Dr. Lindsay Quarles, Project Manager
Dr. Quarles is responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships with internal and external District stakeholders for the Innovation Office. Dr. Quarles collaborates with i-team members and Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins to develop project scope, deliverables, required resources, work plan, budget, and timing for projects. Dr. Quarles monitors the progress of projects to maintain timeliness and communicates progress with the i-team, stakeholders, and project sponsors.
Prior to joining the i-team, Dr. Quarles served as Director of Learning at OneGoal, a national education non-profit. Putting to use her skills as a social scientist, Dr. Quarles aided the national organization in achieving its mission in helping underserved high school students reach their postsecondary goals.
Dr. Quarles began her career working in various positions at the central office of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), ultimately serving in a research position in the District’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Quarles earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University, and her doctoral degree in Applied Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, CA. Dr. Quarles is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
A volunteer for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, the president of the E.W. Stokes East End Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), Dr. Quarles is a proud wife, mother, and community activist.
Mariza June Avila, Service Designer
Mariza is an accomplished Service Designer contributing her expertise to the Innovation Team (i-team) @ OCTO. In her role, Mariza leverages her understanding of human-centered design to lead projects that address the needs of District residents.
In her capacity as Service Designer, Mariza works with i-team members to implement co-creation sessions, bringing together diverse perspectives to develop comprehensive, user-centered solutions. Mariza's responsibilities includes leading the prototyping and testing phases of potential solutions, allowing the team to validate ideas, iterate on designs, and refine outcomes.
Before joining the i-team, Mariza honed her skills at Education Design Lab in Washington, D.C., where she served as an Associate Visual Designer. Mariza led brand compliance and executed marketing materials across all print and digital communication channels.
Mariza's journey in service design began at the MICA Center for Social Design in Baltimore, MD, where she served as an Associate Service Designer. During her tenure, Mariza was involved in supporting the Baltimore City Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. She played a key role in prototyping, testing, and iterating a user-centric e-newsletter for Johns Hopkins University’s International Vaccine Access Center and the Baltimore City Health Department’s V.A.L.U.E. campaign.
Earlier in her career, Mariza contributed to the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD, where she interned with the Early Childhood Education team. There, she applied human-centered design methodologies to plan and lead in-person co-creation workshops.
Mariza's journey in design began at the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus, where she earned an Associate in Art and honed her foundational skills with the Visual & Performing Arts Department. She furthered her passion at the Maryland Institute College of Art, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and developing a strong focus on user-centered design principles.
Peter Varley, Web Developer
Peter is a trained engineer, and web developer. In his role, Peter is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the i-team’s digital applications. Peter collaborates with i-team members to improve usability of applications. Peter remains up-to-date on emerging technologies and opportunities for innovation across the District Government and on specific projects.
From 2006 through 2019, Peter was a web developer at the The Motley Fool and from 2003 through 2006, he worked as a web developer for Wall Street On Demand building websites for financial services companies. From 2000 to 2003, Peter was a web developer at Premier Data Services. Peter holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sydney, and an associate degree in Web Development from Red Rock Community College.
Paul Elliott, Community Engagement & Communication Manager
Paul is a seasoned communications professional with a proven track record in public affairs, government relations, and stakeholder engagement. As the Community Engagement and Communications Manager for the Innovation Team @OCTO, he is responsible for showcasing the team's impactful work, promoting innovative solutions, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders.
Paul's expertise extends beyond his current role. He has served as an external affairs advisor to diverse organizations, including tech startups, financial services firms, small businesses, and a CEO coalition. His experience in the energy sector as a principal federal government affairs officer honed his skills in stakeholder engagement and strategic communications across multiple states.
Paul's career includes roles as Press Secretary to New York State's Chief Financial Officer, Media Advisor to former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Public Affairs Advisor at the U.S. Department of Treasury, Deputy Press Secretary to former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and National Deputy Director of Delegate Selection for the Hillary Clinton 2008 Presidential Campaign.
A native of the Bronx, New York, Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Fordham University.