What began as a simple bus ride to clear her mind turned into an incredible opportunity for Lisa Duvall, a dedicated Didlake employee at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lisa was working as an elementary school substitute teacher, adapting to the challenges of online learning. Teaching her second and third graders remotely became increasingly difficult to navigate. As much as she loved teaching, thinking about how she would continue to provide the same level of quality teaching, in addition to providing for her family during the pandemic, filled Lisa with concern.
Whenever Lisa needed clarity, she often rode the bus from one end of the route to the other. On one of these trips, she struck up a conversation with a woman wearing a Didlake shirt, who had been working as a housekeeper for nearly six years. Even after the woman got off at the Fort Belvoir bus stop, their conversation about Didlake and its mission continued to resonate with Lisa.
As time passed and Lisa continued to ponder her next steps, the Didlake logo kept coming to mind. “God brought it to my memory… the blue Didlake shirt I saw on the bus. God told me to use my disability as an advantage.” Lisa had suffered from seizures for many years. Her first episode resulted in a car accident with her children in the car, a traumatic event she remarked, “It was by the grace of God that we are still alive.”
Initially hesitant to seek new employment during the pandemic, Lisa decided to take the sign she was given and explore job openings with Didlake. When she found a position at the TSA building near her home, she submitted an application. Lisa was called in for an online interview and was offered the role of General Clerk III just three days later.
From the first day, Lisa and her colleagues worked to establish trust and order in everything they did. The Didlake facility team collaborated to ensure top-quality customer service for all TSA clients.
Fast forward, Lisa has been with Didlake for almost four years. The administrative and customer service skills she brought to Didlake have only strengthened, allowing her to advance into a managerial role. Since 2022, she has served as a Project Manager at TSA, demonstrating utmost passion and a bright smile every day.
Lisa oversees the administrative side of operations in her current role. She manages a floor with conference rooms accommodating anywhere from 2 to 245 individuals. Her team plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of each room while maintaining meticulous attention to detail. Everything her team does is documented to maintain efficiency and accountability. Her team also ensures complete transparency by sending survey results to her supervisors monthly. Since she joined Didlake, their entire floor has received 100% satisfaction in client feedback, and to her, that trust is everything. It is rewarding for her to know that her team not only meets expectations but consistently exceeds them.
“When I first met Lisa, I was taken with her infectious smile, which I now recognize as her typical everyday expression. She approaches everything with a ‘can-do’ attitude, all the while sporting that same smile. At TSA, she has built a strong reputation for her outstanding customer service, where she and her team consistently achieve perfect scores in customer satisfaction. Her attitude and gratitude toward her job embody Didlake’s mission and vision,” says Rick Hightower, Lisa’s longtime supervisor.
In May 2024, the TSA administrator and deputy administrator recognized her entire team for their hard work and seamless operations in supporting an event for the Office of Program Accountability and Risk Management. Lisa also received a “Women Who Inspire” certificate in March 2024, an honor she proudly shared with her daughters, LaTika and Maya, at the award reception ceremony. “To know you’re appreciated for the things you do is great,” says Lisa.
Lisa often gets asked why she smiles so much. Her response: “That’s just me. I had to get my smile back after I lost all of my teeth in the car accident. I wasn’t smiling. The face masks during COVID-19 saved me. It took me a while to get used to it. This job brought my smile back. I love it here. The people are so kind and courteous. They don’t make you feel like you are a disabled person.”
Lisa believes her disability led her to the role she occupies today. “I was mad at God at first. I didn’t understand why these things were happening to me. I had to accept it. It was a giant step using my disability as a blessing. But look at it now— if I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t be here today.”
She often tells her life testimony and encourages others to look beyond their disabilities when striving for their goals: “Go as far as you can travel. Every step you take, let it be victorious! You never know who you are talking to or surrounded by. Don’t look at yourself as the ‘disabled contractor.’ You are strong! Walk in it daily! Rise in it daily! Speak encouraging words over yourself, even if they’re in your mind. If you can go above and beyond, why not go?”
