JBG SMITH

Sitting at the base of the future Pedestrian Bridge to DCA, 2011 Crystal Drive is being transformed into a dynamic mixed-use energy center featuring an array of fully-serviced, large scale meeting spaces and elevated food and beverage experiences. Contact [email protected] to see how 2011 Crystal Drive is building culture and fostering collaboration for the next generation of work at National Landing.

On Juneteenth, we acknowledge and honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. JBG SMITH invites its employees and community to reflect on the significance of this day and learn more about how you can support racial healing and take a stand for social justice. You can learn more about this important topic at: https://lnkd.in/gfYtvYv7 #Juneteenth2024 #diversityandinclusion #AfricanAmericans

JBG SMITH is celebrating #Juneteenth2024 all week. Please join us in honoring the end to slavery in the United States, reflecting on the significance of this day, and celebrating our African American colleagues. Meet Keith Hickson. Keith has been with JBG SMITH for eight and a half years. As the Senior Service Manager for our properties at 1221 Van and West Half/1205 Collection, Keith oversees the service team in its day-to-day operations. He enjoys working through complex situations to arrive at a solution while training and empowering his team members to build on their strengths. Keith comes from a family with a lot of experience and expertise in the trades. His dad was an auto mechanic, one of his brothers is a master electrician and the other is a carpenter. Growing up, Keith loved shadowing his dad and brothers as they worked on different projects. So, it seems Keith was destined for a career in one of the trades. He studied Building Maintenance at Orleans Technical College and graduated at the top of his class. Although Juneteenth is a bittersweet holiday for Keith, he spends time on that day reflecting on how far the African American people have come. He also celebrates Juneteenth with his family and friends. This important day in Black history gives him a chance to hear stories from his mom as she reflects on what it was like to grow up in Georgia. One of the stories she likes to tell is about her grandfather who was a sharecropper with more than 400 acres in Americas, Georgia. She also talks about her great uncle who was the first African American surgeon in southern Georgia. Keith spent time visiting his family in Georgia during the summers as he was growing up, which brought many of his mom’s stories to life for him. #Juneteenth2024 #diversityandinclusion #AfricanAmericans

JBG SMITH is celebrating #Juneteenth2024 all week. Please join us in honoring the end to slavery in the United States, reflecting on the significance of this day, and celebrating our African American colleagues. Meet Troy Wilson, a Senior Service Manager at Atlantic Plumbing. Troy is celebrating his 9th anniversary with JBG SMITH this month. Troy was at Delaware State University, studying Therapeutic Recreation and preparing for a career helping children with special needs when he realized that was not the path he was meant to follow. He tried a few office jobs, but quickly realized he was not going to thrive in a career where he needed to sit behind a desk every day. Around that time, Troy saw a Southern Management ad in The Washington Post offering paid training to anyone interested in becoming a residential maintenance technician. He signed up and started getting excited about how much he could learn and the variety of skills he could gain from the training academy. One day at the academy, a feeling of nostalgia washed over Troy as he remembered a particular experience from his childhood. When he was 11 years old, Troy’s grandmother’s laundry sink in the basement had a leak. No one fixed it for several years because it was right next to a floor drain. Troy was good with his hands (and tired of getting his socks wet when he did laundry), so he walked to a local hardware store and asked an employee there how to fix the pipe. He bought the part he needed with his own money and fixed the sink. Troy remembered how proud and fulfilled he felt after fixing the sink and seeing how surprised and happy his grandmother was when he showed her what he’d done. Reflecting on that memory, Troy realizes he still gets that same great feeling when he solves problems and knows that learning building maintenance was the best decision he has ever made. When asked about his plans for Juneteenth, Troy says he is looking forward to celebrating by grilling food and spending time with his family and friends. In reflecting on the holiday, he says that to him, Juneteenth is about opportunity and reflection. He is always trying to gain a deeper understanding of what his people went through in those times and wants to help his three sons understand this important part of their history. Troy sees Juneteenth as a vital step in enabling him and people like him to have the opportunity to create the lives they want to live as Americans. It’s not lost on Troy how fortunate he is to have been born at a time when there are so many opportunities.  #Juneteenth2024 #diversityandinclusion #AfricanAmericans

