Brian Helms & Parking Permit Team Recognized with Employee Awards

At the Mayor and City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Business Systems Division Manager Brian Helms and the Parking Permit Implementation Team were recognized with Employee Recognition Awards for the second 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.

Brian Helms, Business Systems Division Manager with the Department of Information Technology, was named Employee of the Second Quarter. Brian was nominated for his overall leadership, expertise and commitment to provide public service in assisting all staff and departments and leading the new Online Parking Permit Program team from policy and planning discussions into implementing the program as of July 1. He ultimately provided leadership for each element of the program by assisting with technical issues, procurement questions, contract reviews, answering policy and planning questions, providing public explanations of the program, and helping lead the implementation of the new program.

The Parking Permit Implementation Team was named Team of the Second Quarter. The team was compromised of 22 staff members from seven departments, including Tom Lonergan-Seeger and Sharon Disque (City Manager's Office), Brian Fields (Public Works), Lissette Ocas, Lt. Willie Delgado, Cpl. Peter Loiodice, Aretha Steele, Muhamed Touray, Peter Ibrahim, Yajaira Rojas, and Roxana RiveraRivas (Police), Janice Gacuma, Mandy Chen, and Ashenafi Arega (Finance and Administration), Brian Helms and Meghana Acharla (Information Technology), Erick Perla (City Attorney's Office), and Greg Mann, Gretchen Wyrick, Rabia Amin, Yamaly Robinson, and Gabriella Gochez (Planning and Code Administration).

The team was nominated for its collective work, across and involving multiple City departments, to plan, coordinate, work with the public, conduct public meetings, draft regulations, bring on a contractor and ultimately implement a new online parking permit program for the City. The team consistently addressed questions and concerns head-on, resolving them promptly and efficiently. In working collaboratively with innovation and a commitment to establishing a workable, sensible parking program each staff member played a critical role in ultimately implementing the new online parking permit program on-time and on-target. The team's ability to collaborate and deliver under pressure is what kept this project moving and their hard work set a standard for future development as well as future projects City-wide. The team's work and achievements exemplify the City's goals, values, and mission.

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