When sales lead Brooke Cunningham walked into Dovetree in Dayton for the first time, she stopped in her tracks. The wall behind general manager Lisa May’s desk caught her attention. It was covered in Winners’ Circle Cards from associates across the country, each one a reminder of Lisa’s impact. For Brooke, it was a clear sign of our culture on display.
“I was in awe! I thought it was so cool that she had cards from people all across the company. I wanted to be just like her!” said Brooke.
As Brooke began collecting Winners’ Circle Cards of her own, she decided to create a challenge for herself, a Connor Group bingo card. Each space on Brooke’s bingo card has a market or CSO department. Her goal is simple: earn a Winners’ Circle Card from each category until there are no empty spots left.
Make no mistake, Brooke isn’t chasing cards for the fun of it. She holds herself to the same high standards that have made her a top performer. Just last month, she ranked among the company’s top 10 sales associates by securing 25 transactions: 12 approved rentals and 13 renewals.
“It’s really not about crossing out a blank space. It’s about going the extra mile because it’s the right thing to do,” said Brooke. “In my experience, all the great associates I have worked with have never been okay with ‘just good enough’. We’re built to be over-achievers. Going that extra mile for our residents and fellow associates builds that lasting impression that we’re known for.”
Over time, the cards started rolling in, each one marking a moment where Brooke exemplified our core values.
Last January, Brooke received a Winners’ Circle Card from Tech Ops technician Owen Bailey for helping him fix a glitch with Funnel. There was a technical issue that was impacting 12 of our properties. Fast on her feet, Brooke called Help Desk and Owen connected her directly to Funnel’s customer support. Even through all the troubleshooting, Brooke refused to give up until the issue was fixed. Owen saw her determination firsthand and made sure it didn’t go unnoticed.
Last April, another card landed on Brooke’s desk, from financial analyst Josh Staley. She had been dialed in on her traffic and approved rental goals while working at Carmel Center in Indianapolis—hitting her objectives for three months in a row. Seeing the pattern, Josh knew her hard work deserved recognition.
One of Brooke’s most surprising Winners’ Circle Cards came from Larry. Last November, Brooke and her team at Dovetree had already earned three gold medals and one silver medal in the Connor Olympics. The recognition of Brooke and her team’s efforts from Larry was unexpected, but unforgettable. For Brooke, seeing that card validated every late night in the leasing office and early morning planning session.
As Brooke inches closer to a bingo, she’s cementing her reputation as a difference-maker you can always count on. She’s proving that relentless drive and a commitment to excellence aren’t just goals, they’re who she is.