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SEATTLE, WA—January 2, 2007—Dean Barnes
began his new job as Director of Human Resources at the Seattle
Housing Authority in late November, but already he is making plans
and setting goals for himself and his department.
 “I want us to be a very effective HR department.
By applying the latest technology and being efficient in what we do,
I hope we can help people spend less time on paperwork and more time
being of direct service.”
“The more efficient we can be in providing
services to other managers at SHA,” he says, “the more that frees
them up to spend time on the parts of their jobs that serve
residents and help SHA meet its mission.” Barnes also sees a role for himself and the
other HR professionals at SHA in supporting resident needs in the
workforce. He looks forward to working with The Job Connection staff
and other SHA programs to support the career development efforts
that are already in place. “I am amazed by the cultural diversity
here – both on the staff and among the residents. I want to explore
ways to help residents with the transitions that are needed to make
people more employable.”
He points out that many SHA residents have been
very successful at entering the job market, but need more assistance
to make steady wage progress. “Many of our residents have been able
to get jobs that pay up to $12 or $13 dollars an hour, but they need
to see those earnings get up into the $20 range in order to leave
public housing. I’d like to see if there are more ways that we can
help.”
Barnes' preparation for his new job at SHA is
extensive. After growing up in the Yakima area, he attended
Whitworth College in Spokane, where he majored in business and also
played baseball. (On a bookshelf in his new office sits a bowlful of
baseballs and the wall includes a picture of his father and uncle,
both of whom played semi-pro baseball.)
His first job out of college was with Pacific
Northwest Bell, starting in the 1970s, before the historic
deregulation of the phone companies. While employed at the phone
company, he completed his MBA from City University. In the early
1990s, he moved to Phoenix to become the Assistant Director of Career
Services at Arizona State University. During this time, he began a
doctorate program in public administration.
His study of public administration solidified
his desire to work in the public sector. This led to his coming back
to Seattle, where after a brief stint with Safeco Insurance, he went
to work in human resources for the City of Seattle.
“It’s really important to me to be involved in
work that helps people at a very basic level.” When asked why SHA in
particular was attractive to him, he shared that he really
appreciates the singular focus of the work of the Housing Authority.
“The idea of being part of an organization that assists people in
finding housing is very appealing to me. We are fulfilling a very
basic need that is extremely important to people.”
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