Black History Month Spotlight: Doris ‘Shanel’ Ramsey of Aldon

February is Black History Month.  While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community.  Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series.  This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 
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Today, we would like you to get to know Doris ‘Shanel’ Ramsey of Aldon. 
 
Shanel has been with Aldon for the past 6 years and serves as Community Manager for their Aldon of Chevy Chase Community.  The community is comprised of 402 apartment homes which she and her staff team of 7 successfully manage.  For 75 years, Aldon has been creating better places to call home. They develop and manage properties that enrich the lives of residents and bring value to the surrounding community. Grounded in their firm commitment to exceptional service, Aldon seizes every opportunity to evolve the concept of modern apartment living.
 
We asked Shanel three important questions.  Read her responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
Despite not being raised by my biological parents, I’m grateful that I was raised by and surrounded by a village of very hard-working people from the steel cities of Pittsburgh, PA and Clairton, PA. Many times, an upbringing like mine can pose a number of setbacks and stumbling blocks along the way that are never overcome, but despite the ones I faced, including becoming a teenage mother, I stayed focused and persistent, and I was determined to not allow my past to dictate my future. I’ve worked hard at every single job I’ve had, regardless of the nature. If it was pushing a broom, that was going to be the cleanest place you laid eyes on that day. I’ve prioritized myself and my success by taking continuing education and college courses, as well as completing career-furthering certification programs. I think because of all this, I’ve been fortunate to have been recognized and promoted in every single job I have had so far in my career. My early years prepared me to take the good with the bad, to be flexible, to pivot in moments of adversity, to be prayerful, to appreciate the challenges, and most importantly, to treat every one of my customers and co-workers with dignity, kindness, and professionalism.
 
Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
Emphatically and passionately, my daughters have been the driving inspiration for every decision in my personal and professional life. I wanted to instill in my girls the same core values of good ethics, faith, and hard work. With these core values and the presence of our supportive village, I’m so very proud to say that they both have executed these attributes very well and have not only graduated from acclaimed universities like Johns Hopkins and Penn State but have earned advanced degrees and have been able to contribute to their own communities and family.
 
Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?

1. When a company is inclusive and understands the benefits of diversity, its results in rich services and products, and a positive environment where people want to work. I personally know that having a diverse organization and workplace motivates and inspires everyone when they see themselves represented, and it ultimately benefits the business’ bottom line. Let me share a personal story. I wouldn’t be a community manager without the support of a woman named Ms. Polita Young from the Philippines. Polita saw past race and background and saw me for who I was and my talents, giving me my first job in residential property management, which ultimately started my career and shaped how I wanted to build a team and manage. So, I would advise businesses to do the same thing I do in my family, with my own staff, and customers. Remember that we all belong to the same humankind first. We generally all want and value the same things. Recognizing this, we understand that diversity is not a struggle and that exercising racial equity, and social justice is not a chore, it’s an opportunity and obligation of humanity.  

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