Every June we celebrate Pride Month, dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ voices and celebrating their culture. At JBG SMITH, we’re celebrating in several ways, including sharing stories of some of the employees we’re most proud of! Meet Tony Arce, Community Manager at Fort Totten Square. In August, Tony will celebrate four years with JBG SMITH. Tony graduated from Delaware State University where he majored in English and minored in Theater with the goal of being a movie script writer. Instead, Tony found himself climbing the corporate ladder in banking. One of Tony’s mentors is a commercial property vice-president and she suggested that he consider a career in property management since he was craving a work environment where he could be his full, authentic self. In 2020, Tony relocated from Delaware to Maryland to work as a leasing consultant. It turned out that property management was a great fit for Tony’s skills, talents, and personality. In his 20s, Tony knew that being in the closet was not allowing him to fully come into his own. He was balancing his desire to come out with the fact that his Mom immigrated to America from the Dominican Republic and his Dad from Puerto Rico. They were very religious and, in both cultures, being gay is generally not discussed or accepted, so he was anxious about coming out to them. And then Tony’s Dad passed away. Tony came out to a handful of close friends when he was 26, and then to the majority of his friends and family when he was 28. His Mom was apprehensive at first, but she really came around, and his two younger brothers supported him from the beginning. Overall, Tony found that his experience of coming out was mostly the opposite of what he expected. His news was met with a lot of love and support. After Tony came out, he felt like he could finally be himself without holding back. To Tony, Pride Month is about celebrating the history of the LBGTQ+ community by honoring the brave men and women who were on the forefront of fighting (sometimes literally) for equal rights. Because of them, we have Pride Month every year. Since many of them aren’t alive to see what Pride Month has become and what it means to their community, Tony attends events and supports LGBTQ+- and ally-owned businesses to honor those who came before him. Tony appreciates JBG SMITH’s positive, inclusive, and supportive culture. Here, he’s always felt comfortable being his full, authentic self at work. Tony supports other LGBTQ+ team members and lets them know that at JBG SMITH, they can be 100% themselves and not worry about being judged or denied advancement. As for the next generation, Tony pays it forward by being honest about his story and setting an example of what is possible. Coming out was one of the biggest struggles of Tony’s life and he wants to let others who may be struggling know there is a light at the end of the tunnel; whatever they are struggling with, they can get through it. #pridemonth #JBGSPRIDE #lgbtqpride

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Every June we celebrate Pride Month, dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ voices and celebrating LGBTQ+ culture. This annual event also honors the 1969 Stonewall riots, recognizes the impact the LGBTQ+ community has had on U.S. history, and reminds us to continue working toward equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Americans. At JBG SMITH, we’re celebrating in several ways, including sharing stories of some of the employees we’re most proud of! #PrideMonth This week and next one, we’ll help you learn more about two of our colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+. Meet Max Vaughan, Senior Collections Specialist, overseeing Residential Accounts Receivables. Originally from Roanoke, Max was pursuing a degree in Psychology to later go to med school. His plans changed, and this year he is celebrating a decade in property management. Max has worked at JBG SMITH for three and a half years. He enjoys many aspects of the business and found his talents and skills align well with his current role. When Max isn’t working, he has some unique hobbies. He trains with a coach and a team to swim competitively in the US Masters Swimming league. One of Max’s favorite weekend activities is volunteering at a historic farm from the 1700s that raises traditional “heritage breed” livestock, including sheep, cows, chickens, turkeys, donkeys, and pigs. Turning his thoughts to Pride Month, Max is grateful that Pride Month helps bring more LGBTQ+ individuals into the light and showcases the beauty of diversity across the world. He feels Pride Month has absolutely helped normalize queerness within society, but qualifies that statement by adding, unfortunately, prejudice (both conscious and unconscious) is still very common. Looking from the outside, Max believes Pride Month helps mitigate some of those prejudices by demonstrating that LGBTQ+ individuals really are just like everyone else. Looking at it from the inside, Max sees Pride Month as creating a fun, safe space to foster more connections within the LGBTQ+ community, especially for individuals who may find it difficult to relate to their day-to-day peers or who feel like they don’t fit in because of their identity. At work, Max is always open about his identity. To earn trust, respect, and be considered an equal, he believes it’s important to never intentionally hide a part of himself. He feels supported at JBG SMITH saying, “I think JBG SMITH really succeeds in treating each team member with respect by focusing on their merit and the value they bring to the company and workplace.” When considering how he pays it forward for the next generation of LGBTQ+ people, Max focuses on visibility. He believes visibility is the greatest way to promote acceptance and lose lingering prejudices. Additionally, he emphasizes that he will always advocate for equality and continue supporting organizations that help the LGBTQ+ community. #pridemonth #JBGSPRIDE #lgbtqpride

