Whatever it Takes!

Page Navigation

Whatever it Takes! Award
Employee of the Year
Unsung Heroes
Milestones
Employee Appreciation Week
Horizons Award
Success Stories

About Us / Whatever it Takes!

Celebrating our Employees!

Going above and beyond the call of duty, our employees are dedicated to the concept of doing "Whatever it Takes!" to make our customers successful and satisfied.

Our values are extremely important to us, and we operate and live by them every day. Honesty and integrity, along with hard work and appreciation, form the foundation of our long-lasting relationships. Service Management Systems is proud of our people, our diversity and our culture. Take a few minutes to scroll through some of the successes and accolades our employees, management and teams have received this recently.

The 'Whatever it Takes!' Award

Each quarter, our employees and management nominate the coworkers or employees that impressed them most! By going above and beyond their daily job duties or by showing their dedication to our company’s core values, these employees were nominated for the Whatever it Takes! (WIT) Employee of the Quarter Award. From these nominations, each employee is then considered for the prestigious WIT Employee of the Year Award.

Quarter 4, 2025 Awardees:

Tyree Penson

The Mall at Green Hills – Kevin Gleason's Division

Nashville, TN

Tyree’s growth has been amazing to watch, and it has also been noticed by our customers, Norah and Kendall. He started off as a bit shy, but has come out of shell. He takes ownership of everything he does and does a great job. If he sees a need, he fills it, and will help his teammates out each and every time. He’s respectful and very courteous with the guests who visit the mall as well.

Nominated by: Kimberly Urquhart, Facility Manager

Maria De Jesus Luz Hernandez

Orland Square – David Shultis' Division

Orland Park, IL

Maria Luz exemplifies the “Whatever It Takes” attitude and TMM Core Values every single day. She approaches every task with unwavering dedication, professionalism, and a positive spirit that inspires those around her. Maria consistently goes above and beyond her responsibilities, ensuring that both her team and our guests receive exceptional service. Her reliability and proactive mindset make her a cornerstone of our success—she never hesitates to step in where needed, even under challenging circumstances.

Maria demonstrates integrity and accountability in all she does. She treats everyone with respect and kindness, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence reflect her pride in her work and her desire to uphold the highest standards. Maria’s adaptability and problem-solving skills shine when unexpected situations arise; she remains calm, resourceful, and focused on finding solutions that benefit both the team and the organization.

Her passion for service and her genuine care for others embody the TMM Core Values of teamwork, respect, and excellence. Maria is not only a dependable employee but also a role model whose actions motivate others to strive for greatness. She truly represents what it means to have a “Whatever It Takes” attitude—always ready, always willing, and always delivering outstanding results.

Nominated by: Anthony Snell, Facility Manager

Darren Stokes

NorthPark Mall (Davenport, IA) – David Shultis' Division

VALUES IN PRACTICE: Achievement | Appreciation | Fairness | Fun | Growth | Hard Work | Faith-Based | Honesty | Humility | Integrity | Loyalty

Darren is the Second Shift Supervisor at NorthPark Mall and was nominated for this award twice in 2024 by his boss, Lisa Mrasak, SMS Facility Manager, for entirely different reasons. Both reflect on the type of person and employee he is.

March 2024 Nomination by: Lisa Mrasak, Facility Manager

He has shown dedication, teamwork, loyalty, and hard work. He takes pride in every assignment he does and it has not gone unnoticed as he has gotten some high praise from several of the stores in the food court on how great it looks when he is on and how clean it is. Our clients even recommended him for employee of the month when they got a corporate compliment. He is a great worker and is very much appreciated. Thank you, Darren, for all you do for us and the SMS Team.

October 2024 Nomination by: Lisa Mrasak, Facility Manager

On Monday, July 22nd, 2024, shots rang out in the mall and the alarms went off. As instructed in our training, our staff quickly went to our safe zones and went on lockdown. Darren, our Second Shift Supervisor, took mall patrons into our safe area with him. He also made sure all of our staff was safe and accounted for. He called me – his Facility Manager – and assured me all were safe! He took charge of the situation, keeping everyone, including shoppers, calm by reassuring them they were safe. For over an hour, he was the calm, levelheaded hero for these people until the all-clear rang out on the radio from security. Darren did “Whatever it Takes!” for all at NorthPark Mall during the July incident.

(L to R): David Shultis, Division Vice President, Darren Stokes, WIT 2024 Winner and Second Shift Supervisor at NorthPark Mall (Davenport, IA), Lisa Mrasak, Facility Manager at NorthPark Mall, Charles "Phil" White, Division Manager

Unsung Heroes 2025 Team Awardees:

Each Year, SMS recognizes one team from each of our two divisions nationwide that have continuously and positively influenced their customer's location from behind the scenes. Whether someone is looking or not, these teams display a positive attitude, a willingness to do "Whatever it Takes!" every day, and a commitment to providing consistent, quality services.

