Chief Administrative Officer Vision

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Chief Administrative Officer Vision

Culture

• Curiosity

• All voices heard & valued

• Acceptance & belonging

Trust

• Communications

• Partnership with community, team members & Board of Supervisors

• Build relationships to build a better future

Empowerment

• Input & decision making

• Innovation

• Reflective of the communities we serve

My Philosophy

When working with people in the community or on our County team, I focus on being kind, helping and honest all at the same time… or be quiet. I don’t always get it right, but this allows me to avoid speculation and set boundaries.

County Guiding Principles

• Vision: A just, sustainable and resilient future for all.

• Mission: Strengthen our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data-driven services through a skilled and supportive workforce.

• Values: Integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, sustainability.

• General Management System: Guides planning and decision making.

County Remembers 9/11

Flags at County facilities were at half-staff Wednesday for Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance — the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

Flu Shots Are Coming Soon!

Flu shots will be available to all County employees from Sept. 24 to Oct. 15.  

Make an appointment to get your flu shot at many County worksite locations. View the schedule and make an appointment. You will need to present your County ID to receive your free flu shot. While appointments are recommended, walk-ins are welcome.  

Additionally, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare and SIMNSA have flu shots available. Learn more about availability here.  

Your supervisor may approve reasonable County time for you to receive your flu shot.  

Employee with questions or requesting accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources Employee Benefits Division at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.  

The Open Enrollment Website is Now Available

Check out the County’s Open Enrollment website to learn more about your 2025 benefit plan options and changes. Here you will find 2025 rates, plan updates, spending accounts limits, and much more!

Plus, you can attend an Open Enrollment Seminar. All Open Enrollment seminars will be virtual. Representatives from each insurance carrier are scheduled to give a presentation. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation.

Registration is not required. Use the presenter links in the Virtual Seminar Schedule to join.

Can’t attend a session? No problem! Recordings of all Open Enrollment Seminars will be available after the sessions.

View the Virtual Open Enrollment Seminar Schedule.

In addition, here are some reminders:

• Elections made during Open Enrollment will be effective Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025.

• Spending Accounts: You must re-enroll annually. This includes the Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA and the Health Savings Account. Funds will not be contributed into a spending account for 2025 if no election during Open Enrollment is submitted.

• Waiving Medical Coverage: If you waived your medical coverage in 2024 and want to continue to waive in 2025, you are required to participate in Open Enrollment. If you do not make an election in PeopleSoft Employee Self Service to waive coverage for 2025, your medical election will automatically be defaulted to the Kaiser HMO employee only plan. Excess Flex Credits, if any, will be deposited into a Health Reimbursement Account.

• Prepare Your Dependent Documents Now. If you plan to add a new dependent to any of your benefit plans, you will need to provide proof of relationship documents (such as a marriage certificate for a spouse and birth certificates for children) by securely uploading them into PeopleSoft Employee Self Service.

If you are a temporary employee, find Open Enrollment options and instructions here.

Helpful Resources

• Open Enrollment Instructions

• Open Enrollment FAQs

• Open Enrollment Website

If you have Open Enrollment questions, Benefits Ambassadors are here to assist.

For more information, contact the Department of Human Resources Employee Benefits Division at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Remember Sept. 11 with a Moment of Silence

To honor those lost on September 11, 2001, employees are encouraged to take a moment of silence at 9:11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11. We remember the nearly 3,000 three lives lost on that day and the bravery of first responders in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

In addition, flags at County facilities will be flown at half-staff for the National Day of Service and Remembrance, and the County Administration Center will be illuminated Wednesday night.

Your View: Back-To-School Drive

This photo was submitted by Brenda Zapari from the County’s Psychiatric Hospital where staff made donations to the Home Start program’s back-to-school drive.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. Images may be posted to InSite and shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Fireside Chat: Shining Light on Invisible Disabilities

Join the next Employee Resource Group Fireside Chat on Thursday, Sept. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. This is the 11th ERG Fireside Chat in the series between County leaders and our County community.

DiverseAbility ERG invites you into the conversation focused on shining light on invisible disabilities.

Panelists are Parks Director Brian Albright, HHSA Admin Analyst Karen Brain and Public Health Services Division Chief Patrick Loose.

Come to the conversation and…

• Gain awareness about invisible disabilities. It is estimated that approximately 10% of Americans have an invisible disability.

• Hear about the challenges and successes of people with invisible disabilities.

• Learn about the importance of safe places for inclusive conversations.

• Find out about accommodation and accessibility efforts in the workplace.

Register: Registration Link

Join online: Join the meeting now
or
Join by phone: +1 619-343-2539,,114856157#, Phone conference ID: 114 856 157#

Join APACE for Chuseok

Don’t miss Chuseok this weekend! The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival will be held at the Poway Library on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 2 to 3 p.m.

The Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees (APACE) and County Library are hosting the celebration. There will be Korean crafts, treats and a Korean dance performance by San Diego Korean Pungmul Institute.

The Poway Library is located at 13137 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064.

See the flyer below.

Picnic in a Park

Life’s a picnic! Nothing’s better than a picnic with friends on a beautiful day.

The Parks and Recreation oversees approximately 50,000 acres of parks, historic sites, and open space preserves. From North County to South County, and the coast to the desert, there’s a park within 20 minutes of nearly every residence in the region. Even better, there are literally hundreds of established picnic spots that are ideal for a meal outdoors.

View the list of County day-use parks and camping parks  – these locations were made for picnicking. Enjoy your next alfresco dining experience under a canopy of ancient oaks, in a boathouse, or on a historic stage. If you’re planning to spend some quality time in the countryside, Parks and Recreation encourages you to try some secret spots, which are on their rangers’ must-see list. 

• Carved wooden bench at the summit of Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve 

• Upper deck at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center 

• Palomar County Park, with views of the Palomar Observatory and quick access to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) 

• Half-way point of the Santa Ysabel East County Preserve trail (and at the creek crossing) 

• Staging area at Hellhole Canyon County Preserve (as well as stopping points at the 1, 3, and 6-mile markers) 

• Along the nature trail at Potrero County Park 

• Deck from Cabin #5 at Agua Caliente County Park 

Two other picnic spots favorites are Flinn Springs and El Monte County Park.  

Along Old Highway 80 in El Cajon sits Flinn Springs County Park, a 95-acre day-use park with features for kids, athletes, brides – and even birders! Pull up a seat for 1 – 500. Another benefit of Flinn is its small collection of semi-private picnic tables.

Head over to Lakeside to enjoy a little history with your PB&J. El Monte County Park is one of the oldest in the County Parks system, equipped with five prohibition era picnic tables. Each table dons a plaque bearing the names of early landowners and community stewards.

In addition, 18 County parks have reservable picnic areas for special occasions. From company picnics, wedding receptions and large family reunions, to birthday parties or team building events, there is a park for you.

Your View: Sunrise Over Valley Center Community Hall

Parks and Recreation Office Assistant Elizabeth Aguilar was greeted at work with a beautiful sunrise. See her photo taken while walking into the Valley Center Community Hall and park office.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. Images may be posted to InSite and shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos.