Throughout his career, when Jerry Longest was not busy solving complex engineering challenges, you could have found him wielding a hammer and paintbrush, constructing elaborate stage sets for competitive dance performances. For 15 years, Jerry masterfully balanced his demanding role as one of our portfolio’s top engineers with being the kind of dance dad every performing daughter dreams of having.

It all started when his daughter Camryn (Cami as he calls her) was just five years old. A friend from daycare was involved in competitive dance and would leave early for practice. This sparked something in young Camryn – she wanted to be part of it too. “Cami wanted to join after seeing her friend rush off to competitive dance,” Jerry recalls with a smile. “She started with cheerleading for the Grizzlies in Gainesville, but dance quickly became her calling.”

And what a calling it was. By the time Camryn was fully immersed in competitive dance at Gainesville Dance Center (GDC), the family’s schedule had transformed completely. Six to seven days a week at the studio, long hours on weeknights, and marathon six to seven-hour weekend sessions became the norm. Some competition years featured 13 to 15 different routines – a scheduling feat that would challenge even our most organized project managers.

Jerry’s engineering background proved invaluable when Camryn’s class needed someone to help bring their choreography to life. “Anything the teachers needed, we made it happen for them,” Jerry explains matter-of-factly, as if designing and building elaborate stage sets was just another day at the office. Partnering with a fellow dance dad and architect, Jerry was part of a dedicated crew of fathers who turned weekends into construction workshops.

The process was as methodical as any Dweck project. Starting in late February for mid-March competitions, the dads would dedicate five to six weekends to building, painting, and perfecting sets. “My hands-on experience with carpentry, electrical work, and painting all applied to building sets,” Jerry reflects. “It’s amazing how your professional skills can enhance other parts of your life.”

The dedication didn’t stop at construction. Competition weekends meant loading trucks on Thursday evenings, then competing Friday night through Sunday at venues ranging from local high schools in Woodbridge and Baltimore to week-long nationals in Ocean City, Maryland, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Jerry navigated this demanding schedule while maintaining his excellence at his job, a balancing act that required strategic use of vacation time, half-days, and an unwavering commitment to being present for every drop-off, pick-up, and performance. The dedication paid off in spectacular fashion. Camryn’s troupe won first place at their very first nationals competition. Jerry’s pride is evident as he recounts this. Beyond competition success, Camryn’s leadership qualities shone through her work choreographing dances for her high school dance team. She created a special routine that allowed kids with special needs to perform alongside the team, a testament to the values Jerry and his family hold dear.

Now that Camryn has graduated from high school and retired from competitive dancing, both father and daughter are adjusting to this new phase. Camryn has returned to GDC as an instructor, working with 5 and 6-year-olds while pursuing cosmetology school. She’s also assisting with dance classes in DC and has her sights set on trying out for the Wizards dance team.

As for Jerry? “I have a LOT more time on my hands,” he laughs. But knowing Jerry’s dedication both at work and at home, we’re confident he’ll find meaningful ways to fill those newly available weekends.

Jerry’s approach to supporting Camryn mirrors the values we see from him every day at Dweck: thorough preparation, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His advice to other working parents is characteristically straightforward: “Whatever your kid decides, be there and support them fully.”

There’s something deeper in his reflection, a bittersweet wisdom that comes from experience. “I would tell parents to just enjoy the time when your kids are growing up and doing their activity or sport, because time goes by so fast,” Jerry shares. “I remember the last couple of competitions and the feeling I had when I knew it would be the last few times I would be able to watch Cami perform. And how much I would miss it.”

It’s a poignant reminder that those Thursday evening truckloads, the marathon weekend sessions, and the early morning drop-offs weren’t obligations, but precious moments that Jerry now looks back on with gratitude.

When asked what he’s most proud of after watching Camryn grow into the incredible young woman she’s become, Jerry’s answer reveals the heart of a true champion: “How deeply she cares for people and what an incredible woman she has become. She’s always been a good kid with a good head on her shoulders. Her dedication and determination to her craft – I’m looking forward to her future and all she achieves.”

At Dweck, we’re privileged to work alongside someone who brings the same passion, precision, and heart to everything he does, whether it’s solving complex engineering challenges or building the perfect backdrop for his daughter’s dreams to take center stage.