That's So Auburn! - TopPodcast.com

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Celebrating Public Safety Telecommunicators with a lifelong telecommunicator Apr 11, 2025

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We're joined by Vonnie Mayer, the Executive Director of Valley Com 911, who brings nearly 40 years of experience in emergency communications and public safety. She began her career in the late 1980s as one of the first civilian dispatchers at the Angle Lake Fire Department and joined Valley Com 911 in 1993. Known for her people-driven leadership, Vonnie fosters a culture of collaboration, trust, and operational excellence.

As a mentor and advocate, Vonnie prioritizes employee growth, wellness, and resilience, firmly believing that people are the heart of public service. Her unwavering dedication has made her a respected and influential leader in the emergency communications industry. When she's not leading with purpose, she enjoys relaxing with family and friends on Lake Tapps.

There's so much more to Vonnie's journey, so get listening!

A Conversation with Auburn City Council Part 3! Councilmembers Tracy Taylor and Hanan Amer Mar 28, 2025

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And our final episode in our council series is Councilmemers Tracy Taylor and Hanan Amer, two of our newest on the council.

Councilmember Taylor was a 6-time Emmy nominated and Edward R. Murrow TV/Radio Reporter in the Seattle Market for over two decades before transitioning to government work. She now serves as a Communications Coordinator in the City of Kent, bringing her wealth of experience and community-driven spirit to her current role. Tracy's dedication to the community is evident as the former Vice President and current board member of the Seattle Animal Foundation, volunteer and foster family with Hearts for Doxies Dog Rescue, and former City of Auburn Arts Commissioner. In addition to her community service, Tracy is a devoted bonus mom to her 18-year-old daughter and a wife to her husband, Kyle.

Councilmember Amer was born in Oklahoma and raised in Benghazi, Libya. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Benghazi University and works as an engineer at The Boeing Company. In 2008, Hanan married her husband, who has been a resident of Auburn since the 1990s. They raised their children in this beautiful community, both of whom graduated from Auburn High School. (Go Trojans).

Hanan graduated from the Community Emergency Response Team (or CERT) program in 2014 and is a proud lifelong member of Girl Scouts. In 2023, she was honored with her 35-year volunteer pin as a Girl Scout / Girl Guide and received the Girl Scout honor pin for outstanding service in Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She also earned the Bronze and Gold President's Service Volunteer Awards for her dedication to volunteering with the Girl Scouts and United Way of King County.

A Conversation with Auburn City Council Part 2! Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel and Kate Baldwin Mar 21, 2025

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Our council conversations continue with Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel and Kate Baldwin!

Councilmember Trout-Manuel, who served as acting deputy mayor for a portion of last year, began serving on the council in January 2014 and currently represents Auburn on the Sound Cities Association (SCA) Domestic Violence Initiative Regional Task Force, SCA Children and Youth Advisory Board, National League of Cities (NLC) Hispanic Elected Officials (HELO), and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). Councilmember Trout-Manuel also serves on the Auburn Prevention Coalition for the Auburn School District.

Councilmember Baldwin joined the City of Auburn in January 2022 and is in her first term. Councilmember Baldwin is a Senior Advisory Architect who consults on IT Service Management and ServiceNow software for major public and private organizations throughout the PNW and across the United States. She has worked for Milestone Technologies since 2012, going from one of the most junior consultants brought on staff, to becoming both the youngest and first female solution architect within the practice.

A Conversation with Auburn City Council Part 1! Councilmembers Cheryl Rakes and Clinton Taylor (Part 1) Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

We're back! For Season 3 of That's So Auburn! podcast we're interviewing all of the Auburn City Councilmembers, two at a time. Each episode will release a week a part, beginning with today's! Mayor Backus sat down with Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes and Councilmember Clinton Taylor to discuss the day to day, what got them into politics, and what keeps them going.

Deputy Mayor Rakes has lived in Auburn since 1960, when her family moved from Bellingham because her father got a job at the fire department. He retired there in 1980 as a captain. Rakes attended Auburn schools and graduated in 1973. She then enrolled in Mr. Lee's Beauty School and Knapp College of Business and took a few classes at Green River College. Cheryl has been serving the Auburn community as Executive Director of the Downtown Auburn Cooperative since 2019, a position she loves as she works directly with small businesses. During the December 16 council meeting, she was elected by her fellow councilmembers to a one-year term as Deputy Mayor. Cheryl has been on the council since early 2023.

Councilmember Clinton Taylor is the Founder and Executive Director of a financial education non-profit serving low-income BIPOC youth and young adults across Puget Sound. A U.S. Army Desert Storm veteran, Clinton holds degrees in Human Development, Organizational Leadership, and Non-Profit Leadership. He serves on the board of JumpStart Washington Coalition and the Washington State Partnership on Juvenile Justice, with prior roles in organizations like the Auburn Public School Foundation and Better People. As a 13-year Auburn resident, Clinton pastors a local non-denominational church and enjoys family time or cheering for the Los Angeles Rams and Oregon Ducks. Clinton joined the council in 2024.

A City of Auburn Police Deep Dive with Commander Cristian Adams Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of That's So Auburn! Mayor Nancy Backus is joined by Police Commander Cristian Adams, who began his law enforcement career in Auburn in 2005 as a patrol officer. He now oversees Traffic, Records and our Community Response Team.

The world was much different when Cristian first applied to be an officer -- he was one of about 250 applicants. Today, Auburn and many communities in Washington and South King County, struggle to fill vacant positions.

Cristian talks about his law enforcement career, current objectives with ongoing community safety meetings across Auburn, and how his team is making a difference in Auburn.

The Interns are Here! (Part 2) Jul 25, 2024

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Part 2 of our intern takeover, this time with the wonderful ladies who run the program! Mayor Nancy Backus is joined by City of Auburn Human Resource Department's Chardae Gillespie, Brianna Winters and Melissa Medisch, three women who love the work they do and the impact it has on the next generation of city workers. Listen to their spirited conversation about the NextStepAuburn program and how it impacts not only the interns themselves but the city as a whole.

The Interns are Here! (Part 1) Jul 09, 2024

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City of Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Next Step Auburn interns Angee Pogosian, William Olson, and Emma Blanton, who started in June for the 10-week internship with the city. The quartet talks about their favorite moments (so far), lessons learned, and goals for the future! Part 2 will be released in August.

The Maddies Miss Auburns Want to Change the World Jun 20, 2024

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Miss Auburn Maddy Lindsay and Miss Auburn's Teen Maddie McCarthy join Mayor Nancy Backus in this very special episode of That's So Auburn! Learn about the Miss America organization, the amazing scholarship and community service opportunities, and how the Maddies plan to use their platform to change the world for the better.

The Nancy Episode! Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

This episode is all about, well, Mayor Nancy Backus! For the past two years you've heard her interview a whole bevy of guests, from school district officials, emergency managers, homelessness service providers, Miss Auburn and more. And now, the tables are turned -- literally! She's in the hot seat, ready to answer the community's most burning questions.

Auburn's Anti-Homelessness Approach four years later Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Anti-Homelessness Director Kent Hay, Outreach Worker Drew Conley, and community member Kyle Benson, who spent years homeless in Auburn. Kyle talks about his journey from heavy drug use to jail to now being clean and sober and in permanent housing. This is episode is also a follow-up to our very first episodes in season 1, titled "Addressing Homelessness in Auburn." There are three parts, please give them a listen!

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