Washington State Ferries Employee News

Read the November 2024 edition of Ferry Tales, the Washington State Ferries employee newsletter.

Watch the summer 2024 all-staff meeting recording from Aug. 7.

Have an idea for this employee newsletter? Email WSFEmployeeComms@wsdot.wa.gov.

Halloween heroism from one of our own

Every day, employees working throughout our fleet make decisions that affect the safety and security of those who use our ferry system.

This past Halloween, one of our employees went out of his way to use his skills as an able-bodied sailor to rescue someone in need while on the way to work.

Early on the morning of Oct. 31, Steven Overa saw a car flipped over and on fire at the I-5/I-405 interchange in Lynnwood. He pulled over and used his personal fire extinguisher to put out the engine fire while the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash called 911. Then, they both cut through the safety air bags to get the lone passenger out of the car.

The image is split into two sections. On the left is a scene of a car crash at night. On the right side of the image, two men are standing indoors and smiling at the camera with one of them wearing an orange reflective jacket and holding a coin. — The crash at the I-5/I-405 interchange in Lynnwood that Steven Overa responded to on his way to work (left). Port Captain Jay Mooney presents him with a Shared Values Coin for his heroism (right).

Thankfully the victim was breathing on his own and had a pulse, so they waited for emergency medical services to arrive. Once they were on the scene, Steven was released and reported for duty on our Mukilteo/Clinton route.

Thank you, Steven, for your fantastic work looking out for others and your bravery.

This life-saving incident follows two back-to-back rescues we had on our Mukilteo/Clinton route the previous weekend by the same crew on the Kitsap. To read more about the week of rescues, check out our recent blog post.

Kim Monroe
Deputy HR Director

What’s New at HQ?

Our Human Resources Team has new contact information!

For any HR questions or issues, call 206-264-3501 or email FerriesHR@wsdot.wa.gov. Voicemails are converted to text and sent to our main inbox to ensure quick responses.

Our HR support services consultants – Jenny White, Jennifer Lam, Mariah Ayers and Kenna Hahn – are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you call after hours, leave your contact information and the best time for a callback, and someone will follow up the next business day.

While this team is happy to answer questions concerning your benefits and leave options, you will be forwarded to the WSDOT HR Central Services unit in Olympia to apply for or change your benefits.

The number for the WSDOT HR Hotline is 855-707-8100. Press one for employment benefits, two for leave administration three for and employment verification.

If you have feedback about this new HR contact procedure, please take our online survey.

New workforce outreach coordinator

Our newest member of the HR team is Workforce Outreach Coordinator Adam Dahl.

Adam’s tasked with building connections with schools, community groups and job fairs to raise awareness of our employment opportunities and career paths.

A former deckhand with us, Adam will also focus on creating talent pipelines and work with HR and marketing to promote the organization’s benefits.

Email Adam if you have ideas or want to help with his efforts.

Employee Spotlight

Loretta Sexton
Expenditures Manager

Every time a Washington State Ferries credit card is used, Loretta Sexton knows.

Loretta is our expenditures manager and part of her role is to authorize all credit card transactions in the organization. She has worked here for the last six years, managing a team of eight people.

A graduate of Central Washington University with a degree in accounting, Loretta worked as an accounts payable manager for 10 years before coming to WSF. When COVID forced employees to work remotely, she and her team had to invent a new way to work.

As a manager, Loretta has a good understanding of the differences employees bring in their work styles.

“It takes an understanding of personalities,” said Loretta. “Some work slow and steady and get it done and some work in a frenzy but still get it done. I try to give encouragement where I can and be the sounding board for the team. They know they can be frank with me.”

Loretta believes personalities are the most difficult aspect to work with as a manager.

“Our team welcomes differences of opinion and it’s an outspoken group,” she said. “The best ideas come from groups like that.”

She credits Controller Lew Bequette for his leadership in their office.

“He’s great to work with,” said Loretta. “Lew is great with explaining things. If you understand why something is happening, then it makes everything makes sense.”

Loretta is looking towards retirement in the next few years, and she has plenty in mind to fill her time. She and her husband have 5 acres of property in Snohomish and are already hard at work with renovating the space.

