Accreditation 2018: King County Medical Examiner's Office

Accreditation by NAME is a significant achievement for an office, signifying to the public that the office is performing at a high level of competence and public service. 

Washington State Department of Ecology: King County Environmental Laboratory 

The King County Environmental Lab is accredited for multiple categories of methods and sample metrics. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System

King County is rated a Class 2, which provides a 40 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for property located within special flood hazard areas and a 10 percent discount in non-special flood hazard areas within unincorporated King County. King County was the first county in the nation to achieve this rating under CRS and remains one of only two counties in the country with this rating.

Veteran of the Year Award

The Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA), has honored King County’s Business Resource Center’s Chris Franco with its prestigious Veteran of the Year Award. This award celebrates Chris and how he exemplifies courage, honor, and is a beacon for other Latinos to follow.

County Engineer of the Year

Road Services Division Director Rick Brater has been named the Washington State County Road Administration Board’s “County Engineer of the Year.”

Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Award

The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) has recognized King County’s Karen Hamilton for her significant leadership in executing and supporting sustainable purchasing initiatives for nearly 30 years. 

UW School of Nursing Peter Dyer Heart of Nursing Award

Patty Hayes, Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County, received the 2019 UW School of Nursing Peter Dyer Heart of Nursing Award for her commitment to advancing the profession of nursing and impacting the health of every person in our region.

Washington State Public Health Association 2018 Public Health Leadership Award

Dr. Marguerite Ro, Chief of the Assessment, Policy Development, and Evaluation unit and the Director of the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health – Seattle and King County, was honored as with a 2018 Public Health Leadership Award for her dedication and contributions to the public health community. 

2018 Risk Manager of the Year

Jennifer Hills, Director of King County's Office of Risk Management Services, was named Public Risk Manager of the Year by PRIMA, a risk management association for public agencies.

2018 Emerging Training Leaders

Debra Baker, Educator Consultant in the Department of Human Resources, has been named one of Training magazine's 2018 Emerging Training Leaders. This award recognizes the outstanding talents, accomplishments and leadership of training professionals who have been in the training industry for two to 10 years. 

2018 Excellence in Government Leadership Award

Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director of King County Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, was recognized by the Association of Governmental Accountants for outstanding leadership and innovative management procedures.