Interim CAO Message: Updates in the Organization

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A message from Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sarah Aghassi:

Hi team, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on some important organizational changes.

First, it has been an honor to serve as your interim Chief Administrative Officer, a temporary role I accepted to give the Board of Supervisors time to conduct their recruitment process for the permanent CAO.

My nearly two decades at the County have been deeply rewarding for me professionally and personally in each of the roles I have served, but none have made me prouder than my time as your Interim CAO. 

In the last six months, we have come together to help community members impacted by the January floods, collaborated across the organization to create a recommended budget for all, while ensuring the continuity of operations during this time of transition. Our team is as wonderfully diverse as our programs and services and is stronger than ever and will continue to make positive impacts in our communities. 

It has been a privilege to help lead you through these times, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me. 

We always knew my role as CAO would be temporary. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Ebony Shelton as the new Chief Administrative Officer. Ebony has a long history of commitment to public service that I know you share. Ebony will begin her new role on June 14.

With this transition, I want to share that, after a rewarding career with my County team, I have decided to pursue new adventures outside of the organization. My career has come full circle with years of public service and work with businesses, community organizations and non-profits, and now I am excited for what lies ahead as I bring all of that together in my next professional venture outside of the County organization. My last day with the County will be July 5.

I am humbled to witness the work our team does every day under a shared vision, shared mission and as One County Team. I wanted to be sure to take the time to thank you – each of you – for being the heart and soul of our organization. You embody the County’s values of integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence and sustainability. It has been a privilege to serve in this role with you. And the future is indeed bright!

Interim CAO Message: Enter to Win Tickets to See New Musical Comedy

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A message from Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sarah Aghassi:

In the words of Mrs. Doubtfire, hellooooo,

As an extra thank you for all you do, I am donating two front row seats to Broadway San Diego’s “Mrs. Doubtfire” at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, June 8 at 2 p.m. Enter to win tickets now.

This performance will have American Sign Language interpretation.

Please note that Broadway San Diego recommends guests aged 6 and up for this show.

Deadline to enter this raffle is 9 a.m., Friday, June 7. A winner will be announced and contacted on Friday, June 7. Tickets will be electronically transferred to the winner.

Interim CAO Message: Marking a Milestone in Flood Recovery

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A message from Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sarah Aghassi:

Wednesday marked 100 days since the County activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to the Jan. 22 storm. I am so grateful for our County team and your dedication and hard work to support those impacted by the flooding. The effort is led by the Office of Emergency Services at the Emergency Operations Center where dozens of you have been working, and hundreds more are providing support in the field. Most of you are reassigned from your regular duties, knowing that other team members are there to provide back up to continue our day-to-day operations.

I can’t begin to measure the impact of your efforts, but here are some figures to highlight your amazing work:

  • More than 300 team members were temporarily reassigned from daily jobs to support residents in all impacted jurisdictions.

  • Additionally, nearly 80 employees from 26 County departments have been temporarily reassigned to the County Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the regional response and recovery.  

  • The County sheltered 896 households representing 2,600 people at 68 hotels at the operational peak of the program.

  • Team members attended 39 community meetings.

  • Staff responded to 2,000 phone calls providing information and assistance to those in the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program.

  • Staff informed the community about the storm recovery through 44 articles, 35 informational flyers and 430 social media posts.

  • Thanks to your generosity, the County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) distributed $36,000 worth of grants to 74 members of our team who were impacted by the January storms.

  • As of April 23, the County allocated $19.6 million in aid to the community.

The support for those in our communities impacted by the flood will continue – the Board of Supervisors recently extended the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program through June 21.

Know that your dedication is appreciated, whether you are directly supporting flood recovery or you are keeping the rest of the County’s operations running while so many are reassigned. Your commitment to public service is unmatched, and I thank you.

Interim CAO Message: Celebrating You on Employee Appreciation Day and Every Day! 

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A message from Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sarah Aghassi: 

Today we celebrate Employee Appreciation Day, but really, every day is Employee Appreciation Day. I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your selfless contributions, your unwavering commitment, and your steadfast dedication to the well-being of our community. 

In recognition of your dedication, all eligible employees will be given 8 hours of recognition leave. You can take the leave anytime in the coming fiscal year, July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. Learn more about the eligibility details, and if you have additional questions, please contact your department’s HR representative.  

Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for being the heart and soul of the County of San Diego. 

Interim CAO Message: Thank You for Helping the Community Recover from Disaster

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A message from Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sarah Aghassi:

I want to thank all of you for your work as the region recovers from Monday’s devastating storm and recognize the damage has impacted some of our own team members. Please watch this video for details, and learn more about how you can help those affected: County Employee’s Charitable Organization (CECO) Flood Relief Fund and San Diego Foundation Flood Response Fund.

Interim CAO Message: Achieving Great Things Together

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A message from Interim CAO Sarah Aghassi:

Dear amazing County Team,

I hope your New Year is off to a great start and that you were able to take some time for yourself over the holidays. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as the County’s Interim Chief Administrative Officer. It is a privilege to work alongside each of you – the heart and soul of all we do – and I look forward to the many great things we will achieve during our time together.

 Public service truly is the noblest motive, and I have no doubt that your deep commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our community will continue as we transition to new County leadership. In my 18 years with the County, I have seen our workforce embrace significant change and emerge even more resilient, connected, and focused on delivering meaningful results for the public.

 I am here to support the incredible work you do. This may be helping people with mental health or addiction services, providing shelter and places to learn, grow and connect, protecting the public’s safety or preserving the environment for future generations.

 Moving forward, as the search continues for a permanent CAO, let us stay focused on maintaining seamless operations, and collaborating to find innovative ways to build upon how we currently serve the public, while actively advancing the impactful projects initiated by our Board that uplift our community.

 Working together as a team, with an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusivity, transparency, and community engagement, we can ensure a bright future in which no one is left behind.