What keeps Loretta coming back each day?

“I enjoy the people I work with.”

WSDOT/WSF logo wear store open thru Nov. 15

Now’s your chance to get WSF logo wear or bags!

The WSDOT logo apparel store is open for business – but only for a limited time. The virtual doors are open only through Friday, Nov. 15.

If you want the WSF logo, you must first click on your desired style of clothing or accessory, and then you can select the WSF logo. Items purchased will be shipped directly to your home.

This opportunity is part of the Combined Fund Drive. Fifteen percent of each sale will go to the WSDOT Memorial Foundation. This foundation helps employees who become disabled while working, as well as the spouses and children of fallen workers. It also supports employees and their families who face serious injuries or illnesses.

At least 54 veterans in our workforce

On Veterans Day, we honored those who served in the U.S. military by sounding the whistle on all operating ferries at 11:11 a.m.

Those vessels also flew one of the six military branches or the Merchant Marine flag and the POW/MIA flag all day.

We have 54 employees who have identified as a veteran, and there are certainly many more. You can find them in nearly every area of our organization.

DAG nominated for award for work on our Passenger Code of Conduct

Our Diversity Advisory Group was recently honored for its work in developing our Passenger Code of Conduct.

The team was nominated for a Washington State Office of Equity Pro Equity, Anti-Racist, Show, Transform, Act and Reflect Award.

Three people standing side by side against a plain, light-colored background. — Ordinary Sailor Vienna Wong, Able-Bodied Sailor Derrick Fant and our DAG sponsor, Senior Director of External Relations John Vezina, at the PEAR STAR awards dinner at the Yakima Convention Center.

In 2022, our DAG created a Passenger Code of Conduct to keep both employees and passengers safe. We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, and abusive language or behavior could lead to a no-trespass order from law enforcement.

Congratulations to all our DAG members on this important work.

Share your Thanksgiving and holiday cheer!

As we enter the festive season, we want to celebrate the joy and togetherness that comes with Thanksgiving and the holidays!

We invite you to share photos of your holiday festivities—whether it’s a feast with coworkers, decorations around the terminal or on the vessels.

Please send your pictures and a brief description of your celebration to wsfemployeecomms@wsdot.wa.gov.

Let’s capture the spirit of the season and showcase how we celebrate as a team!

What’s Up at WSDOT?

Open Enrollment, the annual opportunity for Washington state employees to make changes to your 2025 medical, dental and now vision plan coverage, is happening now through Nov. 25, earlier than previous years.

All employees are encouraged to use Benefits 24/7, available on the WSDOT intranet, to review their coverage and make changes if needed.

This year, the Public Employees Benefits Board, also known as PEBB, has removed routine vision coverage from employee medical plans so it will be necessary to sign up for separate vision coverage.

Vision coverage is an employer-paid benefit with no monthly premiums and will replace the vision benefit currently included in your PEBB medical plan. You can find more information at hca.wa.gov/pebb-vision.

How to review your plan and make changes

The Open Enrollment period runs from Oct. 28 – Nov. 25, with changes taking effect on Jan. 1. Employees can review their current plan, make changes and select a vision plan option through the Washington State Health Care Authority PEBB website via the new Benefits 24/7 system available at hca.wa.gov/pebb-oe or on the WSDOT intranet.

Where to find additional information

Emails sent during November from WSDOT Employee Benefits as well as posts on the WSDOT intranet will provide more information and updates including:

An Open Enrollment 2025 overview
Information on important changes to benefits and plans
How to make changes during Open Enrollment
Locations, dates and times of local benefit fairs including a virtual option

If you have questions or concerns about your plans, consider attending a benefit fair near you or reach out to your local Human Resources consultant or our Employee Services team, at 855-707-8100 or benefits@wsdot.wa.gov.

Former Colman Dock ticket booth becomes Coupeville staff office

What was a standard white trailer serving as a temporary ticket booth during construction at Colman Dock is transformed into a sleek and modern office for our Coupeville terminal staff. It even has a wraparound porch.

