Doorperson of the Month: Melina Decker, Axis Apartments & Lofts, 441 E. Erie St.

"I’m so grateful to be the Doorperson of the Month," Melina Decker says with obvious pride. She serves as supervisor of the concierge desk at Axis Apartments & Lofts, with a solid customer service background at Walt Disney World. 

"I come to work with optimism every day, ready to help people," she says as a tour of the Axis begins. Melina shows off the snowy 360-degree-view rooftop space, fire pits, gym, indoor pool, and a state-of-the-art kitchen available for special occasions. 

Residents are busy on laptops near the heated pool, enjoying the extra humidity. "I really like getting to know my residents, and excel at problem solving with the patience to find solutions. I never take it personally if someone is having a bad day." 

The Axis was built in the mid-1980s and consists of 600 apartments and lofts altogether. The building also houses the Sonder Hotel, a medical imaging service, a daycare, and a parking garage. “There’s sometimes a lot of commotion, but really it’s a very peaceful place overall, and the residents are relaxed. 

“We have to work closely with all of the other businesses because the multiple entrances and exits can be confusing for visitors, and sometimes packages are delivered to the wrong place.” 

Melina is responsible for keeping track of packages, couriers, scheduling freight elevator use, and properly reporting any and all issues. "Our most recent issue was the extreme cold snap, and one of the elevators malfunctioned as a result. I quickly coordinated the repair so that residents and management were on the same page."

Melina was born in Florida and moved to Chicago a few years ago, joining her brother. She started out working customer service positions in hotels in the Chicago area. She laughs and says, "I had to learn how to parallel park here in Chicago. I still have family in Florida, and currently live with my boyfriend in Chinatown."

Melina is learning both the Chinese language and how to create Chinese embroidery. During her spare time, she also enjoys painting, sewing, and cooking. 

"Disney World was awesome training for a career in customer service," she says. She was recently praised by a resident as having a "zing" personality. Melina’s personality and her dedication to the job do magically sparkle. 

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