At Dweck Properties, recognition isn’t just about acknowledging success – it’s about celebrating the heart and soul of our company: our people. The Dweckster of the Month program, now in its second year, showcases team members who go above and beyond, demonstrating extraordinary customer service and living our core values every day.

“Recognition is important to people,” explains Kathy Murphy, Chief People Officer at Dweck Properties. “We wanted to make sure people were recognized for doing more than what is required of them, with a particular focus on customer experience – both with our residents and with each other.” This commitment to recognition has created a culture where excellence isn’t just rewarded; it’s inspired.

What makes this program uniquely Dweck is its foundation in our company’s core values. “At Dweck, we view humans as humans, not resources,” Kathy emphasizes. “We see people holistically.” This philosophy extends to our hiring process, where the ability to follow Dweck’s nine commitments accounts for 50% of every job interview and semi-annual review. The nine commitments include: Commitment to Each Other; to The Customer; to a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Work Environment; to Personal & Professional Development; to Professional Communication; to Quality of Work; to Attendance & Effective Time Management; to Dependability; and to the Company Values (Be Outstanding, Do What Matters, Take Care, Stay Curious, and Live the Truth).

“Most people can do their job well,” Kathy notes, “but that’s only half of what we look for. If a potential hire can’t adhere to our commitments, they might be successful elsewhere, but not at Dweck. Our Dwecksters of the Month are living, breathing examples of these commitments in action.”

The program thrives on its accessibility. Nominations can come from anyone who witnesses an extraordinary moment of service, whether through a formal nomination form or a simple email to Kathy. “We don’t want to create barriers for recognition,” she explains. “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to celebrate their colleagues’ contributions.”

Let’s meet our 2024 Dwecksters of the Month – outstanding employees who have exemplified these commitments and values:

January | Desiree Harris – Crystal Flats

In just four months as a Leasing Consultant, Desiree transformed Crystal Flats with her infectious energy and “can-do” mindset. Known for her million-dollar smile and dedication to resident service, she masterfully balances leasing responsibilities with resident event coordination. Before her current role, Desiree was a highly sought-after Floating Concierge. Outside of work, she channels her creativity into her streetwear clothing design company, Unspoken Statements, which she launched during the COVID lockdown.

February | Ana Jiron – Rolling Brook Village

For nearly eight years, Ana has been “the glue” holding Rolling Brook Village together as Maintenance Coordinator. Her inspiring journey began at age 11 when she immigrated to Arlington from El Salvador, quickly learning English and making Virginia her home. Today, Ana manages everything from contractor scheduling to maintenance tickets while treating her team like family. When not keeping Rolling Brook running smoothly, she enjoys quality time with her 13-year-old daughter, playing cards and video games, and unwinding with a good book.

March | Angela Hillegas – The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station & Dweck Properties HQ

Angela’s leadership journey exemplifies the transformative power of patience and perseverance. Since joining Dweck in 2019, she’s risen from Assistant Property Manager to Property Manager to Accounts Payable Specialist, successfully turning around a challenging property into one of the portfolio’s highest performers. A dedicated single mom, Angela balances her professional success with her love for the outdoors, particularly “glamping” at her permanent site in southern Virginia with her two dogs.

April | Victor Guerra – ICON at Dulles

Victor was honored as Dweckster of the Month in November 2023 and later achieved the prestigious title of DweckSTAR of the Year in April 2024. Since DweckSTARS takes center stage in April, we don’t select an official Dweckster of the Month, instead honoring this most prestigious award of all. Victor’s story combines technical excellence with artistic passion. For 25 years, he’s balanced his maintenance expertise with his love for merengue music, mastering percussion instruments like bongos, congas, guira, and cymbals. His selection as DweckSTAR of the Year highlighted both his professional dedication and his vibrant contributions to our community’s culture. Read more about Victor Guerra on The Human State here. 

May | Maurice Massey – The Horizons

In just eight months, Maurice has revolutionized maintenance operations at The Horizons. An Army veteran who served in Hawaii and Iraq, Maurice brings military precision to his role as Maintenance Supervisor. Despite a 60-90 minute commute, he’s always the first to arrive, setting up each day for success. When not managing infrastructure projects and unit renovations, this self-described “homebody” indulges in his passion as a Game of Thrones super fan.

June | Josephine Turkson-Harris – Crystal City Lofts & Crystal Plaza

With over 20 years in property management, Josephine led Crystal City Lofts to surpass occupancy goals while maintaining exceptional resident satisfaction. Her leadership style emphasizes empowerment and service, traits she balances with being a proud mother of five. When not creating resident success stories, she dreams of travel adventures, with Spain and Turks & Caicos on her bucket list. She is now the Property Manager at Crystal Plaza.

July | Rania Lamlih – Operations Administrator at HQ

Rania’s exceptional organizational skills and dedication shone particularly bright in July as she juggled multiple critical projects, from property transactions to Budget Boot Camp coordination. Originally from Morocco, Rania has overcome her childhood fear of dogs to become a devoted pet parent to Khloe, her chow-chow. Her adventures have taken her from zip lining in Alaska to skiing in the Swiss Alps.

August | Madeline Guillermo – Construction Management

As Senior Project Administrator, Maddie keeps Dweck’s construction projects running smoothly while mentoring her team. Her journey from IT aspirant to construction management expert showcases her adaptability and leadership. Outside work, this proud mother of three (plus two cats and a turtle named Dorothy) enjoys puzzles, karaoke, and tropical travels.

September | Kelli Allbright – Dweck Properties HQ

Since joining Dweck during our start-up phase in 2020, Kelli has been instrumental in building our property accounting systems and processes. Though she once dreamed of being a wedding planner, a passionate professor’s accounting classes set her on a different path. Her outstanding customer service to onsite teams has garnered so many accolades that her DweckSTAR recognition felt almost inevitable. Despite working remotely, Kelli cherishes the close bond with her team, embodying the spirit that “the best part about working at Dweck is the people.” When not balancing books, this local native enjoys time with her husband John, their three-year-old son Grayson, and their golden retriever Chance, whether at the beach, a pumpkin patch, or an Orioles game.

October, November, and December Dwecksters of the Month will be awarded in the coming months!

“These awards showcase a team’s dedication and commitment to providing exceptional service and overall care of their communities,” notes Kathy Murphy. Each Dweckster of the Month receives recognition including a special branded backpack, an acrylic award, a certificate, a commemorative pin, and a cash reward. But perhaps most meaningful is the surprise celebration itself, complete with an “obnoxiously loud” confetti cannon and team celebration.

The surprise announcements are a highlight of the program, with Kathy and her team sneaking onto properties like “giggly school children” to deliver the good news. One particularly memorable celebration this year involved Angela Hilligas. “I told Angela I was coming to her property to celebrate someone on her team who was Dweckster of the Month,” Kathy recalls with a smile. “She was so excited, thinking it was one of her team members – she had even nominated someone herself that month!” Little did Angela know, she was the winner. “The joy on her face when she realized the recognition was for her was priceless,” says Kathy. “She had been so focused on championing her team member who she thought won, she never suspected it was for her.” The team’s reaction was equally jubilant, jumping around as if Angela had just won the Miss America pageant. The story gets even better: within 45 days of winning Dweckster of the Month, an accounting position opened at Dweck HQ – a career move Angela had mentioned during her winner interview – and today, she’s thriving in her new role at headquarters.

As we look forward to celebrating more outstanding team members in the remaining months of 2024, we’re reminded that at Dweck Properties, excellence isn’t just about what we do – it’s about who we are. Our Dwecksters of the Month embody this principle every day, making our communities not just places to live, but places to thrive.