Trista Langdon
Senior Vice President, Operations
Time at the Commanders: 2 years, 3 months
Describe what you do with the organization. What's your favorite part about what you do?
I am responsible for the overall operations and guest experience at Commanders Field and OrthoVirginia Training Center. The teams I manage include Operations, Facilities, Guest Exp, Security, Grounds and Event Production. I also oversee our partners in Transportation/Parking, Public Safety, Cleaning and Food Service/ Hospitality. I am responsible for capital planning an execution of our Stadium and Training Facility.
My favorite part of my job is being able to see all the hard work and preparation we do every day realized when we are able to provide great experiences and memories for our fans and guests.
What's a work-related accomplishment that you're really proud of?
I am most proud of what my team has built in the 2 years I have been here. Many teammates were here prior to my arrival and, we've added talented, hardworking, passionate and prideful individuals that come to work every day with the goal of us getting better as a team and company collectively. The willingness for this team to jump in and just get the job done -- and not just done, done well – has been incredible.
What inspires you to come to work each day?
My daily inspiration comes from my daughter Chloe. It is important that I show her that we women can do anything and everything. Her gentle heart and compassion inspire me to keep going during the good and the hard times.
How has your background shaped who you are today?
My mother is a Black woman who grew up in the South during the Civil Rights Movement and my father has a Doctorate of Anthropology, studying Native Americans of Alaska and teaching about but also fighting/ advocating for the culture and maintaining their way of life.
My upbringing was really just based on being a good person and contributing to my community in a positive manner. Advocating and fighting for those without a voice, showing people regardless of where you've come from that all is possible with hard work, dedication and discipline.
What does this month mean to you?
March is a time for me to reflect on the women of our past who have trailblazed to provide the opportunities that we have today, while continuing to open doors for women of the future.
What quote or mantra do you live by?
I have two...
"I can show you better than I can tell you." - I have no idea where to credit that but I do say it all the time
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
—Theodore Roosevelt