We are celebrating #Pride all month long 🌈 At JBG SMITH, we believe in fostering safe spaces for everyone to shine and be themselves. We aim to create an inclusive community for all where voices can be shared and be heard. This year, we were the proud sponsor of Arlington Pride’s Kick-off Block Party hosted in our own Water Park at National Landing. We are also showing our pride by acknowledging Pride Month on a digital billboard in Washington DC’s Navy Yard (1201 Half Street) during June 7-9. And, showcasing profiles of two amazing LGBTQ+ employees. Tell us, how are you celebrating Pride in June and beyond? #pridemonth #JBGSPRIDE #lgbtqpride

SMITH is proud to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by recognizing the achievements and contributions these visionaries and trailblazers have made to our country’s history and culture. We celebrated by sharing the stories of some of our #AmazingAANHPI employees! Here is our last profile. Meet Richard Olivar. Joining the Charles E. Smith company in 1989 as a Helper (now Maintenance Assistant), Richard continued his education and worked his way up to his current role as a Commercial Property Engineer. Given his role, it’s no surprise to learn that Richard has a passion for learning and enjoys working with his hands and solving problems. The foundation of Richard’s Filipino values is the importance of family and relationships. In the workplace, Richard treats customers and his coworkers with the same respect he would give them if they were part of his family. Richard’s family immigrated to the United States from the Philippines when Richard was just seven years old. As a child, he remembers how America gave his parents hope for a better future for their family. As an adult, Richard has seen that dreams do come true in America. Along with their dreams of a better life, Richard’s family brought many cultural traditions with them. One of Richard’s favorite family traditions is Christmas Eve dinner followed by midnight mass. Christmas Eve dinner is celebrated with traditional Filipino foods like Balut (fertilized duck eggs), Lechon (whole roasted pig) Pancit (a stir-fried rice noodle dish), Lumpia (fried spring rolls) Menudo (pork stew), Sinigang (a tamarind-based soup), Dinuguan (a savory stew), and Puto (a steamed cake made with rice flour). Filipinos are known for their welcoming nature, tightknit families, and strong sense of community. Richard grew up working hard, respecting others, and always being thankful. He learned a lot about hard work while visiting his grandfather’s farm. Richard’s grandfather grew rice, coconut, papaya, sugarcane, and jack fruit on his farm. Richard’s visits to the farm were the source of so many happy memories that he was driven to continue the tradition. Richard now runs his own farm where he sustainably sources and raises bison, hogs, chicken, and ostriches. Richard enjoys the hard work it takes to carry on this family tradition and honor his grandfather’s legacy. #Diversity #AANHPI #AAPI

Throughout the month of May, JBG SMITH is proud to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by recognizing the achievements and contributions these visionaries and trailblazers have made to our country’s history and culture. We are celebrating by sharing the stories of some of our #AmazingAANHPI employees! Meet Shabina Khan. Shabina joined JBG SMITH as a part-time customer service representative at the Parking Service Center while pursuing her education. Early on, she realized that her role aligned perfectly with her skills and interests. This led her to transition to a full-time position as a Parking Service Center Operator where she collaborates with our customer service and financial management teams, overseeing customer accounts and accounts payable. She also continues to be a full-time student studying Management Information Systems at George Mason University. Born in Pakistan, but raised in the US, where she moved when she was six, Shabina sees similarities between American and Pakistani culture. Both cultures value the importance of family and hospitality toward guests. She also notes that food plays a significant role in both cultures with a wide variety of dishes and cuisines to enjoy. But there are many things she misses about Pakistan. Shabina honors her heritage by participating in Pashtun gatherings, dressing in traditional attire, and dancing Attan, a dance of Pashtun origin performed during weddings or other celebrations. Even speaking Pashto (her native language) at home reminds her of who she is. When reflecting on traditions that are meaningful to her, Shabina thinks of a particularly beautiful and artistic one. In preparation for Eid al-Fitr (known as Eid), the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, she follows the custom of decorating hands with henna, a plant-based dye women apply to each other for Muslim celebrations. The night before Eid, Shabina invites friends and family to her home. Then, Shabina’s sister applies the henna to everyone’s hands. It's a time-consuming process, requiring intense focus, so the group stays awake together through the night dancing, listening to music, and ironing the clothes they will wear to the Eid festival the next day. And then, when Shabina returns to work and people see the henna on her hands, it gives Shabina an opportunity to share her heritage with them. It brings her joy to see how interested and accepting her coworkers are to learn about her culture. #Diversity #AANHPI #AAPI