Skip to main content

Executive Leadership

Executive Leadership

Shannon Braddock, Deputy Executive

Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock is responsible for providing strategic direction and coordination for Executive Constantine’s priorities, and advise on emerging issues, policy development, and external and governmental relations. Braddock previously served as the Chief of Staff.

Prior to joining the Executive’s office, she was Chief of Staff to King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Shannon has over fifteen years of government relations experience, as well as experience in non profit board leadership and regulatory affairs.


Karan Gill, Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff Karan Gill leads the coordination of policy and strategy for the Executive Office, as well as overseeing governmental and external relations. Gill also serves as the Executive Office liaison for any potential countywide ballot measures. Gill previously served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Council Relations.

Prior to joining the Executive’s Office, he was Chief of Staff to King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He also worked at the Washington State Legislature and for a local anti-poverty nonprofit in South King County. Gill has more than fifteen years of experience in governmental affairs, community relations and policy advocacy.


Chase Gallagher, Communications Director

Chase Gallagher, Communications Director


King County Budget Director Dwight Dively

Budget Director Dwight Dively leads the office responsible for developing and monitoring the biennial King County budget, implementing the King County Strategic Plan, identifying and tracking performance measures, developing and implementing the King County Comprehensive Plan, overseeing business planning, and conducting the annual employee survey. He oversees a wide range of activities, including project analysis, financial forecasting, program evaluation, demographic analysis, and policy development.

Prior to King County, Dwight had a 22-year career with City of Seattle, most recently serving as Director of Finance and leading the city's financial and budget management initiatives between 1994 and 2010. He is also an affiliate assistant professor at the University of Washington's Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.


King County Director of Customer Service Natasha Jones

Director of Customer Service Natasha Jones advances customer and employee satisfaction by improving the County's delivery of customer service. She leads an inter-departmental team of Customer Service Officers, establishing performance measures and inspiring a culture of continuous improvement.

Natasha has served in a communications and media relations role for three executive administrations and two other local governments, where she has focused on public outreach and government accessibility. Before working in government, she was a television news assignment editor, producer, reporter, and anchor.


King County Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams

Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams spearheads our Investing in YOU strategy to make King County a place where all employees have the tools, support, and opportunity to do their best work for our community.

Whitney is a member of the Senior Leadership Team for King County Executive Dow Constantine. She has extensive knowledge and experience working on human resources and labor issues, with more than 15 years as a union negotiator where she also led negotiations for the King County Coalition of Unions. She is responsible for building strong and successful labor-management partnerships, and both the Office of Labor Relations and Department of Human Resources report to her. She also works to embed the principles of Equity and Social Justice into the way employees work and are treated, and was a founding member of the Metro Transit's Partnership to Achieve Comprehensive Equity (PACE).


Anita Whitfield, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer


King County Chief Performance Officer Gary Kurihara

Chief Performance Officer Gary Kurihara leads and directs the transformation of County operations through the adoption of Lean. This includes strategic planning and execution, performance management, process improvement, leadership development, culture change, and the development of an enterprise management system.

Gary comes to King County with over 20 years of experience in operations, sales, human resources, and Lean having worked across several industries in the private sector.


Megan Pedersen, Director of Office of Labor Relations

Megan Pedersen, Director of Office of Labor Relations

King County Executive
Dow Constantine
Dow constantine portrait

Read the Executive's biography

expand_less