Our Voices (Fall/Winter 2023)

DIRECTOR OF DIVISIONS:

Administration/Clerical, Benefits, Budgets, Commuter Services, Culture of Health, Exclusive Care, Finance Units/Procurement, GSS/ISF Rates, HR Business Partners, Occupational Health, Retirement

Class & Compensation, Employee Relations, Employee Services, Labor Relations, Records Management

Law Enforcement Assessment, Learning & Organization Development, Pre Employment/ Backgrounds, Recruitment Operations, RUHS Compliance, Temporary Assignment Program

Disability Access Office, IDR, Risk Management, Safety, Workers Compensation

Communications & Media, HR Business Systems, HR Project & Process Management, HR Reporting & Analytics

ORGANIZATION CHArT

Sarah Franco Interim HR Director

Steven Espinoza Assistant HR Director

Shondi Miller Assistant HR Director

Ronak Patel Assistant HR Director

Mylene Daniels Deputy HR Director

HIRES & TRANSITIONS

FY2022-23

CHANGES IN HR: WELCOMING NEW HIRES, CELEBRATING PROMOTIONS, & HONORING RETIREMENTS!

With new hires, promotions, and retirements, we’re entering a fresh chapter filled with growth, appreciation, and change.

A warm welcome to our exceptional new hires! They showcase our commitment to diversity and dynamism. We also celebrate our talented team members’ well-deserved promotions, and are eager to see their continued impact. Lastly, we bid farewell to esteemed colleagues entering well-earned retirements. Their expertise leaves an indelible mark, and we extend heartfelt gratitude for their years of service. We wish them joy and success in new adventures.

Ariel Turner

Celena Gutierrez

Christina Solorio

DaLon Graham

Danielle Velasquez

Edgar Manzo Cardenas

Emanuel Renedo

Esteven Sanchez

Gianigna Solis

Heidi Garcia

Jesus Berrelleza JR

Kryste Graham

Leanne Burke

Luis Herrera Ruiz

Magali Amieva Salazar

Malika Spellman

Nathan Paul

Nicole Minnis

Nicole Prado

Perla Elizalde

Rachel Nobriga Meza

Raven Padilla

Valeria Aguilar-Rodriguez

Wendy Cubias

NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS

Alyssa De La Rosa

Amberly Melendez

Amory Arnette

Angel Mejia

Breanna Munoz

Brett Quarles

Charity Russell

Emily Wolf

Eva Gaytan

Genesis Melendez

Hayden Quezada

Jennifer Aguirre

Jessica McCoy-Merren

Jessica Sepulveda

Joshua Roberts

Kendra Escobedo

Saralynne Griffin

Shana Caracci

Tanvi Singh

Ulises Rodriguez

Veronica Sandoval

Veronica Zuno

Walter Serrano

William DeMolay

Armida Miramontes

DeNeen Bell-Culberson RETIREMENTS

FAREWELL MESSAGE

It is both a bittersweet farewell and an exciting announcement as we share that our esteemed Human Resources Director, Mike Bowers, will be transitioning from the County of Riverside on November 15 to embark on a new and promising chapter. With an impressive 25year legacy of dedicated service, Mike has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of our organization.

In his capacity as HR Director, Mike’s leadership has been a driving force in redefining the collaborative dynamics among our departments. His relentless dedication to elevating recruitment and retention strategies, coupled with his vigilant efforts to mitigate risk, has left an enduring impact on our organizational resilience. Mike’s genuine passion for his work and the well-being of his team will undoubtedly be missed.

As Mike embarks on this new journey, we’re thrilled to share that he will be taking on the role of Director of HR at San Bernardino County. We wish him the best of luck in his endeavors and have no doubt that his wealth of experience will contribute significantly to his new venture.

We celebrate Mike’s legacy here at Riverside County and look forward to witnessing the continued success of a professional who has been instrumental in our growth. Join us in raising a toast to Mike Bowers and his future endeavors.

MICHAEL BOWERS HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

As we bid farewell to our esteemed Human Resources Director, Mike Bowers, we are excited to announce the appointment of Sarah, our Assistant County Executive Officer (ACEO), as the Interim HR Director. Sarah’s extensive experience, notably as Director of Procurement and Fleet Services and Assistant HR Director, positions her as an adept leader during this transition. Her commitment to HR’s mission and collaborative work style, as an ESTJ, ensures a seamless continuation of our department’s operations.

Sarah, along with our dedicated Assistant HR Directors—Steve, Shondi, and Ronak—will lead the team forward, emphasizing open communication and support. We extend our best wishes to Mike in his new endeavors and warmly welcome Sarah to her interim role, confident in her ability to guide our HR department with excellence.

We are extremely excited to welcome you Sarah!

