DeVore & City Election Team Recognized with Employee Awards

At the Mayor and City Council meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026, Program Coordinator Sharon DeVore and the City Election Team were recognized with Employee Recognition Awards for the fourth quarter of calendar year 2025.

Made up of peers from each department, Gaithersburg's Employee Recognition Committee (ERC) reviews nominations for individuals and teams on a quarterly basis. Each individual and team has been nominated by their peers based on criteria reflecting the City's five values under the strategic plan - accountability, caring, excellence, integrity, and teamwork, or "ACE IT." These winners are then eligible for the annual Employee and Team of the Year Awards.

Sharon DeVore, Program Coordinator for the Department of Public Works, was named Employee of the Fourth Quarter. Sharon was nominated for her dedication in serving as the "go-to" person at Public Works and the true cornerstone of the department, wearing many hats in providing assistance and guidance to staff and residents and ensuring everyone feels supported and appreciated. In addition to her core work, Sharon has covered the duties of the vacant Facilities Maintenance Supervisor position, including assigning work orders, coordinating upcoming projects, and leading the coordination of utility providers in shifting the accounts at 12 S. Summit Ave. to City of Gaithersburg ownership.

The City Election Team, comprised ofLia Jones, Kayi Lawson-Hellu, Michelle Betancourt, and Debi Edwards-Stanback (City Manager's Office), Erick Perla (City Attorney's Office), Ted Trabucco and Kirk Eby (Information Technology), Marvin Martinez (Public Works), Lt. John Leache (Police), Courtney Davis (Communication and Public Engagement), and William Smith (Parks, Recreation and Culture), was named Team of the Fourth Quarter. The team was nominated for its combined efforts in delivering a fair, accessible and transparent City election while working through a complete turnover of prior election staff in addressing higher-than-expected turnout, both in-person and by mail.

Led by Lia Jones, the City Election Team successfully navigated its first election cycle without the benefit of complete, comprehensive instructions from prior years-demonstrating resilience, accountability, and a deep commitment to delivering a fair, accessible and transparent election. Lia fostered a culture where the team owned early missteps, moved quickly to correct them, and documented improved procedures to ensure continuity and reliability in future elections. This dedication to learning and continuous improvement stabilized operations in real time while also setting a higher bar for institutional knowledge and excellence in Gaithersburg municipal elections.

The team paired disciplined execution with innovative thinking that delivered measurable value for residents and the organization. Operational innovations produced $15,370 in cost savings, while streamlined processes kept voter check in to 10.1 seconds on average, while limiting the peak wait time to 18 minutes and 15 seconds - even as 108 voters were processed-clear evidence of strong planning and real time problem solving. A total of 2,266 mail-in ballots, or 27% more than the previous election, were received through the mail, and ballot boxes installed and monitored throughout the City provided an alternative safe and secure option for 1,043 voters - an increase of 33.5% over the prior election. This record number of mail-in ballots were meticulously tracked by the team to ensure each were appropriately counted. The team's outreach efforts were equally robust, including a highly successful bilingual campaign that spanned the website, digital and print media, television including in-house produced infomercials, and social media to ensure access and participation. All these innovations and improvements helped expand voter engagement, resulting in the highest election turnout in recent history.

For more information about the Employee Recognition Awards please contact the Office of the City Manager.