May Honorees

Christy Johannasen is being recognized for her efforts during COVID-19 to provide ongoing coverage for the Office of Real Estate, for her assistance with critical annual reports and audits, and for her recent 5 months of full-time service to the Maryland Department of Health, Vaccination Task Force. The MDH Vaccination Task Force has expressed their appreciation for Christy’s efforts in preparing and maintaining spreadsheets for volunteers needed to help administer vaccines. Real Estate is very proud of the role Christy has played in helping to ensure that Maryland residents have been able to receive vaccines. Christy is further recognized for willingness to cross units in Real Estate and help the various units which need assistance.

John Ferry has been with the Building Assessment Unit in the Facilities Engineering Division for just over a year and half. While John’s main duties include conducting facility assessments and establishing a data base to house the assessment information, he also manages projects. One of John’s latest projects to replace a boiler and roof top units at Warfield Air base was recently recognized by a Program Manager with the Maryland Military Department who wrote: On behalf of the Maryland Military Department, I sincerely want to thank DGS Construction for the collaborative effort to get this multifaceted project completed in a short period of time. A special thanks to John Ferry, who has been nothing but a complete professional through the entire process. His attention to detail, coordination skills and ability to address issues quickly with all the players involved was the keystone to the project’s success. Being recognized by others for effective and efficient project management is awesome and for this reason, we nominate John Ferry for being CAUGHT DOING GREAT SERVICE!!

Regional Managers Dave Shackelford, Joe Pearce, and Andy Pipari have been Caught Doing Great Service.  They are not only performing their individual duties as Regional Managers overseeing several buildings, but they are also helping each other by covering gaps caused by numerous vacancies in the Annapolis region. There have been several significant emergencies in Annapolis buildings of late.  Joe, Andy and Dave worked through each one tirelessly as a genuine team.  In each instance, the damage to the buildings could have been substantial.  All three worked together to support each other during their respective emergencies, regardless of whose building it was supposed to be, all while continuing to address issues in their own buildings. For example, after an unusually heavy rain, Dave faced numerous simultaneous leaks in several buildings.  Dave was shorthanded, so Andy sent folks to help address the problem.  Another time, the Treasury Building flooded after a pipe gave way, and all three sent staff to assist.  When the Legislative Services Building sprang a leak, they made sure everyone helped out and cross-trained each others’ staff in basic plumbing techniques. Andy, Dave and Joe are determined and persistent.  They work together closely to bring their buildings and regions up to higher standards.  They are attentive to see that DGS’ mission and customer service focus are always on display to tenants.  And because of staffing challenges, they are performing the roles of both Building Managers and Regional Managers  They are truly doing the work of many. Congratulations to Dave Shackelford, Joe Pearce, and Andy Pipari, who deserve the praise and recognition that comes with being Caught Doing Great Service.