THE BASICS
Division: I work in Employee Services in the People & Culture Business Unit.
How long have you been at City Light? Since August 2023.
Tell us about your role. My role is all about supporting employees throughout their entire journey with Seattle City Light. I handle transactions in Workday, the City’s human resources system, from hiring to retirement – whether it’s pay changes and benefits to job changes and more. Beyond Workday, I answer questions from employees and managers, helping them navigate processes with confidence. Behind every transaction and every email is a real person – an employee, a parent, a spouse – and my goal is to make sure they feel supported every step of the way.
BACKGROUND
Hometown: I grew up in a small place called Willow Creek, California.
Tell us about your family/pets: I have two cats. One is Colin and the other is Nova. Colin’s 18 and Nova’s probably 3. They couldn’t be more different: Nova’s young, full of energy, and loves everyone who comes over. Colin prefers a more relaxed pace, runs from everyone – I’m the only person who can pet him. When I come home, he runs to the door to greet me.
JUST FOR FUN
Least favorite food? Peas.
What is your go-to, most listened to song? I enjoy listening to Kenny G.
What is your hidden talent or hobby? In my free time, I enjoy computer programming and figuring out why programs break and how to fix them, which ends up complementing my day-to-day work more than people might expect.
What would people never guess that you do in your role? People might be surprised by how much investigation and problem-solving my job involves. When something doesn’t look right in Workday or with benefits, I often trace transactions and timelines to figure out what happened and how to fix it. This can mean digging into details and collaborating with colleagues in People & Culture, as well as the Citywide Workday team. I also focus on continuous improvement, which includes streamlining processes, reducing errors, and eliminating unnecessary steps. My goal is to make workflows easier and more efficient for employees and the teams that support them.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? After helping a parent navigate a complex benefit issue for their child, they told me, “You were a calm and steady presence during a really stressful time, and we couldn’t have figured this out without you.”