Dylan's exceptional work ethic and ultra-responsive nature make her a standout employee. Full of insight and passion with a vibrant personality, she's also a budding musician, pet lover, and aficionado of minivans. "Success is living in alignment with your true self."
Any custodial worker knows they are more than "just" a janitor— and we agree!
At Accurate Building Maintenance, our team members are the backbone of our team and the heartbeat of our purpose: creating clean, healthy, safe communities. They take care of our customers, so we take care of them like family—the best kind! We are so grateful for all they do each day and love to see them grow and succeed.
Our monthly Janitorial Employee Spotlight series features one of our amazing team members, showcasing what it’s like to work in the cleaning industry at Accurate, where we #keepitfun.
This month, we are turning the spotlight on Dylan Nelson! Dylan joined Accurate over two years ago as our office administrative assistant, bringing experience from her previous janitorial work. She returned to the field last spring for an HOA customer, earning admiration and trust with her dedication and outstanding performance. Dylan's keen eye for detail and relentless work ethic ensure top-notch cleanliness and customer satisfaction, embodying diligence and reliability.
I had the privilege of getting to know more about Dylan during a recent Question & Answer session. Her story is one of unwavering dedication, positive energy, and a genuine passion for her work. Dylan’s diverse interests showcase her as an inspiring and empathetic individual. Read on to discover more about what makes Dylan an exceptional member of our team!
Special thanks and kudos from creator/author Erin Williams (Marketing) to our dedicated Customer Service Manager Dee Perez for her fantastic work on Dylan's photo shoot for this article!
WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT DYLAN
Accurate's CEO and Visionary, Alex Finken, nominated Dylan for this month's Employee Spotlight. "Dylan took over an account that we had constant turnover in, and she turned it around quickly by building a relationship and going above and beyond for the client. The customer is happy and never wants her to leave! The inspection scores are 100%," Alex noted. She went on to list the things she admires about Dylan as an employee and person.
"These are the qualities that led Dylan to receiving the Employee Spotlight: intentional, driven, thoughtful, kind, compassionate, caring, fun, funny, sharp, brave, bold, authentic, inspiring, attention to detail, learner, vulnerable, customer service. Congratulations Dylan, I look forward to seeing what you do next!" -Alex Finken, Accurate CEO & Visionary, Las Vegas
Bonnie Miller, Accurate's Director of Workplace and Employee Experience, echoed Alex's perspective on Dylan's successful turnaround of this account with her intentional efforts and hard work.
"This was an account where we had a revolving door of porters for a long time for a variety of reasons, particularly its location and distance. Then Dylan started, and everything completely changed. The property manager has been so incredibly happy with Dylan and her performance—so much so that he dared our inspector to find 'even a speck of dust' during an inspection! The residents love Dylan, too. She is always polite and greets everyone with a smile and a hello. They trust her to make sure the facility is clean and sanitary. Dylan is detail oriented and loves to stay busy, so she often finds some detail to work on or even re-clean an area, just to keep working! I am proud of Dylan for taking on any challenge she is given. Whether it be cleaning or crisis management, I know that she will put all of her efforts into whatever it is that she is trying to accomplish." -Bonnie Miller, Accurate Director of Workplace & Employee Experience, Las Vegas
At the HOA community where Dylan is the sole janitor, she is highly valued by staff members and residents alike for her superb work ethic, excellent customer service, and intuitive approach.
"Dylan is AMAZING at her job! She performs all duties in an optimal fashion and regularly goes above and beyond in her efforts to deliver service to [our community]. She is ultra responsive and anticipates our needs in advance. Additionally, we regularly receive compliments about her work ethic and performance from residents." -Josh G., Senior Community Association Manager and Accurate Customer, Las Vegas
WHAT DYLAN HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE JANITORIAL INDUSTRY AND WORKING AT ACCURATE
What makes you feel proud and satisfied about your job? The feeling of completion. I put in the work and the effort, and I get a tangible result. I cleaned it, and it’s obvious it’s been cleaned; that’s satisfying. Being able to see what my work does. Not only what I feel and notice, but when other people see the difference—especially here at my day porter position—I come in contact with HOA residents, and a lot of them tell me regularly, "You make it look great, you’re such a hard worker." I feel like I’m helping the community and making an impact. I wish all janitors could experience the level of gratitude that I receive on a more regular basis!
What's your WHY on being a cleaning industry professional? In other words, what brings you to work at this job each day, besides needing to earn a paycheck?
