The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance Ambassadors the braved the outdoors for their last employee of the month ceremony for the year. The red uniformed corps of employees were front and center at the Downtown Holiday Market with a short and sweet program that concluded with a mannequin challenge. Watch the video here.
The Downtown Holiday Market runs each year for 29 consecutive days and is located on the F Street sidewalk in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery between 7th & 9th Streets, NW. This unique and festive shopping village in the heart of Downtown DC features more than 150 regional artisans, crafters and boutique businesses.
The winners for September were: Safety/Hospitality Ambassador Oyoo Okumu and Maintenance Ambassador Terence Kelley.
Oyoo Okumu has been a Safety/Hospitality Ambassador for more than five years and is originally from Uganda. Oyoo came to America as a refugee. He says he enjoys the freedom of the job and interacting with people. “Sometimes it’s easier to talk to strangers,” he says. When he’s not working Okumu likes listening to different types of music, but mostly jazz. Basketball is one of the sports he enjoys watching when he has some down time. And it’s no surpise that his favorite team is the Washington Wizards.
Terrence Kelley has been a Maintenance Ambassador for three years and this is his first employee of the month win. Kelley enjoys the ability to interact with people. Formerly a tour guide he describes Downtown D.C. as educational. In his spare time, Kelley stays busy coaching junior high school football and working with autistic kids doing pool therapy. He has two daughters and is from Landover, MD.
The winners for November were: Safety/Hospitality Ambassador Michael Bunn and Maintenance Ambassador Varvie Daughtry.
Michael Bunn is a 10-year veteran of the Safety/Hospitality team and says he is still getting to know the city. “It’s a new city to me,” he said. Bunn enjoys cooking and would like to eventually become a chef. A self-described free spirit, he’d rather have his own catering business than be confined to a restaurant. He grows his own herbs and vegetables and is testing recipes for a cook book. Bunn is a native Washingtonian. He has two sisters, one of which is a twin.
Varvie Daughtry is a newbie to the Maintenance team. Just one year in, this is his first win as employee of the month. Daughtry describes Downtown D.C. as versatile. He enjoys staying active and learning new things. In his off time, Daughtry likes to read, write, box and play football and basketball. One of his favorite Downtown D.C. restaurants is Bantam King.