Meet Matt Benzin, Our February Employee of the Month

The PUD is already a pretty great place to work, but that doesn’t mean that we stop looking for ways to improve.

Matt Benzin makes sure of it!

A Human Resource Generalist III, Matt had a pivotal role in the launch of the PUD’s annual Employee Engagement Survey to help Team PUD anonymously give feedback on how to improve life around the utility. Since he’s arrived at the PUD, Matt has demonstrated a commitment to supporting his colleagues and recently agreed to serve on the Labor Relations team.

Thanks to his outstanding work getting the Employee Engagement Survey stood up, as well as his leadership on countless other continuous improvement initiatives, Matt has been named Employee of the Month for February.

“Matt has taken on and embraced every project that’s come his way and done a fantastic job making improvements for everyone at the PUD,” said Sara Kurtz, our Chief Human Resources Officer. “He’s developed a great rapport with numerous work groups and has made a meaningful difference for Team PUD with all of his projects and initiatives.”

“In the short time he’s been here he’s made a significant impact, not just in HR, but supporting all of our employees,” said Amanda Bowman, Senior Manager in Human Resources. “He sees the bigger picture and has excellent instincts about the right thing to do. He has a really clear line on what our values are as an organization and staying true to those.”

Matt helped launch the Employee Engagement Survey in 2024, which has led to an action planning team and numerous changes already enacted by the PUD. The goal for the survey is to get honest feedback from employees to find ways to improve the PUD’s workplace culture.

He has also jumped into Labor Relations when he joined the 2024 negotiations team and most recently took over managing the day-to-day activities required to keep Labor Relations moving forward. He facilitates the Joint-Labor meeting where he collaborates with union management to talk about everything that’s coming up.

His focus on collaboration, clear communication and building trust has proven instrumental in creating dialogue and action planning that strengthens the employee experience.

“My first introduction to working with Matt was when we were both thrown into the thick of it during the last round of contract negotiations,” said Madeline Kimball, the PUD’s Business Representative with IBEW Local 77. “Matt consistently brings a lot of care and attention to detail when working through problems as they come up. He brings solutions to the table that others may not have thought of yet and is just a great person to collaborate with.”

Matt started at the PUD nine years ago as a Meter Reader and was promoted through the Meter Reader step progression. In 2021, he moved to the Human Resources department as an Employee Relations Associate. He was most recently promoted to Human Generalist III in May of last year.

“It’s been fun watching him grow for the last five years,” Amanda said. “There isn’t often an established career path from Meter Reading to HR. But what he brings is a really great perspective about what it’s like to work in the field. He can talk about a day in the life of a Meter Reader. He’s really well rounded about what field work looks like.”

“I think the world of Matt. He’s wicked smart and is the kind of coworker anyone would dream of — reliable, consistent, genuine, and an all-around gem of a person,” said Chelsea Ray, Manager, Customer Service. “I am so glad he’s being recognized for his relentless hard work. If I had to choose anyone to work alongside, I’d choose Matt.”

Outside of the PUD, Matt is currently defending his dissertation and is on track to complete his Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology this year, with a specialization in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and an emphasis on Quantitative Research.

“Matt has been an inspiration to me with his dedication to the PUD and determination to further his education,” said Paul Kiss, the PUD’s Senior Operations Superintendent. “Matt has stepped into leadership roles, running meetings and supporting difficult decisions with the utmost professionalism. Matt is always available to help support, talk through and find solutions to any conversations. The PUD is blessed to have Matt in his role with his dedication to strategic priorities and collaborative discussions around all topics.”

Matt was born in Renton and has spent most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, including attending college at Washington State. Shortly after graduating from WSU, he started at the PUD. He is a huge sports fan and heads to Spokane every year to participate in Hoopfest. Matt also enjoys hikes, golfing, playing tennis and taking his dog Barley on walks.

He loves the work he does at the PUD and is thankful to his workgroup and leadership for supporting him in his efforts to improve life at the PUD.

“What I like most about working at the PUD is the meaningful work we do serving our community and the strong sense of teamwork and shared purpose,” Matt said. “We have a culture where people genuinely support one another and take pride in what we do. I’m thankful for the talented people I get to work with and really grateful to be part of Team PUD. I appreciate each of you and the incredible work you do every day. I’m continually impressed by the knowledge and commitment across the organization.”