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August Honorees

Sam Ruppert manages our budget unit, which is heavily involved in our year end close as well as the preparation of the following year’s budget. We have just wrapped up theFY22 closeout, and Sam was instrumental in helping this process proceed smoothly. His team helped all areas of the agency review their open encumbrances and close any unused or unnecessary purchase orders, so we could free up money to balance the funds for the entire agency. Sam’s detailed knowledge of our agency’s budget is critical to the close process, and it helps carry us forward to the following year’s budget. He and the team are deep into there conciliation of all of the positions in the agency now, which is a tedious and time consuming process. This step is the beginning of a month long process to prepare the FY24 budget, and is the base for which we build everything else on. Thank you Sam for all that you do to help the agency be fiscally responsible and successful!

Since Taavon Torain‘s arrival (January 12, 2022) as a new Lease Compliance Manager, Mr. Taavon Torain has left an indelible footprint on each endeavor that he has pursued at the Department of General Services (DGS). Mr. Taavon Torain has shown leadership, commitment, and versatility in managing the Lease Compliance issues and training his subordinates to employ those same qualities to deliver maximum customer service to DGS clients. While supporting the Department of Human Services (DHS), Mr. Taavon Torain negotiated over a 2-week period approximately $120,000 savings on behalf of the Agency for a large Lessor’s Work project in Baltimore City. Mr. Torain was also able to save DHS additional savings of $10,000 at another location in Baltimore County (countertop/millwork added by the LL) and in Cambridge, Maryland. (Lockset Upgrades/Additions). Mr. Taavon Torain has become a welcome support for the Lease Management & Procurement Office of Real Estate is quickly becoming a General Performance Standards & Specification force to be reckoned with at DGS as he doles out fairness and consistency to both Landlords and Agencies with his customer service delivery.

Officer Jose Smith came to Maryland Capitol Police from the University of Baltimore, as a retired member of Baltimore City PD in December of 2017. Officer J. Smith is a hard-working officer, respectful and polite to all that he comes across, he does not shy away from a call for service and backs up his fellow officers from this agency and others. On July 28,2022 while on routine patrol of the State Office Complex at the intersection of Eutaw and Preston Street adjacent to the MTA Subway entrance, Ofc. Smith observed a female standing with her back against the passenger side of a small grey in color vehicle, with a slender build male pressing on her as if they knew each other. Ofc. Smith, however, recognized that her body language suggested a possible crime was being committed. Ofc. Smith had recognized the suspect from an earlier verbal altercation involving several other MCP personnel, in front of 301 W. Preston St.  Based on his facial expression, the suspect immediately recognized Ofc. Smith and ran. The victim then turned around and yelled out “He took my phone, and he has a gun.”  Ofc. Smith chased the suspect where he ran north on Eutaw St., then backtracking south on Eutaw St., then west on W. Preston St., where he ditched the victim’s phone at the intersection of Madison and Preston Street.  During the chase, Ofc. Smith noticed a black object in his right hand resembling an unknown caliber handgun. The suspect continued running through McCulloch homes housing complex. Baltimore City & MTA Police joined in the search for the suspect along with MCP units to Pennsylvania Avenue. Officers canvassed the area for the suspect but were unable to locate him.

Daris Watkins is extremely helpful, kind and always goes the extra mile. As the sole admin in Annapolis, I have needed to lean on him and others to help with the many tasks that need to be taken care of. He has been most especially helpful with receiving supplies and inventory for the entire Annapolis Complex, including the Governor’s Residence. Daris makes sure everyone gets all their orders and materials and is diligent with the paperwork and inventory tagging where necessary. He has also helped me with Fleet management – making sure our cars are serviced, clean and up to date. Daris is a true team player, proactive and efficient and always willing to lend a helping hand.

April Barrett and Shango Smith are both management associates for Facilities Management.  They work at the Ellicott City District Court/Multi-Service Center. During the past year, April and Shango have been of great assistance to the DGS Computerized Maintenance Management System Unit by creating purchase orders for the CMMS folks. And here is the special part:  they have been doing this out of the kindness of their hearts, because the CMMS Unit is not even a part of the Multi-Service Centers. Performing this work, especially for a division that is not actually one of their responsibilities, can be a challenge.  But April and Shango more than meet the challenge. Both of them are very detailed and thorough in their work. For example, when processing these purchase orders, on occasion they have noticed where company information does not match its information in the Maryland Financial Management Information System, or FMIS. That means the vendor would not have been paid.  At other times, they have found that the paperwork a vendor provides has inaccurate information. They have resolved these issues and worked things out so that all parties involved in the process are satisfied. April and Shango are always extremely helpful, explaining the details of what is needed from the first steps to the completion of the task. They have helped the CMMS Unit meet all payment deadlines.  They uphold the very highest customer service standards. It is for these reasons that April Barrett and Shango Smith have been Caught Doing Great Service.


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