Local Services’ Evelyn Wood retires after 17 years with King County

Evelyn Wood, whose public service career began with the Highline School District before joining King County.

Local Services wants to wish Executive Assistant Evelyn Wood – one of the key people who has helped our department deliver government services to the unincorporated areas since we began operations – a happy retirement.

Evelyn is calling it a career after 17 years with the county. Her public service career began in the Highline School District, where she worked as office manager to spend more time with her son and serve her immediate community.

She then joined the county, where she provided essential administrative support for the Director’s Offices for the former King County Department of Transportation and most recently with Local Services. She also served as the department representative on the countywide Equity and Social Justice Inter-Branch Team.

“The best part of working for King County is all the wonderful people I’ve met and have been fortunate to work with – really hard-working, dedicated individuals who exemplify public service,” she said.

Before her retirement, Evelyn was recognized with the Loyalty Award from the Pacific Northwest Admin Awards. The Loyalty Award is presented to the Administrative Professional that has a long history of effective service in the Admin profession (minimum of 15 years) and/or has a long history of effective service to their existing company or executive in an administrative capacity (minimum of 10 years).

“Since the start of the pandemic, Evelyn supported the transition to remote work and helped launch several rounds of grant programs for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 in the unincorporated area of King County,” the organization wrote. “Her attention to detail, ability to learn new systems and federal requirements, and assistance to small business owners was essential to the program’s success. She extends assistance to new employees, leadership or anyone expressing a need for help. Her loyalty, kindness and hard work are important assets to her organization and the community it serves.”

Local Services Director John Taylor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Binetti recently joined others to celebrate Evelyn’s ride into the retirement sunset.

When asked what she’d miss most about working the county, Evelyn said, “I will miss the people, the genuine affection, humor, and camaraderie.”

Accolades aside, anyone in Local Services who knows Evelyn can tell you how she is one of the nicest, most genuine people around. Congratulations, again, on the retirement.