By Megan MacPherson
A lot of people knew Ken. When you produce the employee newsletter, that comes with the job.
Ken joined the City in 2015, hired to help us launch the Hub, one of the key efforts of the Organizational Culture and Leadership Strategic Plan. At the time, the Hub was in print as well as online so that we could reach staff in the field who didn’t have regular access to computers.
Ken had a background in television news, video and audio production, writing, and a great interest in people. We had found the right person.
From the start, Ken was full of ideas. The fresh eyes he brought to our government organization were refreshing and also endearing, as one of our staff members said. His ideas were big. And everything was possible from Ken’s perspective.
Ken brought the idea of doing podcasts to our team when we were developing the strategy for EngageRoseville. He was masterful at making all of us sound good—no more ahhhs and ummms—and he got residents to open up about their experiences with the City as well. He was an artful story teller.
His work with the City garnered him and our team many awards—because he not only produced award-worthy work, but he nominated the City for a plethora of awards in the field of public engagement and communications. He won a Pride of Roseville award and his picture is in this month’s issue of Comstock’s Magazine, having won an Influencer Award from the Public Relations Society of America in October.
He had a sharp ear and sharp eye—whether for photography, video, or writing. He updated our Writing Style Guide and made it his mission that the City tell and produce grammatically correct stories in our community. He knew how critical that is to our credibility. He loved serving on the Safety Committee, REACH Committee and the Inclusion Committee. It was important to him that people felt connected.
When you got to know Ken, one of the things you noticed was his ability to engage. He never met a stranger in the Civic Center or anywhere else his City work took him. When he asked how your weekend was, he was keenly interested in your answer and ready to share his latest leisure time pursuits—whether it was remodeling the backsplash in his kitchen or traveling to places as close as Redding or as far as Jamaica.
Ken had an upbeat openness he brought to every situation. He was looking forward to our department holiday lunch next week and to our annual Communications Team retreat, too. He was passionate about people and their stories. His own life story ended too soon.
Ken leaves behind his wife, Sharon, and a large extended family.
Honoring Ken…
A memorial service will be held at
2 p.m., Saturday, December 14 at Lambert Funeral Home, 400 Douglas Blvd., Roseville.
You can read his obituary here.
Donations in honor of Kenneth C. Bodine can be made to the Epilepsy Foundation or to REACH in Ken’s name. You can drop off donations at the City Manager’s Office.
A box in the lunchroom will be the collection point for any notes or cards you’d like to leave for Ken’s family. We’ll have it out through next week and then deliver them to his family.
Sidenote: Our team benefited from meeting with a grief counselor who talked with us as a group and was available to meet individually as well. We greatly appreciate the quick and sincere support from the HR department for arranging this and from the Fire Department’s Peer Support Team for checking in on us. Please take advantage of the services the City provides for dealing grief and for any challenges you might be facing professionally or personally. The City is made up of people, not just processes and procedures. People who care.
Dealing with Grief
From Stacey Peterson, Human Resources Director
As a follow-up to the news of Ken Bodine’s death, the unexpected loss of a coworker, family member, friend is difficult and we all experience grief differently. Especially around this time of year when there is already added stress around the holidays for many.
I’d like to take this time to remind employees of our
Employee Assistance Program with Managed Health Network (MHN). To login on the website as a member, enter the
code: Roseville
The news of the loss of a coworker was shocking this week, and you or your coworkers may feel emotionally numb, anxious, depressed, the need for acceptance or to mourn publicly by talking about the loss. These are common reactions of grief.
This article has more information about coworkers facing grief together so you can be supportive of those in need.
If you wish to contact MHN to speak to a grief counselor, call 1-800-242-6220. Ken worked with many of us in his communications role. If there is interest in HR bringing in a counselor to the office to help with employee grief, please contact Chalyn Ferguson in HR at 916-774-5213. HR will make the arrangements.