Three Cheers for David Poepping, a True Team Player

David Poepping has worked as a houseman and laundry associate at the Hilton Garden Inn Tallahassee for nearly three years and has quickly risen to become a star employee. He has a cheerful, can-do attitude and a strong determination to work hard.

Every weekday, he collects the used sheets and towel bins off the various floors, then washes, folds, and irons the linens, if needed, and finally brings them up to the room associates and room attendants who place the sheets and towels in the rooms. Some days he runs the laundry completely by himself. He is always happy to help his coworkers in housekeeping or maintenance if they need a hand.

When asked why he likes having a job, Poepping jokes, “It keeps me out of trouble.” He’s made friends at work, and he believes it’s important for people with disabilities to be part of the workforce and earn money. Regarding his boss and coworkers, he said, “I love everybody.”

Poepping has a developmental disability and is a customer of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

General Manager Sharon Priester is Poepping’s supervisor. She wishes she had four or five more Davids, because he has a very positive attitude and is the most dependable person she knows. “He is outstanding. He’s here 10-15 minutes early every morning. He’s a team player; whatever you ask him to do, he’s on top of it.”

Every morning, the team members have a morning huddle where they recap what’s going on and motivate each other. Poepping is a huddle leader who motivates the team by leading everyone in the morning cheer.

His goal for his career is to stay with the same company. He is excited about growing as a professional and takes his job very seriously. In his free time, he enjoys riding his bike and hanging out with his friends.

Poepping said he can relate to others who feel nervous about looking for a job, because he wasn’t sure what to do. He said, “It’s scary at first, but the first thing to do is get your foot in the door. And then after you get your foot in the door, just find a job that you want to do and then work your way up the ladder.”

David Poepping at work

Hilton Garden Inn Tallahassee General Manager Sharon Priester and David Poepping, holding a proclamation from the Governor & Cabinet establishing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.