Ms. Peta N. Richkus

Peta N. Richkus served as Secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) from 1993 to 2003.  As the State’s landlord, procurement officer and real estate agent, she was responsible for 725 employees, an $81.5 million operating budget, a $430 million capital budget, and statewide procurement responsibilities for the goods and services of more than $800 million annually. 

During her term as Secretary, Ms. Richkus also served as construction advisor to the Board of Public Works. In addition, she chaired the Maryland Green Buildings Council, the Government House Trust, and the Electricity Deregulation Advisory Committee.  Secretary Richkus served as a member of the Smart Growth Subcabinet, the Information Technology Board, the Procurement Advisory Council, the Maryland Food Center Authority, the Interagency Council for Public School Construction, the Hall of Records Commission, the Maryland Security Council, and the Task Force on Public School Construction.

Ms. Richkus led DGS to national recognition in the areas of technology, innovation, and effectiveness in government.  Some of those awards included: the National Federation of the Blind - Accessibility Leadership Award; Congress for the New Urbanism - Award of Excellence, 2002; eGov Government Solutions Center-Pioneer Award (one of several national awards for eMarylandMarketplace, the State’s e-Procurement portal); and the Design/Build Institute of America - Best Public Project over $15 million (Miller Senate Office Building).

Prior to appointment as DGS Secretary, Ms. Richkus had a successful 20-plus year career in the private sector, most recently as senior vice president of Buchart-Horn, Inc., an international planning, design and construction management firm.

Since leaving State government, Ms. Richkus has taught government and business courses at the University of Baltimore and Towson University; she has also consulted with private firms in areas of management, marketing and strategic planning.

Ms. Richkus has won many personal awards including:  University of Baltimore’s Alumna of the Year, Merrick School of Business (2002); H. Mebane Turner Services Award (2002); U.S. Energy Association’s Public Service Award for Outstanding Leadership in Energy Efficiency (2001), The Daily Record Maryland’s Top 100 Women (2000), and the Charles Village Civic Association’s Volunteer of the Year (1998).

Ms. Richkus’s civic and community activities have included the University of Baltimore: Alumni Board of Directors, 1998 to 2004; The Village Learning Place: Vice President, Board of Directors, 2003-2005; The Baltimore Academy of Travel, Tourism & Entertainment: 2003-2004; Society of American Military Engineers, 1980-1998: National Board Member; Baltimore Post President; founding sponsor, Morgan State University Student Post; and Afro American Newspapers: Board of Directors, 1986-1998.