 August 18, 2005 King County Elections fills key quality control positionKing County has hired its first ever elections quality assurance manager, a key new staff member in the continued effort to improve elections operations. John 'Scott' Baynard previously held a similar position with Clarke American, a company that made checks and bank-related products for 4,000 banks, credit unions and financial institutions nationwide. Baynard will start work September 1, 2005 as Quality Assurance and Improvement Coordinator. He will review the processes for producing printed products and counting ballots, make recommendations for improving accuracy and efficiency and will make recommendations and lobby for changes in state and local law necessary to improve the processing of elections. "Scott is uniquely qualified to increase accuracy and elevate staff morale," said Dean Logan, director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services. "His record of improving efficiency and increasing accuracy while retaining staff is impressive." As Quality Assurance Manager at Clarke American in Kent, WA, Baynard was responsible for the quality of the company's printed products and customer satisfaction. His accomplishments include a plant-wide program that reduced plant print quality rejects by 91 percent, set a new company record for fewest number of errors per million checks printed, led a customer-error reduction effort that reduced customer errors by 52 percent in four years and won the company's Best Overall Quality Award. Baynard has a track record of increasing staff productivity even as he improves morale. As a Production Manager at Clarke American in Chicago, IL, Baynard reduced staff turnover from 70 percent to 18 percent annually and increased productivity in the maintenance department by 16 percent. Of his move to Elections, Baynard said "I was attracted to the position for the challenge it presents. What better way to have an impact and make a difference." The Quality Assurance and Improvement Coordinator is one of 14 new positions created as part of King County Executive Ron Sims' effort to improve elections. In addition to the new positions, the county is giving new training to temporary and permanent workers; implementing new systems and processes; is testing new technologies that will reduce human error and hiring a turnaround team to improve work culture. |
|
Updated: August 18, 2005 King County | Elections | News | Services | Comments | Search
Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. |