Employee Spotlight Walter

BELLEVUE, Wash. (5/5/2023) We’re shining our spotlight on Walter Baxter, Supervisor, Facility Planning. Learn about his role, his passion for DEI and his side hobby, baking cakes and knitting.

What is your role at PSE?
I am currently Supervisor, Facility Space Planning.

How do you support PSE’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in your role/what are some examples of DEI in your daily work?
There are many ways that I support PSE’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I enjoy connecting with and supporting the community and efforts of the PSE’s PRISM Employee Resource Group. I also donate to community non-profits including Treehouse, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Northwest Harvest, and occasionally help out with event support and volunteering. I incorporate DEI principles in my role and daily work by collaborating with our diverse vendor group to select the furniture, fixtures and equipment that go into making workspace at PSE safe, functional and accessible for all employees. I work with HR, Safety and contractors to provide and set up special equipment enabling employees with medical accommodations to be able to work in our buildings.

Recently, I worked on a special project to get a wheelchair ramp installed in our largest conference space at headquarters, with a one-week notice, just in time for a Safety meeting to make the stage universally accessible. Most of the work I do and support at PSE is in the service of others and typically includes gathering people from around the company to come together as a team and see a project though from start to successful completion.

How does your role or work support our Beyond Net Zero Carbon aspirational goal?
The work I do supports our Beyond Net Zero Carbon aspirational goal by developing, incorporating and updating our workplace standards when it comes to everything in the tangible workspace, from sourcing and selecting furniture with high recycled content, to collaborating with architects and designers to specify state of the art lighting systems incorporating lighting zones to maximize utilization of natural light and minimize the energy consumption for our company. Another area includes working with our service providers to minimize our downstream waste through donation of cast off furniture to discount retailers and maximizing its recyclability by separating out fabrics, metals, plastics and wood to reduce demand of the world’s natural resources.

Of PSE’s values, which one resonates most with you and why?
For me the “we do what’s right” is the value that resonates with me most. There are so many things life throws at us and for me it doesn’t matter what the situation is, but it always matters how I act/react to it. Sometimes time can be our worst enemy, but integrity and quality are traits I always try to be the rule by which the result is achieved. This may mean having a few more meaningful conversations, extending a challenging time line, or modifying a plan to accept new information. This is most especially important as I work with so many people to make sure I show up, “put my listening ears on” (Judge Judy reference), and come with an open mind and spirit of service. It is often easy to choose the simple path, but the right path being one usually more difficult often leads to greater connections, achievements, and deeper understandings and satisfaction.

WHow does the work you do make a difference/impact, in your view?
I believe that the work I do makes a difference by creating innovative spaces that impact, support and adapt to the way people work. By incorporating universal design, wellness, and life safety into the approaches we take in setting up and maintaining our buildings for everyone’s use. It makes a positive impact on the culture of PSE when I collaborate with other departments to innovate and develop more efficient processes and applications that people use daily, to help them work.

We all spend so much time at work – what makes working at PSE worthwhile to you?
It’s the people that make working at PSE worthwhile. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work in the service of others at PSE for these past 9 years. The professional and personal connections that transpire out of happenstance, random and otherwise planned projects and interactions, hallway conversations, DM’s, emails, and elevator and kitchen encounters, are something I deeply treasure.

Tell us about the work you do with storm response/restoration.
My role and the work I do usually focuses on the condition of our offices, furniture, finishes and equipment that the Storm Teams use when their base is called into action. Everything from gates to lights, to toilets, to microwaves, to … you name it. Our work usually starts when we receive notification that something isn’t working right. We take that critical communication and jump into action, to notify the appropriate personnel in critical time to immediately address the issue and ultimately keep employees and buildings safe, functional and comfortable, which enables those folks on the literal storm front including (but not limited to) Dispatchers, 9-1-1 Call Takers, Customer Service Call Center Agents, Coordination teams, Storm Management, First Responders and Field workers to keep our communities safe, as well.

What’s the best or favorite part about your job?
I get to help others, help others! I am a part of, and have, a team of incredible people I get to work with every day!

What one thing do you need to know really well to do your job?
For me the most important thing I need to know how to do my job well is to work with a large variety of people, personalities, and perspectives. I was recently in a conversation where someone shared their personal reflection that “no matter how many trophies you have, or how much you might know about something, if people don’t like you, it makes getting anything done impossible.” There is a lot of truth to that.

What makes you most proud of PSE?
The thing that makes me most proud of PSE is the culture. It’s incredibly energized, dynamic and inspiring! Is there someone you consider a mentor and how did they help make an impact on you? Where do I begin…there are so many people… still with PSE and some that have left or retired that I have held in high esteem and praise for their teachings, their involvement in helping shape my views and values and the many efforts I have been a support or lead of over the past many years. Some I have learned patience and trust from, others I have learned leadership from, others I have learned about being confidence and effectiveness from. From all of them I have learned the value of integrity, being true to myself, not being afraid to ask questions, and being a support for others.

Anything else you’d like your colleagues/fellow employees to know about you?
I am celebrating 22 years with my husband next month.