I kind of fell into the janitorial world by chance. When I was 18, my mom went back to work for a janitorial company, and I needed a summer job. I started as a standby porter, covering different properties, and ended up staying. I’ve been in the industry for nearly eight years now. Also, I’ve always been very clean and organized (slight OCD), influenced by my mom. It's something I know how to do; it's familiar. I enjoy cleaning. I get a sense of satisfaction looking back at something I cleaned. Having measurables in a job is definitely something I need to feel accomplished and satisfied at the end of my work day.
What's your favorite thing about working at Accurate? The truly unique culture. I feel that everybody genuinely tries their best to make this company different, to make it more than just a money-hungry business. Especially our Leadership and Management Teams. We really do strive for compassion and understanding, making this a place where people enjoy coming to work instead of something that people dread, and really caring about the employees. With other companies I’ve worked with, they’re completely the opposite.
What is a skill you think everyone should learn? I feel like everyone should try to be a little more organized and cleanly. It is overall beneficial. Not only of course do you have a cleaner, tidier, more welcoming space, it helps a person feel better about yourself. It also teaches you discipline and about the value of order—and each person can prioritize how that looks in their life.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job as a janitor? I wish people understood how actually very important and labor intensive this job is. It’s not “just cleaning.” It requires more than bottom-rung mental capacity and ability, even though the pay is low. Most jobs DO require skill and training. Another example of this would be fry cooks in fast food restaurants. I could not walk into a McDonald's kitchen and correctly make a meal off the cuff. People don’t understand, see, or realize how important this job is—understandable to an extent; there’s plenty of things in the world I’m ignorant of or don’t see. Frontline workers in the pandemic, for example, were not just doctors and other medical staff; they were janitors.
Which of Accurate’s core values resonates most with you and why? (Keep It Fun, Opportunity, Respect, Solutions, and We Keep Our Word)
For me, We Keep Our Word is paramount. I've always been someone who honors commitments—I hate owing people money, for example. I’m a ride-or-die friend, willing to do anything for those I care about. The most important of our core values in this industry is Respect. Without respect, all the others can totally fail and fall apart. It has to start there. Personally, the value that resonates most with me is Solutions. I’ve always been solutions oriented. I see life very much like a math problem or a puzzle, and I try to find a way to fix or solve things.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most? The sense of achievement, the measurables, and feeling accomplished, but also the right mixture of human interaction, which helps me stay positive, uplifted, and gives me energy. I enjoy the small conversations I have with residents, coming to work feeling appreciated, and having those connections and relationships. When I was in sales, I had to be “on” all the time, and it was a lot of pressure for me. I hated the feeling of selling something to someone. You either like it or you don’t; I shouldn’t have to convince you. I'm a bit of a people pleaser, but on the flip side, I view that as being a helper. I like to make things nice. I try to always be positive, polite, and cordial.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you at work?
One of the memories that stands out the most is when my prior janitorial company helped with dorm turnovers at a university. Someone intentionally defecated in multiple public restrooms, and I had to clean it up. It comes with the territory. I can handle cleaning up bodily fluids, but do I enjoy it? No.
What drew you to Accurate originally, and how has the company changed since? What initially attracted me to Accurate was hearing about my mom's experience as she went through the hiring process herself, especially about Alex as a Visionary and her impact on the company. It was very inspiring. This company IS different; these people actually care. Also, just the opportunity I saw for growth for myself, and asking, what can I bring to the table? I want to help, I want to be part of this really exciting, great thing. I would say the company hasn't necessarily changed, either since I started or from its inception, as I understand it. I have come to the realization that with reality comes constraints and glass ceilings, and they’re not easy to break. Accurate is different from many, many other businesses and companies, but it still has its flaws, as does any thing and any person. Intention still matters, and the core of it is still there as a driving force.
WHAT DYLAN SHARED ABOUT HERSELF
What did you name your first car?
My first car was a 2005 Chevrolet Uplander, and her name is Kelly. My mom and I love cars—I grew up working on them with her, and I’m very sentimental about inanimate objects. To me, Kelly has a soul; she’s more than just a machine. She’s currently inoperable and on "life support" in my driveway, but I have full hopes of fixing her.
When I moved to California, I took a bus and then flew back to Vegas to get new tires and drive her back. I told her we’d drive up the coast together, and when it finally happened in Ventura, I said, "See, Kelly, I told you we’d do it."
"A lot of car people like classic cars, muscle cars, speed... but I have a love of minivans specifically. I get more enjoyment in pushing a 2015 sedan to its limits than the time I drove a Porsche."
Do you have any hobbies, special talents, or particular interests?
