As spring blooms painted Washington, D.C. with vibrant colors, Dweck Properties transformed District Winery in Navy Yard into its own springtime paradise for the annual DweckSTARS 2025 employee awards and appreciation event. This year’s “Spring Fling” celebration brought together team members from across properties on a beautiful sunny afternoon in a waterfront setting where bright flowers in pinks, purples, and greens adorned every corner of the venue. More beautiful than the decorations, however, was the energy that filled the room — colleagues embracing, sharing stories, and celebrating not just individual achievements but the collective spirit that makes Dweck special. This yearly tradition honors those who exemplify Dweck’s fundamental belief that while “our business is real estate, our focus is the human state” — recognizing team members who consistently go above and beyond, chosen through nominations and votes by their peers.

Mr. Dweck took the stage to officially kick off the afternoon with his characteristic warmth. “Thank you for the wonderful work that you do – it’s pretty remarkable.” Josh Conroy, Vice President of Portfolio Operations and Strategy, took the stage to express his heartfelt thanks to Kathy Murphy, Chief People Officer, for orchestrating such a spectacular event, and to District Winery for their generous hospitality. He then welcomed Lizzie Rivera, Senior Vice President of Property Management, who led the awards ceremony with grace and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Concierge Rising Star – Meron Gessesse – Crystal Plaza

Maintenance Professional Rising Star – Marvin Castillo – Rolling Brook Village

Property Operations Rising Star – Aynese Barksdale – The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station

Concierge of the Year – Barbara Smith – The Gramercy

Leasing Professional of the Year – Cindy Turcios – The Horizons

Maintenance Professional of the Year – Alejandro Alvarez-Coreas – The Park at Arlington Ridge

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year – Collie McKenzie – The Gramercy

Assistant Property Manager of the Year – Lea Keller – The Gramercy

Property Manager of the Year – Karima Nasser – The Sutton

Property of the Year – The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station 

#TLO “Think Like an Owner” Award – Wanda Johnson – Crystal Plaza

Best Kingsley Overall Experience Score (2024) – The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station

Properties That Beat Kingsley Index in All 5/5 Main Categories

• Cosmopolitan Lorton
• Rosslyn Heights
• Crystal Square
• Icon at Dulles
• The Sutton
• The Gramercy

Social Media Marketer of the Year – Giselle Austin – The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station

Reputation Spring Fling Queen – Yodit Teklemariam – The Park at Arlington Ridge

Be Outstanding – Ricardo Pritchett – Crystal Square

Do What Matters – Maurice Massey – The Horizons

Stay Curious – Omari Floyd – The Gramercy

Live The Truth – Keisha Holloway – Annapolis Bay

Take Care – Jose Benitez – The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station

Flor Yudice Humanitarian Award – Josephine Turkson-Harris – Crystal Plaza

HQ Dweckstar of the Year – Sebat Abdulkader

DweckSTAR of the Year – Chester Aycock – Quimby on 23rd

The afternoon took a meaningful pause for a special dedication to Junior Rowe, a beloved team member who passed away this year after 20 years with Dweck Properties. Several employees took the stage to share memories, including one who had worked alongside Junior for his entire tenure. “Junior was always ready to help on the job,” they recalled. “He was a wonderful co-worker and friend — we loved him like family.” The testimonials painted a portrait of a man whose impact extended far beyond his professional contributions, touching the lives of many throughout the Dweck community.

As the formal ceremony concluded, the celebration continued with a lively happy hour featuring abundant food and drinks, creating the perfect atmosphere for team members to reconnect and celebrate their collective achievements. Glasses clinked and laughter echoed throughout the space as colleagues congratulated award winners and shared stories, all while golden afternoon sunlight streamed through the District Winery’s panoramic windows overlooking the Anacostia River.

In the spring-infused atmosphere of District Winery, surrounded by both natural and metaphorical blossoms of achievement on this perfect sunny afternoon, the 2025 DweckSTARS celebration reinforced what makes the company special — not just the properties in its portfolio, but the people who bring them to life every day. As team members departed with awards, memories, and renewed connections, they carried with them the essence of Dweck’s commitment to excellence, community, and the human experience that remains at the heart of everything they do.

Special thanks were extended to the sponsors who helped make the day possible:

Headline Sponsors
Augustine Roofing, Capitol Services Plumbing, CRG, Hawkins Electric Service, and Sherwin-Williams.

Diamond Sponsors
Adcock, Apartment + Office Floors, Capitol Boiler Works, Chapel Valley Landscape Company, Lux Flooring Specialists, and Yardi.

Platinum Sponsors
B & R Cleaning Services Plus, Inc., C7C Complete Services, Conservice, DDyverse, DH Mechanical HVAC Contractor, Eagle Pest Services, Elise AI, ETI Elevator Technologies, Inc., MGN Pools Management, MIMS, SageWater, and Tru Star Inspection.

Gold Sponsors
All Plumbing, Inc., American Disposal Services, Color Solutions, Densel Company Mechanical Services, Excel Property Solutions, Hyly.AI, OneDigital, Potomac Abatement, R Square Consolidated Services, Service Machine Shop, Inc., Waste Not Want Not, Winmar Construction, and Zillow Rentals.

Silver Sponsors
ADP Services, Aire-Master, Derrick Associates, Inc., Direct Supplies Warehouse, Grace Hill, KE, Nurture Boss, Portugal Construction, RMS Fitness, Solutex, Inc., and Vector Security.