Lynchburg Regional Airport | Housekeeping Team – Kevin Gleason’s Division

Lynchburg, VA

While Brenda Guldner (SMS Facility Manager) and her team provide excellent customer service at Lynchburg Regional Airport, they go above and beyond in their day to day. They have created a positive, welcoming atmosphere at the airport that goes beyond cleaning. Each year, Brenda manages to host several culture and customer-facing events to not only keep her team engaged, but also to create a lasting impression with our customers and visitors at the airport. She and her team take our Core Values and “Whatever it Takes!” motto very seriously, which is evident in the relationship they have with the onsite customer and their service delivery. Due to this, we have grown our contract at this account in the past year. Also, Brenda and her team have won several internal and external awards in 2025 – including our SMS 2025 Employee of the Year being chosen from Lynchburg. You really could not ask for a better manager or team!

-Nominated by Bruce Hoffmaster Jr., Division Manager

Destin Commons | Housekeeping Team – David Shultis’ Division

Destin, FL

Destin Commons is an outdoor shopping center located in a high-traffic tourist area and faces a unique set of challenges. One of the primary challenges is the constant need for pressure washing to combat mold caused by high humidity, along with heavy dirt buildup from the steady stream of visitors. Despite these conditions, the hardscape team does an outstanding job maintaining the cleanliness of the property and ensuring the equipment is well-maintained to meet the ongoing demand. The team at Destin Commons is always ahead of the schedule to get inspections completed and submitted. They communicate great with SMS leadership and our onsite customer. In fact, our customer consistently gives compliments about Patricia “Patty” Johnson (SMS Facility Manager) and her team. Beyond her role at Destin Commons, Patty has also stepped up to help mentor newer managers nationwide when senior leadership is busy. This team consistently provides the highest quality standard for service delivery – they are dedicated and take great pride in maintaining a clean and well-kept environment for all who visit Destin Commons.

-Nominated by Phil White, Division Manager

Milestones

Two of the greatest Core Values we feel our employees exhibit are Hard Work and Loyalty, and are some of the driving forces behind our company's success. This is evident in the Milestones reached each month.

Congratulations to the following employees who have reached a significant SMS Milestone Anniversary in May 2026!

5 Year Milestones

Joan Pena Juliao

15 Year Milestones

Chrishonda Brailey

Employee Appreciation Week

This is one of our favorite weeks of the year! Our Employee Appreciation Week occurs the same week as International Housekeeping Week and Environmental Services Week. We love hosting our Employee Appreciation Week (EAW) in celebration of all our employees’ hard work throughout the year. Lunch for each shift is catered on a day during the week that works best for each location. Everyone gets in the spirit with heartfelt messages of gratitude, fun games, and more. This is always a time of celebration, joy and fun.

The Horizons Award

The Horizons Award is our most prestigious award, given to Service Management Systems leads and directors for achieving quality, safety and productivity goals. Winners are honored at our annual leadership meeting and receive an etched crystal trophy and a $1,000 prize.

2024 Service Management Systems Winner – Stephen Valentine
Operations Manager, Greater Clark County Schools – Jeffersonville, IN

Stephen Valentine joined the SMS Team at Greater Clark County School District two years ago, and his impact on all the schools and our Perfection Group partners has been nothing short of remarkable. Day in and day out, he demonstrates an unwavering commitment to excellence, navigating high-pressure demands with grace, grit, and a steadfastly positive attitude. From managing complex projects, responding to urgent work tickets, fulfilling customer requests, and leading his on-site team, Stephen approaches every responsibility with diligence and purpose.

But what truly sets Stephen apart is not just what he does—it’s how he does it. He leads with heart. Each morning, he sends prayers and words of encouragement to his peers, creating a ripple effect of positivity and unity that carries through the day. This daily ritual reflects his deeply held values and his genuine care for others, reminding everyone around him that leadership starts with intention and compassion.

Stephen embodies the SMS Holdings Core Values in everything he does. His integrity, work ethic, faith-based motivation, and humility are evident in every interaction, and his ability to stay centered and focused—even when juggling numerous tasks—makes him a pillar of strength for his team.

In recognizing Stephen with the Horizon Award, we celebrate his professional achievements and the character, spirit, and humanity he brings to the workplace. He is a shining example of what true leadership looks like in action, making him a perfect recipient of the Horizons Award.

Stephen was honored at the Horizons Award Winner Dinner. (L to R): Kevin Gleason (Division Vice President). Bruce Hoffmaster, Jr. (Division Manager), Latoya Valentine,Stephen Valentine, Scott Born (President)

Just a few more examples of how our managers, employees and teams go above and beyond every day. Scroll through the Success Stories below to read more about how our teams are doing "Whatever it Takes!" to deliver excellent customer service.