Compton and Snow Response Team Recognized with Employee Awards

At the Mayor and City Council meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026, Public Works Operations Administrator Todd Compton and the Public Works Snow Response Team were recognized with Employee Recognition Awards for the first quarter of calendar year 2026.

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.

This quarter's employee recognition winners exemplify the City's exceptional response to one of the most severe storms in 15 years. Beginning January 24, 2026, crews faced "snowcrete," a stubborn mix of snow and sleet that made clearing roads nearly impossible. While neighboring jurisdictions struggled to open streets for days, the City mobilized a coordinated effort working 36 straight hours and continuing for days afterward to keep roads accessible and services moving despite the conditions.

Todd Compton, Operations Administrator for the Department of Public Works, was named Employee of the First Quarter. Todd, who at the time was serving as Acting Operations Division Chief, coordinated the monumental snow removal effort. His resilience, steady guidance, clear and consistent communication, and outstanding dedication kept everyone informed, aligned and motivated to do what some would have considered impossible. Todd's ability to demonstrate leadership in anticipating needs, coordinating staff and crews, and motivating everyone, in part by his own example, helped to ensure City streets were cleared by the next day and remained clear. His example is a model of the City's five values at work, showing all elements of accountability, caring, excellence, integrity, and teamwork.

The Public Works Snow Response Team was named Team of the First Quarter. The team of nearly 70 Public Works employees, who, with their resilience, dedication and persistence, took swift action to ensure Gaithersburg was safe and accessible during the storm. The team mobilized on a Saturday night and worked around the clock to clear roads, facilities and sidewalks near priority pedestrian areas. The team worked through the extreme cold and wind that followed the many hours of precipitation. During this extraordinary effort, the team demonstrated exceptional teamwork on top of their commitment to getting the job done. Equipment operators, mechanics, supervisors, and support staff all played a critical role, resulting in minimal disruptions for residents, businesses, and schools within the City. The team's collective work demonstrates a high point in public service and is an example of what leadership and teamwork can accomplish, truly exemplifying the City's goals, values, and mission.

The Public Works Snow Response Team includes Steven Adkins, Edwin Alvarez Cruz, Diane Archer, David Arthur, Kenny Bailey, Joseph Bodmer, Devin Brosenne, Mario Carmona Padilla, Joseph Cass, Elvis Castillo, Todd Compton, Juan Contreras Noriega, Timothy Cox, Ricardo Daniel, Aaron Davis, Sharon DeVore, Josue Diaz Ayala, Bonton Dixon, Larry Ellis, Coy Flanary, Victor Garcete, Rukman Goonapala Arachchilage, Alvaro Guzman, Jaedyn Harris, Jose Hernandez Gonzalez, Clifford Holmes, Daniel Horton, Gregory Horton, James Johnson, Istvan Kerekes, Dilber Lara, Frany Lopez Felipe, Oscar Machado, Marvin Martinez, Kenneth McDonald, Roberto Melendez, Charles Meredith, Howard Meredith, Paul Morgan, Everett Newman, David Outman, Jose Parada, John Parrott Jr., Nuno Pereira, Carlos Quintanilla, Esteban Ramirez, Tyler Reid, Erik Ringquist, Alejandra Rivera, Andrew Rosencrantz, Donald Rutledge, Hector Santos Orellana, Mark Scafide, Joshua Shuey, Jeffrey Sirk, George Smith, James Smith, Mark Smith, Justin Storm, Brian Stream, Scotty Testerman, Travis Testerman, Jose Torres, Manuel Velasquez, Thomas Warnick, Wayne Watkins, Caleb Wright, and Kevin Younkins.