Doorperson of the month: Oladayo Taiwu

By Elizabeth Czapski, Staff Writer

Being a doorman comes naturally to Oladayo Taiwo.

“I no longer see it as a job. I just see it like part of me already,” he said. “I think that’s why I put in my best doing what I do.”

Taiwo, originally from Nigeria, has worked at 600 N. Lake Shore Drive for eight years. He works the morning shift, from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. The security and customer service aspects of what he does are the most important, he said. That includes taking care of and assisting residents “the best way we can.”

Janice Avery, onsite property manager for the building, nominated Taiwo for Doorperson of the Month.

According to Avery, Taiwo, “is personally responsible for overseeing the inner workings of the building with over 1,000 residents. Increased resident traffic in the building, especially during the Air and Water Show, Fourth of July and our building parties, demands Taiwo is present and that our property stays orderly,” Avery wrote. “It is Taiwo who will go the extra mile in keeping confidentiality surrounding such events, while still responding to owner inquiries about the event, all done with class.”

Taiwo spends his free time cooking delicious meals. “I love to get myself a bottle of wine, cook, watch movies…I cook everything I can cook, a lot of African delicacies,” he said. “I like spicy food.” He spends a lot of time finding new recipes on YouTube.

Taiwo said he got the job because he wanted to do something good for himself. People getting into his line of work have to think about what their motivations are, he said. “Discover for yourself if it is something you really want to go into, or if you just want to do it temporarily, or just do it for financial purposes or whatever,” he said.

“Whatever you do, you just have to make sure it’s part of you,” Taiwo said. “I would say the best thing, is to enjoy it.”

To nominate a doorperson, email [email protected]

[Oladayo Taiwo loves his job as a doorperson at the North Lake Shore Drive residency and when he’s not at work, he loves to cook. Photo courtesy Oladayo Taiwo]