Doorperson of the Month: Malcolm Keith Harrison

At Trump International Hotel and Tower, Malcolm Keith Harrison—known to the building’s residents as “MK”—has been a tenant favorite since he began his tenure 14 years ago. He was one of the first people hired prior to the building’s completion in 2009.

“I started while Trump Tower was in its soft opening stage,” he said.

Harrison welcomes hotel guests and condominium residents with individual greetings and “positive silliness.” It helps to be “proactive rather than reactive” as a doorperson in this busy location, he said.

Working at Trump Tower has not been without its historic challenges. When Donald Trump, the building’s namesake, was elected president in 2016, there were protests. A police presence was stationed at Trump Tower for years, and no one was even allowed to cross Wacker Drive. In fact, Trump Tower set up a lounge area for the Chicago Police, complete with food and beverages.

The pandemic hit Trump Tower in a big way. Out of 400 employees, 320 were let go or furloughed. When the building was down to just 80 employees, Harrison had to wear “a lot of different hats” by doing his own job and helping with valet and bellman duties. The number of packages and food deliveries went up exponentially. Even now, Trump Tower is not fully staffed to pre-pandemic proportions.

Keeping the driveway clear for shops, brokers and developers is no easy task. Harrison strives to deal with everything in a positive manner, all while maintaining a rapport with each person entering or exiting the building. He noted that “people are really all alike,” adding he didn’t imagine this would be the case in such a busy location in one of the largest cities in the nation.

Harrison hails from Columbia, South Carolina. Although at first he didn’t think he would ever want to live in a major metropolitan area, he relocated to the Chicago area from Atlanta, Ga., in 1997 to expand his horizons, starting as a doorperson at the Park Hyatt. Today, he has two children and can’t imagine living or working anywhere other than the Windy City.

To nominate your favorite doorperson, email info@chicagostarmedia.com with their names and why they should be the doorperson of the month. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to Mariano’s.