City of Duvall finds success in small but mighty staff

On the warmer-than-average evening of July 30, more than 1,600 locals gathered in Duvall’s McCormick Park to the tune of a Taylor Swift cover band.

At least 200 friendship bracelets were made, along with countless lasting memories. It was, by far, the biggest turnout of any SummerStage concert this year and one of the most successful events the concert series has had in its 25 years.

Along with Taylor Swift’s substantial fandom, the turnout can be attributed to the abilities of the city staff as a team. Members say they have a positive culture within the city, where communication and collaboration are strong. They also say city leaders are supportive and encouraging from day one.

“The culture doesn’t start after like six months or one year,” said Indu Sreenivasan, police administrative specialist. “It starts the first day.”

Community events coordinator Rita Moreno is the driving force behind events like SummerStage, but she noted that it was successful because everyone in the city is willing to pitch in.

“We all want to succeed and make Duvall look good,” she said. “We’re all Duvall, whether it’s [police], whether it’s finance, whether it’s public works. Because, believe it or not, if something goes wrong, it’s a Duvall thing. … It’s definitely a team that works together to make these things happen.”

Duvall’s administrative assistant Johnathan Steinbach (left) and Deputy City Clerk Kelsey MacDonald have a discussion in the office, Aug. 13, 2025. (Grace Gorenflo/Valley Record)

Duvall’s staff is small — only 10 people work in city hall and 62 for the city overall, including public works and the police department. But the small size has often been a strength, staff say.

“The nice thing about being in a small organization is I see a name, I can put a face to it,” said Finance Director Beth McMinn. “You get that individual connection and interaction. And for me, that’s kind of what drives my passion for being in local government. I think we’re all here because we want to serve the citizens of Duvall, be a part of all that, but also want to support and be a part of that smaller connection with each other.”

Staff are a bit scattered amongst various city offices, but they said their communication doesn’t suffer, with peers just a call or message away.

The sense of camaraderie among staff members comes from knowing what it takes to do the job of the person next to them. Everyone has to wear many hats and be able to back up their peers when needed, McMinn said.

“In a small city like this, our departments, even though we’re separate in locations, we can’t really be siloed,” she said. “We cross our departments and utilize our resources and our amazingly talented people wherever they are, and we share and support. And I think that’s part of the reason why it makes it so great to work here, because we know we’re not alone.”

McMinn added that no one on the staff begrudgingly comes to work, which makes for positive attitudes.

“I don’t think you stay in a small city in a job if it’s not something that you’re passionate about,” she said. “We don’t have anybody here that’s just here to do the job … And I think because those of us here now have that passion and that professionalism and that kindness, and really want to do good, we attract others that want to do good.”

Some staff said the positive city culture can be credited to those who came before them and the leaders who hired them, like Duvall Police Chief Bryan Keller, City Administrator Cynthia McNabb and City Clerk John Botero.

Duvall staff laugh together while unpacking materials for a summer water event, Aug. 13, 2025. From left: Finance Director Beth McMinn; City Administrator Cynthia McNabb; community events coordinator Rita Moreno.

At the SummerStage performance of Taylor Swift cover band 13 Til Midnight, McNabb made at least 200 friendship bracelets with children in attendance. In the days leading up to the concert, Keller, along with other police leadership, sat with the administrative staff and made friendship bracelets that police officers later handed out at the event.

“A lot of people are scared of the police, and it’s a great opportunity to connect, especially with kids, and say we are not super scary, like we are here to have fun,” said Courtney Lewis, police records administrator. “It was a great opportunity for us to show that, and our supervisors let us do that, which was incredible.”

When Mayor Amy Ockerlander hired McNabb as city administrator, she emphasized the importance of employee health and balance, McNabb said.

“Making sure that staff have what they need to be successful, that we plan for their growth, we respect their career goals and try to help them get there,” she said. “And then, more importantly, just humanizing the staff, like making sure that they’re treated with respect.”

McNabb said her ultimate goal is a feeling of joy — for the staff, the residents and the city as a whole.

“People want to have joy in the city that they live,” she said. “If I can do things that make the community love the city they live in, that’s great. And I need a team to do it. … Our work isn’t always joyful, and it’s not going to be joyful, but I think if I can model it to some degree, I try, and then they model it for each other all the time.”

Deputy City Clerk Kelsey MacDonald spoke to the joy she experiences with her co-workers everyday, from inside jokes to sharing music. She said she feels lucky to have “found my people.”

“Johnathan and I, yes, we’re very professional, and we get a lot of work done, but we also have a lot of fun,” MacDonald said of her and administrative assistant Johnathan Steinbach. “It’s just a good environment. When [John Botero] comes into work, he always asks me, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ And I’m always like, ‘I’m here, so it’s a good day.’”