I've been interested in witchcraft for the past two years. It often has a negative, scary, or weird connotation, but it's really about spirituality and connecting with yourself and the things around you. I’m a big believer in energy and vibes. I love the Earth; I collected rocks and pinecones as a kid, and I've been collecting crystals for the past two years to anchor myself spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Thanks to my job site through Accurate, I recently started taking guitar lessons. My instructor praised my singing voice and learning speed, calling me a natural musician and encouraging me to be confident. Just last week, I started experimenting with writing my own song lyrics. I have a friend who writes music, and we’re planning to create something together.
What do you like to do when you’re not working? I enjoy relaxing at home and spending quality time with loved ones. I like going out, driving, listening to music, and trying new things. I also play video games like GTA and Minecraft, which I've enjoyed since childhood. Sometimes this feels embarrassing to admit as a 25-year-old woman, like an immature habit.
How do you define success? Happiness tops the list, but there are conditions to that. Not being happy all the time doesn’t mean you’re not successful, but I do think happiness plays a big role. Another key factor is a sense of accomplishment that makes you feel productive and fulfilled. Many people equate success with wealth, growth, and business. While I enjoy those things, when it comes down to it, we are all born, we all die, and we only have one life. Living by the social constructs we’ve made for ourselves, material success doesn’t really matter. I believe someone who lives a happy, fulfilling life, does what they love, and cherishes their relationships is a thousand times more successful than someone who founded a business and made a lot of money. Living in alignment with your true self, your core values, and what that looks like for each individual.
Tell us about your family now (pets included) and where you grew up.
I was born and raised in the Las Vegas area. I've lived here all my life except for a six-month stint in California. My family includes my mom, stepdad, sister, and brother. I consider my friends to be family as well. I’m really close with my paternal grandmother in Pismo Beach, and we talk several times a week.
I have two ‘daughters,’ my cats Sapphire and Talon, who are my heart and soul. I’ve been feeling a bit of baby fever lately and can’t wait to have children one day. My mom and I are big animal lovers, so our house has always been a zoo. We currently have three German Shepherds, three tortoises, a big lizard, a tarantula, and some fish. We’ve also had other dogs, birds, hamsters, rats, and frogs—basically, the whole spectrum.
What advice would you give to your younger self? In a nutshell: Just do it!
I would tell myself to do a better job at practicing gratitude, appreciating life for what it is and while I have it. Everything is temporary, and there are memories I wish I could relive and people I wish I could see again. Being grateful allows me to be truly present and mindful of THIS moment. Be yourself, fully accept and embrace yourself, and give yourself permission to be good with that. Be unapologetic and unafraid, even though I’m naturally cautious and sometimes anxious. I’m grateful for how my life has turned out and believe everything happens for a reason, including realizing I was transgender. Part of me wishes I had transitioned sooner, as I thought about it back in high school but didn’t follow through. I’ve always been someone who stands in my truth, and it surprises me that I didn’t then.
What's your "dream job"?
I want to eventually run and own my own crisis management firm, but I would definitely accept working for one. Judy Smith, who inspired Olivia Pope's character on the TV series 'Scandal,' worked for the White House during the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal, and that's the kind of work I'm drawn to. It requires a law background, so I plan to pursue that in the near future. I'm really good at handling spin, and I have strong morals and principles.
What job did you want to have as a child?
Growing up, I wanted to be an architect and pursued that goal through high school at Northwest Career and Technical Academy in the engineering program. However, after those four years, I realized the day-to-day reality of the job wasn’t for me.
Other people's art and creations are very important to me. I try to appreciate and respect them, and I believe they should be preserved and shared, not discarded. I even look through donation bins to save art that might otherwise be thrown away.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
I enjoy Los Angeles, but my go-to favorite is Pismo Beach, California. I’ve been there more times than I can count and try to go at least once a year. It’s truly my happy place, like a second home. Just yesterday, while driving home from work, I was already thinking about going back—even though I was just there in April. I even lived there for six months. If I have the money and time, I might move there for a while, though Las Vegas will likely be my permanent home. I grew up spending every summer in Pismo Beach with my father, visiting my grandma who lives there.
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? Kacey Musgraves.
What's the last song you listened to?
I’ve really been into the Beatles again lately, especially the song 'Something.' I can’t stop listening to it; it feels like a happy pill with its melody and lyrics.
You have to sing at karaoke. What song do you pick?
"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston.
Thank you, Dylan, for being a highly valued team member and an inspiration! We are so glad you’re part of The Accurate Family.
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