In Participants' Words

Adrienne Craver, Office of the County Executive, Cohort #One

Crystal Ruiz, Community Engagement Cluster, Cohort #One


"It is the path to spark a new way of thinking and unite people with a desire to make things better."
Shaun Carew, Office of Consumer Protection, Primer Online

“The Accelerator Community has provided a safe and friendly space to learn, to grow, to share ideas and grow my connections within MCG. Feel very grateful to be a part of it!”
Shirley Aceituno, Office of Human Resources, Cohort #One

“Prior to this course I would have never had the guts or proper tools to come up with a solution and laid out the vision plan with my manager and then met with our director who gave me the ok to move forward. We had everyone from my team members, manager, EARP, IT team to agree and support the project's vision and objectives.”
Mariela Leon, Office of Human Resources, Cohort #One

“My participation in the accelerator program helped give me the tools to understand, communicate, map out the problem and process and better brainstorm solutions with my team and the business community we serve in a way that we all felt engaged in the solution. It’s a continuous process.”
Barbara Fonseca, Department of Environmental Protection, Primer Online

“Perhaps more than ever, public entities are being asked to do “more with less.” This course is truly for anybody who wants to make things better without having to spend additional resources!”
Anthony Harris, Office of Performance, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

"Because we analyzed the alcohol license renewal processes right before the pandemic hit, we were well positioned adapt to the needs and opportunities created by the Governor’s Executive Order that dramatically impacted licensure across the state. We quickly implemented the three projects identified through the Accelerator and added several from the brainstorming list. These process changes precipitated several more, and taken together, the revised renewals program ultimately received a NACo award for responsive government."
Jocelyn R. reflecting on her Accelerator projects

“Was delighted to see our own Anna Ye receive an award. She developed a strategy to create a Resident Developer space for non-technical County employees to learn how they can improve resident services and create internal efficiencies using O365 technology. She had helped every awardee in that room achieve their vision through tools they could learn and implement with a little bit of guidance, whether it was consolidating paper applications into a central Microsoft Form or explaining the benefits of our other tools.”
Victoria L, IT manager reflecting on her experience with the Innovation Showcase

“Working with the Innovation group has been refreshing and fun. They guide you to reinvent your mindset and create something new in your day-to-day work process. If you want to have breakthrough in ways you collaborate, and engage employees reach out to them, they are a great resource.”
Sogand S, Transportation Leader and Accelerator Cohort#One

“I want to facilitate it because I love the community and it’s a way to stay connected. And I wish I had it when I was going through the process to have some community for bouncing stuff off of. Regular space that allows folks to know they will be able to get answers. Getting to do cross boundary connection. I want to be proud to work for the County and see people’s passion for what they’re doing across the organization.”
Sharon D, on why she facilitates Accelerator learning circles

“To observe and facilitate connections and have a less pressured space to really connect. To get to feel that we are a part of one County although we are in different departments.”
Adrienne C, on why she facilitates Accelerator learning circles

Cohort #One group photo

Cohort #One group photo