At the Mayor and City Council meeting on Monday, December 5, 2022, Lieutenant John Leache and the City’s Payroll Team were recognized with Employee Recognition Awards for the third quarter of calendar year 2022. 

Made up of peers from each department, Gaithersburg’s Employee Recognition Committee (ERC) reviews nominations for individuals and teams on a quarterly basis. These winners are then eligible for the annual Employee and Team of the Year Awards. 

Lieutenant John Leache, Administrative Bureau Commander with the Gaithersburg Police Department, was named Employee of the Third Quarter for his leadership and support, his focus on integrity, drive, and working together, and for providing excellent services. The nomination form noted that Lt. Leache leads by example and does not ask anyone to do something that he would not do himself. The nomination emphasized his focus on providing outstanding and excellent customer service, internally and externally, through his loyalty, dedication, problem solving skills, and leadership, as well as boosting morale. A coworker shared in his nomination form, “It takes courage to do the job of a police officer, but also to bring about needed changes.” 

The City’s Payroll Team, comprised of Ashenafi Arega, Diana Aguinaga, Francis Dohnji, Janice Hartman and Larry Salins of the Department of Finance and Administration, was named the Team of the Third Quarter. The team was nominated for its continued dedication and hard work in ensuring City employees are paid every two weeks without any hitches or delays. Their work is often behind the scenes, but their dedication is critical in ensuring smooth payroll operations for all City staff, even when holidays and other events make it that much harder to meet bi-weekly deadlines. The nomination emphasized appreciation for each staff member’s dedication and commitment to service. 

For more information about the Employee Recognition Awards please contact the Office of the City Manager at 301-258-6310 or visit the City’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.