The image is a split view showing two different structures. On the left side, there is a portable building with a white facade and four dark green doors. On the right side, there is a permanent building with a light beige exterior and a dark brown roof. — After serving as the temporary ticket office in Seattle (left), the trailer was transported the long way around the Deception Pass bridge to its destination in Coupeville. It now serves as that terminal’s agents’ office (right). Following a transformation worthy of an HGTV home renovation show, the trailer now includes a wraparound porch and spacious interior bears that little resemblance to its former self.

“When we needed a temporary structure at Colman Dock, we found it was cheaper to buy a trailer than rent one for the seven years of construction at Colman,” said Director of Terminal Engineering David Sowers. “We knew we could repurpose it in the future, and now look at it.”

Coupeville agents worked in tight quarters where one cramped room served as an office, storage room and employee break room. Along with more storage space, lots of natural light and modern desks, the new office provides 528 square feet of space inside plus 588 square feet of exterior covered space.

The image is divided into two side-by-side sections showing contrasting workspaces. On the left, a cluttered, compact office space features a large black filing cabinet with multiple drawers, a blue swivel chair, and two computer monitors with various office items scattered. On the right, a spacious and minimalistic office features a large U-shaped desk with ample empty surface space, a few organized items including trays of food, and a window overlooking green outdoor scenery. — This crowded room (left) had served as our Coupeville agents’ office and storage/break area until recently, when employees moved into a much more suitable space in the trailer (right). The interior space is spread among two rooms and offers plenty of natural light and modern workstations. Windows along the back look out toward the ferry slip.

The image shows a group of people standing on the porch of a long, narrow building with a sloped roof. — Employees and construction contractors gathered on Nov. 4 to formally dedicate the new office. A plaque outside honors longtime terminal staffer Leonard Smith for his 51 years of service from 1972 to 2023.

Employee Recognition

The image is a collage of two photographs. On the left, a group of four people stands in a room with several digital screens displaying a panoramic view of a body of water with a cityscape in the distance. On the right, four people are in a brightly lit room with large windows showing an outdoor scene with a glimpse of a ship or boat in the background. — Port Captain Jim Bauer presented Capt. Gabe Gaubert, Able-Bodied Sailor Dawn Smith and Chief Mate Jacob Kelly (left photo), as well as Capt. Jamie Pelland, Capt. Franky Caraska and Capt. Doug Sowdon (right photo), with a Shared Values Coin for their dedication, time and effort in helping with the success of a recent New Mate Orientation.

The image is split into two side-by-side sections. On the left, a man and a woman are standing in an office space. On the right, the same woman is posing with another man wearing a bright orange high-visibility vest over a dark jacket in a room with wooden paneling and windows showing a view of water. The woman in each section is holding a coin. — Company Security Officer & Emergency Management Coordinator Ana Fuschetto and Fleet and Facility Security Officer John Litzenberger (not pictured) recently presented Terminal Supervisor Luke Sheppard (left photo), as well as Able-Bodied Sailors Andrew Engom (right photo) and Adam Yandall (not pictured), with a Shared Values Coin. The three employees calmed down an aggressive customer, escorted them off the vessel and kept them distracted and away from dozens of school children and other passengers until law enforcement arrived.

A group of ten people standing together inside a well-lit interior setting. Several individuals wear orange reflective safety vests over casual clothing, while others wear light blue shirts. The person in the middle is in a dark jacket and cap, smiling with an arm around others. — Chief Mate John Springer and the Bremerton G crew awarded Ordinary Sailor Adam Rudd with a Shared Values Coin recently for saving a passenger experiencing a mental health crisis.

Safety Matters

Hearing loss can happen to anyone.

Some people are born with hearing loss while others may experience it later in life. Age or exposure to loud noises from occupational or recreational activities can contribute to hearing loss.

Wearing proper ear protection can help prevent damage that leads to hearing loss. Ear protection helps dampen the sound to protect your ears.

How can you prevent noise-related hearing loss? Get your hearing tested, avoid or limit loud sounds and wear adequate ear protection.

Our warehouse has many options to order. Our industrial hygienist can also help you choose the right pair.