2009 Kitsap County Budget Book - Kitsap County Government

General Information and Economic Indicators
ADMINISTRATION
Barbara Stephenson, Treasurer, was first elected in November 2002. For the past 25 years she has been
very active in the community, both as a financial professional and a community leader. She worked in the
private sector as a banker for 14 years, seven years as a Loan Officer and seven years as an Assistant Vice
President and Branch Manager. In 1991, she was appointed the Executive Director for United Way of Kitsap
County, where she served as the chief executive responsible for administering the organization’s policies,
programs and plans. Ms. Stephenson educational background includes Pacific Coast Banking School –
University of WA; Northwest Intermediate Banking School – University of OR; American Institute of Banking –
Seattle University and Bellevue Community College – Business Administration. During the past 11 years she
served three terms as president of the United Ways of Washington. She served on the Board of Trustees for
Olympic College for eleven years. She is the immediate past president of the Poulsbo North Kitsap Rotary and a
past president of the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce.
Walter Washington, Auditor, was sworn in on April 2, 2008 as the appointed Auditor by the Board to fill the
vacant position. He was elected to the position in November 2008. Washington has a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Personnel Management from the University of Nevada. He served as the Interim Assistant Director for the King
County Records, Elections and Licensing Services department. Washington is a decorated former Marine
having served during the Vietnam era in the First Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force Pacific as an intelligence
and counterintelligence NCO. He was the recipient of the American Spirit Honor Medal and two meritorious
service masts that included field promotions. He also served five years in the office of National Second Vice
President of Blacks in Government. He supports community service and is an active member of the Poulsbo
North Kitsap Rotary club.
James A. Avery, Assessor, was elected in November 1998. He graduated from the University of Idaho in
1969 with a degree in General Business and the University of Puget Sound in 1980 with a master’s degree in
Business Administration. He served as a Supply Officer in the U.S. Navy 1969-1990. From 1990-97 he worked
in the Kitsap County real estate industry as a sales associate, associate broker, and managing broker with a
large regional real estate firm. From 1997-98 he was the Northwest Regional Manager for a national
government contracting company performing logistic services for the Department of Defense in Washington,
Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana. Avery was elected to a six-year term on the Manchester Water District
commission in 1993.
Nancy Buonnano Grennan, County Administrator, was appointed to her position in February 2007. She
holds a law degree from the University of Washington and a bachelors in psychology from Smith College in
Northampton, Massachusetts. Buonanno Grennan has more than 20 years experience in human resources,
labor relations and policy development. She held the position of labor relations manager for Kitsap County from
2000 to 2004 and was King County’s labor relations manager from 2004 to February 2007. The County
Administrator oversees six Kitsap County departments: Public Works, Community Development, Parks &
Recreation, Administrative Services, Information Services, and Personnel and Human Services.
Shawn A. Gabriel, Director, Department of Administrative Services, was appointed in September 2008. He
has over 15 years experience in public administration, finance and budgeting, capital project management, grant
administration and economic development. He joined the City of North Miami Beach in 2001 as Assistant
Director of Public Services and left in 2008 having most recently served as its Interim Deputy City Manager.
Prior to that he held the position of Principal Planner for Miami-Dade County. Gabriel holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from Florida International University.
STAFF
The County employs approximately 1,300 regular employees, with approximately 817 represented by bargaining
units. The Director of Administrative Services states that employer-employee relations are good. There has
never been a strike against the County by the bargaining units. The four contracts that expired at the end of
2006 and 2007 are in negotiation. All employees of these units are working without a contract. Negotiations
have in the past extended into the year following contract expiration. The following table lists the bargaining
units and contract status for the County.
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