The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, in partnership with George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (GW CEPL) and the DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR), is thrilled to announce the individual and team winners of the 22nd Annual Cafritz Awards!
This prestigious program celebrates the exceptional dedication, innovation, and impact of DC Government employees who have gone above and beyond to serve the residents, workers, and visitors of our nation’s capital. It’s time to honor the unsung heroes who make a difference every day.
Each year, the Cafritz Awards recognize five individual winners, each receiving a $7,500 cash prize, and one winning team, which receives a $15,000 cash prize shared among its members. This year, the Foundation is especially delighted to recognize and reward two outstanding team winners for their exemplary contributions.
Individual Winners
Jessica Marie Bress
Strategic Projects Advisor to the Chief of Police
Metropolitan Police Department
Anwar Mahmood
ADA Architect
DC Office of Disability Rights
Dr. Kofi Onumah
Pharmacist
DC Health
Phillip S. Walker
Chief of Recreation for All
DC Department of Parks and Recreation
Gashaw Woldehanna
Cluster Controller, Government Operations Cluster
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Team Winners
Team Name: Peer Case Management Institute (PCMI) Team
DC Department of Human Services
Lindsay Curtin
Policy Analyst, Strategic Planning and Data Division
Rachel Pierre
Interim Director
Miati Taliaferro
Program Analyst, Strategic Planning and Data
Team Name: Low Titer O Whole Blood Program Team
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer (DC FEMS & OCTO)
Holly O'Byrne
Paramedic/Lieutenant and Whole Blood Coordinator
David Vitberg
Medical Director
Ryan Elborne
Deputy Fire Chief of EMS
Gabriel Gan
EMS Quality Improvement Analyst
Jeffrey Lenard
Firefighter
Timothy Hutchinson
Public Safety GIS Analyst
Individual Finalists
Bridget Holliday
Library Technician
DC Public Library (DCPL)
Dr. Perette Arrington
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
DC Department of Behavioral Health-School Behavioral Health Program (DBH)
Latita Faulk-Grant
District Center Site Manager of Southeast Tennis and Learning Center
DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
Ty'on Jones
Curbside Services Manager
DC District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Latoya Allen
Supervisory Customer Service Specialist
DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)
Alan Karnofsky
Chief of Staff
DC Department of General Services (DGS)
Tamirat Azene
Financial Systems and Accounting Manager
Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Office of Financial Operations and Systems (OCFO, OFOS)
Kandis Catalan
Community Engagement Specialist
Office of City Administrator - Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP)
Jason Juffras
Senior Analyst
Office of the District of Columbia Auditor (ODCA)
Tenika Brown
Human Capital Administrator
DC Department of Public Works (DPW)
Wanda Gattison
Metropolitan Police Department Special Assistant
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
Team Finalists
PSH3 Monitoring and Contracts Team
DC Department of Human Services, Family Services Administration (DHS)
Team Members:
Tawana Holland
Kara Carmichael
Kim Tenhor
Eric Ndichu
Abi Akodu
LaPortia Jackson
Melanie Newkirk
Tanner Smith
LaToya Bass
Victor Tommy
The Oasis Incentive Program
DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), New Beginnings Youth Development Center (NBYDC)
Team Members:
Romita Sillitti
John Mein
Candice Autry
Rena Myles
Jeremiah Mungo
Multimodal Project Delivery Division
DC District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Team Members:
Othman Chebli
Bethany Turner
Britnee Adams
Kendrick Miles
Noah Bell
Lareon Brent
Shawn Daniel
Emma Blondin
William Handsfield
Tarifa Faunteroy
Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health - P3 Project Team
DC Department of Healthcare Finance (DHCF)
Team Members:
Larissa Etwaroo Bako
Benjamin Stutz
Osei O. Headley
Renee M. Holmes
Jeff Reiss
Ranada Cooper
Jacob Hambrick
Joseph Tetzloff
Lee-Ann Pinkard
Mitchell Collin
The Aston Non-Congregate Facility and Program
DC Department of Human Services (DHS)
Team Members:
Anthony D. Newman
Stacia Novella Frederick
Christian Howard
Carmen Hernandez
Mori Langshaw Sr
Lisa Franklin
Dwayne Gentry
William Stewart
Sakina B. Thompson
LoToya N. Bass
Co-Response Team (COR)
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
Team Members:
Melanie Minges
Akintayo Akintunde
Kevin Smith
Tiffany Cunningham
John Muniz
Mervin Garber
Maxwell Davidson
Kenya Gaston
Brittney George
Jonathan Dorrough
Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes Team (OST Office)
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
Team Members:
Shontia Lowe
Shanna Samson
Kevin Cataldo
D’Andre Garrison
Mark Weinberger
Marcus Shaw
Reading Clinic Team
DC Public Schools
Team Members:
Dr. Helen Behr
Claire Sontag
MeQuel Bolden
Abigail Klein
Dr. Jasmine Rogers
Erin Dunn
Tiffani Turner