MEET & GREET RONAK PATEL

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST DYNAMO: GET TO KNOW THE ASSISTANT HR DIRECTOR

Please join us in welcoming the new Assistant Human Resources Director. Ronak brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, and we are excited to have him. He has been with the County for more than nine years, most recently serving the Office of County Counsel as a Chief Deputy County Counsel. Ronak possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Diego State University, as well as a Juris Doctorate degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar. Ronak brings a wealth of varied and unique experience that will be of great benefit to the Human Resources Department.

Q:

CAN YOU GIVE US AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT YOURSELF?

My name is Ronak Patel and I am the new Assistant Director of Human Resources that will be focusing on Risk Management, Worker’s Compensation, Safety and DAO. I have been with the County since 2013 and have been a practicing California attorney since 2007.

Q:

WHERE DID YOU WORK BEFORE THIS POSITION?

Before joining Human Resources, I was with the Office of County Counsel as the Chief Deputy overseeing the Special Litigation and Advisory Services team.

Q:

WHAT DO YOU DO DURING YOUR FREE TIME?

In my free time, I enjoy running Spartan races, watching the Dodgers and travelling. I am also a volunteer attorney for various non-profit organizations and am a tour guide at the BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California.

Q:

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE PROUD OF?

I am proud of being a “girl dad” to my two beautiful daughters.

Q:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD OR FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT?

My favorite restaurant is Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill in Corona.

DIVISION HIGHLIGHT

TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM (TAP)

Tell us a bit about the work your team does and how it impacts the Human Resources department.

• The Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) is an innovative and award-winning program run by the County’s Human Resources Department (HR) and functions similar to a temporary employment agency in the private sector. TAP is operated by HR staff, to hire and manage temporary personnel who can be placed on temporary assignments throughout the County, to meet staffing needs.

• The Mass Recruiting Team is responsible for large scale recruitments, such as the Accounting Assistants, Administrative Services Assistants, and Office Assistants. Instead of applicants applying for the same position for multiple departments, Mass recruiting simplifies the process by allowing applicants to apply to one job posting and be referred to multiple departments if qualified.

• The Pre-Employment Team is responsible for managing the pre-boarding and onboarding process for candidates who have accepted a position with the County of Riverside. The pre-boarding process consists of conducting the livescan and arranging for Occupational Health to conduct the preemployment physical for these candidates.

• We also are responsible for facilitating the onboarding process for most candidates and this consists of providing candidates with the necessary forms for them to complete to be hired and entered into our system.

• The pre-employment team can have from 500 to over 1000 active transactions at any given time but our team of dedicated professionals can handle it all! The pre-employment team is the last stop for candidates who are eager to start their career with the County of Riverside and because of that, we are dedicated to make this process seamless. The pre-employment team is in close and constant communication with these candidates, their recruiters and hiring managers to ensure everyone is abreast of where we are in the pre-employment process.

What does a normal day at the TAP office look like for your team?

• Employees wake up and hit the ground running! Just think of the employees in this office as road runners or someone on a treadmill moving lightning fast and rarely slowing down to rest. Recruiters are recruiting, applicants are coming in to take a picture for their badge, or Livescan. Staff are on the phone scheduling appointments and answering inquiries. Applicants are getting interviewed and completing paperwork. Hiring managers are asking questions and staff are juggling lots of other job duties and responsibilities. Although it’s hectic, the staff thrive in this environment are grateful to be a part of such a dynamic team!

What advice would you provide to someone wanting to join your team?

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try to live by the golden rule. Treat people how you want to be treated. If you want a fastpaced environment, then TAP is where it is at! If you are the type of person who likes to multi-task this is the job for you. Every day is different. Staff often state, “If I can survive TAP, I can survive anywhere.” As Dory from Finding Nemo would say… just keep swimming! Be ready to rock and roll.

If you and your team had a theme song, what would it be and why?

• Happy (by Pharrell), because people think of HR as being serious and no room for fun, but really, we’re just one big happy team. We are not boring, we have a lot of fun, and we sing it to the world as often as we can.

Can you share any funny stories about your team or perhaps any team rituals/jokes?

• As a team we like to bond with our bi-weekly Coffee Klatch meetings, we celebrate each other and our successes with the Spring Fling and End of Summer Bash, Holiday Parties (white elephant rules), we recognize our staff for kudos or compliments by sharing our wins that we get from departments, candidates, and the public. We’ve also created a Slack page to connect with one another on a personal level.

• We’re also hiring, so if you or someone you know would like to work with a fun loving, versatile team, then keep your eye out for our positions! We’d love to welcome you to the team.

WANT MORE TUNES? BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE HR PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ‘HAPPY’

All employees and their household members will have access to Anthem EAP services

Anthem EAP offers increased access to provider locations near you.

