Employee of the Month > May 2022

When you work in communications, you are often looking for ways to use your talents to shine a light on the work of others. This month, we are turning the tables and spotlighting one of our communicators, Aaron Swaney, Media & Public Relations Liaison.

Aaron came from Everett’s Daily Herald to start his career with the PUD on December 11, 2015, as a Communication & Marketing Consultant. He was promoted to his current position in 2019. Aaron was recognized as a member of the Incident Management Team that handled the utility’s response to COVID-19 in November 2020.

When you ask Aaron’s colleagues about him, you will hear many of the same words and phrases:

• Always willing to step up to the next challenge
• Treats everyone with respect and kindness
• Resilient in the face of adversity

“These last few years have been challenging for everyone, but in the face of adversity, Aaron has stepped up and continued to support his colleagues while delivering on exciting new communications programs like Third Thursday and Power Talks,” said Julee Cunningham, Director of Communications, Marketing and Business Readiness. “Despite internal and external obstacles, Aaron has continued to demonstrate a commitment to teamwork, storytelling and sharing the good news of what’s happening at the PUD with our customers.”

Naturally, as a skilled writer, Aaron perhaps sums up his contributions to the PUD most eloquently.

“I have the best job at the PUD,” said Aaron. “As one of our media liaisons, I get to brag about our team members and projects to our customers every day. Talk about an easy job. It’s also my job to know a little bit about nearly everything here, so I get to work with almost every department in some respect and learn about all the amazing projects and programs we have here at the PUD. Team PUD is full of creative and smart people, and I feel blessed to be a part of it.”

Demonstrating his willingness to step up to a challenge, Aaron also serves as a member of the Connect Up Team, works storm communications, and manages the PUD’s media relationships with his counterpart, Media & Public Relations Liaison Kellie Stickney.

“You couldn’t ask for a better teammate than Swaney,” said Kellie. “In addition to being an excellent writer, Aaron is a great listener, a devoted employee, and an all-around excellent human. Even during a global pandemic where our work was predominately remote, Aaron managed to make me, a new employee, feel like a welcome and included member of the team. I’m grateful knowing that Aaron has my back in any situation.”

In addition to being a star communicator, Aaron is also a father of three, an accomplished beer writer for The Herald,and a huge sports fan. Despite a full plate, Aaron continues to make time for others at work and at home.

“I’m married with three kids, so what’s spare time?” said Aaron. “I guess in those rare moments when I can get away, I love playing pickleball with my daughter, golfing with my son, kayaking with buddies, walking our English Springer Clementine, listening to John Prine and Johnny Cash albums, reading books on World War II and catching a ballgame or two. Oh, and I’ll try to squeeze in a craft beer at a local brewery from time to time.”

Aaron’s work is recognized in his own department and in work groups across the PUD. As Taylor Ostrander, Process Improvement Manager and recent Employee of the Month, said, “There is no ‘I’ in Aaron! He is a team player through and through who puts the needs of others over his own every day!”

Please join us in congratulating May’s Employee of the Month, Aaron Swaney.

Photo: Aaron with wife Erin and children Teddy, Grace and Charlie.