Employee feedback driving changes within WSDA

Patrick Capper
Deputy Director

The 2017 WSDA Employee Engagement Survey highlighted several issues that present opportunities for improvements. Director Sandison and I committed to take a deeper look to identify solutions that will help improve employee morale and move the agency in a positive direction. 

Over the last few months, WSDA leaders have conducted listening sessions with staff to help the director and the Leadership Team (LT) learn more about the issues that our staff encounter. These sessions provided valuable feedback into how employees feel about working at WSDA and what they think needs improvement. 

LT will fully dedicate our January meeting to reviewing this feedback, identifying themes, and prioritizing solutions. While it will take some time to process all the feedback, LT has already made several critical improvements over the past year, and a number of other efforts are under way.

Efficiency and transparency 

The Leadership Team agendas will now be available online to promote transparency. You can find LT meeting notes, starting with the Nov. 15 meeting, on the agency’s intranet.

We established an assistant director position for Administrative Services to oversee critical agency programs that previously did not have AD support.

LT reorganized to streamline decision-making and to realign reporting structures. 

The Performance and Planning Office is establishing project management and oversight protocols to help manage IT projects. In addition, LT approved an IT governance process to more efficiently process and track IT projects.  

Financial Services and IT, in conjunction with the divisions, have developed a new and improved accounts receivable software system to replace our inefficient and antiquated system.

Human Resources and Financial Services are nearly fully staffed, including the hiring of our new chief financial officer, Gene Emmans, who is conducting a complete analysis of the agency’s financial health. 

Human Resources will introduce an automated organizational chart software to easily and quickly visualize the agency’s organizational relationships. This software also offers the ability to run reports, more effectively manage employee position status data, and provides a platform to model organizational change and growth.  

Significant progress was made on our credit card policy that will allow the agency to use modern payment systems and methods.  

Our agency policy review process was revamped for more efficient internal policy reviews and approvals. 

The WSDA Communications Office will launch a new and improved agency website next spring.

Security 

Access to the NRB second floor is now restricted to enhance security and control external traffic. 

We’re exploring enhanced security measures for the Cleveland lab including more secure access and installation of security cameras.  

Space 

Human Resources is developing an “infants in the workplace” policy, as well as identifying space in the NRB for a nursing room.  

Facilities has completed an NRB space inventory to clearly identify current and future needs. 

I thank everyone for their participation in the 2018 WSDA listening sessions, and I commit to keeping you posted as we make progress on the suggestions we’ve received. 

Without your feedback, we would not be able to make the necessary adjustments and improvements that will make WSDA a better place to work as we move towards 2019. Thank you for all you do every day at WSDA.

In summary: Survey results and feedback from employee listening sessions form the foundation of agency improvements to boost morale and move us forward in a positive direction. Deputy Director Patrick Capper provides an update on the Insider blog.

Seed Program takes expertise on the road to improve crops

Kathy Davis
Communications

Linda Rainey, center, shows a meeting attendee
the seed germination towel display provided by
the WSDA Seed Program. Another staffer,
Nancy Jones, is in the background.

It all starts with a seed. Healthy, viable seeds form the foundation of Washington’s diverse crop portfolio. 

WSDA’s Seed Program recently took that message and their expertise to Moscow, Idaho where they presented workshop sessions and interactive displays at a joint meeting of seed professionals from Washington and Idaho. 

“Our lab team was a powerhouse with information and displays at the meeting,” said Paula Moore, acting program manager. “All of the attendees gave great reviews of the two 50-minute workshop sessions given by our staff.”

The 2018 annual joint meeting of Washington State Crop Improvement and the Washington/North Idaho Seed Association was held in Moscow Nov. 12-13. 

The first is a non-profit that works with seed producers to develop and distribute certified seed to improve crop yields. The second is a seed association to educate members on issues affecting the entire seed industry. The joint state association meeting educates and builds relationships across the industry, including those involved with production, crop protection, processing and marketing. 

Our Seed Program staffed a booth that was packed with informational material about their services and WSDA in general. 

From left to right, Chris Norvell, Terri Cox, Carmela Martinez, and Linda
Rainey staff the Seed Program’s information booth.

The two workshops provided visually interesting and interactive displays which drew a lot of interest. Germination towels showed how wheat seeds are tested for sprouting viability, illustrating what normal versus abnormal seeds look like for seed certification purposes. 

Program staff also displayed TZ (tetrazolium) test samples, in which seed embryos are stained red. A look under a microscope identifies which seeds are viable.

“The TZ samples and microscopes showed how difficult these tests really are to master,” Paula noted. 

Terri Cox, foreground, and Nancy Jones, far right, help meeting
attendees as they view TZ (tetrazolium) test samples through microscopes.

The two workshop presentations by WSDA staff focused on seed purity, viability, and sodium hydroxide testing of wheat. 

Seed Program representatives got positive feedback for their work. “Even later at dinner, we received compliments and one industry rep asked that we do a demonstration at their company,” Paula said. 

Program staff Cassie Givens and Elissa Romero prepared the workshops. Nancy Jones (laboratory supervisor), Terri Cox, Chris Norvell, Linda Rainey and Carmela Martinez presented the workshops. 

In summary: WSDA Seed Program drew rave reviews for their workshop sessions and visual displays presented at a recent joint Washington and Idaho meeting of seed professionals. 

Quake practice and info fair help staff be prepared

Megan Finkenbinder
Director's Office

Mercedes Christensen (foreground) with Animal Services
Division, and other staff, peruse the information and giveaway
tables at the Emergency Management/Safety/Wellness
Fair on Oct. 18.

Are you prepared for when the next earthquake strikes? Staff at WSDA’s headquarters in Olympia sure are. They participated in the Great ShakeOut on Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m., which encouraged all participants to drop, cover and hold on. 

Those who were here during the last major quake in Washington, the Nisqually quake that registered 6.8 on the Richter scale, remember the feeling of the Natural Resources Building moving and shaking. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are merely waiting for the next earthquake to strike. 

To emphasize the theme of preparedness, the NRB Safety Committee hosted an Emergency Management, Safety, and Wellness Fair. During the fair, staff were able to pick up supplies for their under-the-desk emergency kits. If you do not have one of these kits, please contact Sonia Soelter. 

Information on wellness was available, including new services that WSDA employees can take advantage of through the Employee Assistance Program. These new services

When the Nisqually earthquake struck 11 miles from Olympia
in 2001, the Natural Resources Building experienced hazardous
shaking and toppling office furniture.

include financial planning and legal services. If you have any questions on wellness activities, please reach out to WSDA’s Wellness Coordinator Stacy Laney. 

Our safety team brought out their state-of-the-art fire simulator, complete with a fire extinguisher, fire alarm and phone that dials 911 (NOT for real!). This simulator gave staff a safe way of learning how to properly use an extinguisher and what it takes to put out a fire. 

This fair brought staff together to talk about the importance of safety and being prepared at home and at the office for all types of emergencies. You never know what tomorrow may bring. 

WSDA Deputy Director Patrick Capper tries his hand at the fire
extinguisher simulator, under the watchful guidance of Jason
Gambill from the Safety Program.

For more information on emergency preparedness and what you should include in a “Two Week Kit,” check out the Washington State Emergency Management’s website. 

In summary: After headquarters employees participated in the annual Great ShakeOut on Oct. 18, they had the opportunity to learn more about preparedness from emergency management, safety, and wellness staff.