Whether you’re struggling to find child care, plan for retirement, financial or legal assistance, or cope with addiction, Anthem EAP can help.

24/7, 365 days a year - Unlimited access to telephonic guidance, consultation, referral and support services.

Up to 6 counseling sessions face-to-face, by phone, or virtually via LiveHealth Online, per incident - at no cost to you.

myStrength app - stress, anxiety, sleep management self-help tool.

Get the support you need at (833) 954-1067

Access EAP online at AnthemEAP.com and enter PRISM

All employees and dependents 13+ will have access to Talkspace resources. Talkspace is message-based therapy conducted through a proprietary app. Message a dedicated therapist, as often as you wish, anytime, 5 days a week with same-day response.

■ Convenient, Stigma Free, No Appointments

■ Quick Match with your Licensed Therapist, 1:1 Relationship

■ Start Same Day, Anytime, Anywhere

■ Text, Audio, Video Messages

■ Unlimited Messaging Therapy, Access Talkspace online at talkspace.com/CountyofRiverside and enter RIVCO

UPCOMING TRAININGS

For those of you interested in completing the PHR or SPHR exam, you can find all of the exam study material in the RivCo Talent Learning Management System, along with a practice exam... all for free!

Here is a link directly to the certification study material for both courses: click here

SEARCH TIPS

• To search directly from the RivCo Talent Learning Management System, in the search bar on the top right, type “Certifications”.

• On the search results page, on the left side under “Topics”, expand the list then click on “Human Resources”. Here you should find the two different bundles for each of the certifications.

LIKES &

Facebook: 16k

TikTok: 30k

LinkedIn: 25.5k

Instagram: 4.3k

Twitter: 2.8k

SOCIAL MEDIA STATISTICS

Are you following us on social media yet? If not, you totally should. We post lots of great content on new career opportunities, benefits, and more!

Check out some of our most popular videos down below!

SUPPORT OUR LOCALS

Meraki’s Plant Shop - 3521 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501

One can never have too many plants, so if you are here to fuel your plant obsession, then Meraki’s is the place to go. The second you step foot into their store, the air quality is at a totally different level.

• Their Backstory: Two former Riverside City College students took advantage of its vast catalog and affordability, consequently becoming successful entrepreneurs who built an oasis in the heart of Downtown Riverside.

• The latest addition to downtown’s growing number of small businesses, Meraki Plants is a femaleowned indoor plant nursery that showcases thousands of lush and unique variations from jungle plants to succulents.

Coffee Court Bistro - 3607 Tenth St, Riverside, CA 92501

• If you are ever craving a chicken chipotle wrap with green tortilla, I highly recommend coming to this quaint bistro shop. The food there is immaculate, and their homemade lemonade is so refreshing! If you ever need a pick-me-up, this shop will have all your needs and more. Not to mention that Coffee Court Bistro is only a five-minute walk from the CAC building, so this is the ideal spot for a quick lunch.

Molino’s Coffee - 3660 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501

There is nothing better than sitting inside a café with a latte in hand while adoring the Mission Inn that sits across the street.

• Their Backstory: Originated in Cuba. Molino’s is an espresso coffee shop serving the best Cuban coffee in town.

• Elio Jimenez Gonzalez was originally from Havana, Cuba, where he owned a cafe called Molinos. In the 1960s, he migrated to the U.S. with his family and years later he was able to bring back Molinos by opening a market in the San Fernando Valley.

• Elio’s son Robert and his wife Irene decided to bring the family business name to the Inland Empire and keep that root story alive through their coffee shop. They currently have two locations, one in Downtown Riverside and the other in Downtown Redlands. “Espresso Yourself”

TECHNOLOGY CORNER

Noticed something new in your inbox? Microsoft Viva is an employee experience platform that brings together communications, knowledge, learning, resources, and insights in the flow of work.

What are VIVA Personal Insights daily briefings?

• Microsoft Viva Insights helps you identify opportunities to build better work habits with personalized insights created just for you. As a part of the Office 365 service, you will receive a daily Briefing email message from Microsoft Viva containing a summary of emails, meetings, and documents you can already access. The briefing email is a personalized brief with important information, including Outstanding commitments, requests and follow-ups to and from team members, Documents related to today’s meetings that you might want to review beforehand, Suggested focus time you can schedule to help get independent work done. The information in these messages is only visible to you.

Want to learn more? Click here!

We are excited to launch our new Resourceful Humans video podcast, which is hosted by our very own, Victoria Santos.

This new podcast is available on our HR Connect intranet site and features important HR related updates, topics, and discussions for County employees.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

NOVEMBER IS VETERAN’S MONTH

HR SURVEY

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