A Career Dedicated to Creating Whimsy and Magic

Since first coming to work at The Hill at Whitemarsh in 2007, B.J. DeMelo has been dreaming up ways to dazzle its residents. In fact, over the years she’s kept track of exactly how many ways: she’s been responsible for planning and executing over 38,000 programs, trips, events, and activities.

“I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years, and all of my roles have been really fun,” said B.J. “All of our success lies in the relationships we have with our residents. Our focus is on person-centered activities and because we know them so well, we always deliver.”

As a member of the Resident Services Department, B.J. serves as The Hill’s Life Enrichment Manager, a very literal title given the work that she does. In her role, B.J. creates a robust calendar of events in partnership with the residents, each with spectacular themes, immersive experiences, dining collaborations, and memorable moments.

“I love when residents come up to us after an event and tell us that we outdid ourselves,” she said. “We like to create a ‘wow factor,’ but my goal is to blow their minds!”

Over the years, this has come in the form of making palm trees for a Polynesian Night celebration, recreating the Wizard of Oz, building an Eiffel Tower for a Paris-themed event, creating western-themed dinners, and even fashion shows.

“I think my best work was for an underwater-themed event,” B.J. said. “We created sea creatures, large-scale marine animals, seaweed, fish—it was really incredible.”

Creativity comes naturally to her, and because she gets to be creative everyday, working never really feels like work.

“Leadership at The Hill works to figure out what your strengths and interests are and really empower you to go further in that direction. They really make an investment in people, and it shows in everything that they do.” – B.J. DeMelo

“Being able to express myself creatively is such a gift,” B.J. said. “And not just because I am passionate about delivering for the residents, but I also love getting to work with every department at The Hill, from dining and facilities to maintenance and resident services. The collaborative nature of events, being able to bring everyone together and create joy—it’s so nice for all of us to celebrate our collective success and take pride in our work together.”

B.J. credits The Hill for playing an integral role in her success. In the span of nearly 20 years, she’s had the opportunity to grow, learn, overcome challenges, and pick up new skills.