Director Sharkey encourages learning and growth for all DGS employees. Under his leadership, a program known as Future Leaders Development (later renamed Lead to Succeed) was created. Individuals across divisions are selected to participate in a 6-week course that enhances their understanding of leadership, peer interaction, lean government processes, and policy implementation. DGS has completed three classes with a total of 37 graduates. Future issues of the Digest will feature subsequent classes. 

Class of 2014

Three graduates are currently full-time civil servants within the Department. Babila Lima runs the Business Process Improvement Office, examining and improving workflow through lean processes. Babila has also risen to be an instructor on the Lean Government model in the Lead to Succeed program, sharing his knowledge with new program participants. 

 Jackson Gilman-Forlini is the Historic Properties Program Coordinator. Through his leadership, DGS has transformed the use of historic properties into a contemporary arts and community focused environment while optimizing public access. 

 Sagirah Palmer is the lead Architect of the Information Systems Management team and dedicates herself to the Archibus program. The program works on tracking data regarding what, when, and who is making repairs in DGS managed buildings. According to Sagirah, “Completing the future leaders program gave me knowledge about each of the [four] divisions, a better understanding of how we perform collectively, and how my duties contribute to the team. This program gave me the drive I needed to help me find innovative ways to help DGS operations run efficiently.”

 Gia Montgomery has continued to work for Baltimore City in DOT as a Permits and Records Supervisor, while Nagaina (Nikki) Thomas now works as an HR Assistant at DPW.

 Several programs participants have left DGS for opportunities in other City agencies or employment outside of City government. Adam Jackson is the CEO of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. Sean Burnett is a graduate student at the University Of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School Of Policy; Martin Courtney is a stay-at-home dad, caring for his two kids; and Jason Mathias is a Sustainability Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University. 

 Michelle Rau is an Associate at Anchorage Capital Group, a financial consulting group in New York City; Sam Savin consults for a firm in Philadelphia; Alena Toropova-Henry is a Financial Controls Analyst at Exelon. Ahlora Lawson works at the FDA as a Regulatory Counsel for the Center for Tobacco Products, she has also started a plant-based cupcake business called SugarLove Desserts. She says her time in the program was “...a good way to get younger employees involved in the other aspects of DGS.... the best part was it was a way for us to network and create friendships.”