BALTIMORE – The City of Baltimore unveiled its new fleet facility in January, dedicated to the late George L. Winfield, former Department of Public Works director. Among those in attendance were Baltimore's Charlie Krysiak, chief of the Fleet Management Division; Tom Sparenberg, IT systems administrator of the Fleet Management Division; Governor Martin O'Malley; Mayor Sheila Dixon; Public Works Director David E. Scott; and Doug Atkins of CCG Fleet Services. The CCG team was part of Baltimore's implementation in 2001 when it first became a FASTER customer, with Atkins remaining connected to the site since.

The City of Baltimore viewed the new building as not only a new facility, but as an opportunity to celebrate and honor the memory of Winfield, its first Black director. A long-time employee, Winfield began as a DPW engineer 1973 and rose through the ranks to Director of Public Works. The dedication included inspirational words from Winfield's widow and daughter in addition to the many dignitaries. Mayor Dixon summed up the feeling of many saying, "This new facility is a wonderful tribute to a great man."

The new 240,000-sq.-foot fleet maintenance building replaces the larger, outdated central garage built in 1965 and will service more than 5,400 vehicles. According to CCG's Atkins, the building was "planned in a way that allowed them to get better efficiency and accommodate more equipment in less square footage." Rather than building on the premise that "bigger is better," the City planned the new facility around a model of efficiency and built smaller and smarter.

Krysiak, Sparenberg, and the Baltimore fleet staff are excited to have the new facility completed and very proud to call it their new home, said Atkins, who added emotions were high among the fleet team as all gathered around outside for the unveiling of the facility name on the building front.