Eight years with the same client is remarkable in any industry. Eight years while earning “Top VE” honors twice? That’s unprecedented at HireSmart Virtual Employees. 

Christy S. made history at HireSmart’s 2025 awards ceremony, becoming the first virtual employee to win the company’s highest honor twice. She first won in 2020, and now again in 2025. Her enduring partnership with a U.S. property management company has become a model for what’s possible when the right employee meets the right client. 

“I actually was really surprised. I was speechless,” she said. “I basically was really surprised when Anne mentioned my name, and then I realized that maybe because I’ve been within the company for more than eight years now with the same clients, so maybe that’s one big factor that they considered.” 

“Year after year, when I meet anybody in her office, literally, they can’t stop talking about her, which is a good thing,” said HireSmart Co-founder Anne Lackey during the awards ceremony. “Congratulations, Christy! Thank you for what you do!” 

Christy’s client echoed that sentiment in the nomination. 

“Christy is extremely reliable and always communicates with a positive attitude,” the client said. “She has a can-do approach with a smile on her face. She just gets things done. Any task, big or small, she is willing and able to do it. She always asks about my son, and I love seeing her family photos as well.” 

When asked which trait best defines her work, Christy’s answer was simple: reliability. Her client can always count on her. 

A Journey of Growth and Trust 

Christy’s path with HireSmart began in 2017 when she transitioned from call center work to remote employment. She started as a customer service representative, handling the full spectrum of property management communications. 

“I started as a customer service representative. I answer phone calls,” she said. “It’s like a first base for everything. If it’s a tenant call, if it’s an inquiry call for prospective leads, if it’s an inquiry call for prospective tenants, emergency calls, I handled that. I stayed in that position for three years.” 

In 2020, as the pandemic reshaped work environments globally, Christy’s client recognized her potential for greater responsibility. She was promoted to handle owner calls, a position requiring deeper expertise and client relationship management. Today, she serves as a Business Development Associate, working directly with the company’s CEO on new client acquisition. 

The evolution of Christy’s role reflects the trust her client has placed in her over the years. 

“What I really like about my client is that they’re very appreciative with the things that I help them,” she said. “What I like about them is that they set proper expectations.” 

That trust extends beyond formal job duties. Christy has built genuine friendships with her colleagues in the U.S. When she has downtime, she reaches out to see if anyone needs help. Over the years, her clients have watched her family grow through the photos she shares. Her daughter Zanna has grown from a 3-year-old to an 11-year-old sixth grader, and her son Theodore is advancing to grade 11. 

The Gift of Presence 

The work-from-home arrangement has given Christy something invaluable: time with her family. After years in the call center industry, where rigid schedules and long commutes consumed hours of each day, remote work transformed her life. 

“The fact that you have to prepare at least two hours before you go to the office, so that is something like a big relief for me,” she said. “Now I just have to wake up, wash my face and just be ready, and then I’m here. With the call center, you have to think about what clothes to wear, and you have to prepare everything for your kids before you go to work. It’s a big relief for me, for our family as well.” 

Even more importantly, Christy can be present when her children need her. 

“When you are in the office, you have to call them. How can you call them during the wee hours?” she said. “It’s better that if I just have like a five minute break, I can just check on their rooms, check on them, and that’s it.” 

Anne’s Gift for Matching 

Beyond competitive compensation and benefits, Christy credits Anne with a unique talent that has proven essential to her long-term success: the ability to match personalities with positions. 

When Christy’s client once considered moving her to a maintenance role, Anne intervened, telling Christy it wouldn’t fit her personality. Anne was right. 

“Anne is very good when she sees people, she knows which position or which job is best for that person, and she has that gift,” she said. “That’s why we’re growing. And she always thinks what’s best for her employees. So yeah, I’m very grateful for that.” 

Success Defined 

For Christy, success isn’t measured by titles or promotions. It’s measured by stability, family, and the ability to provide. 

“I am a full-time mom, so basically I am not really after higher position or something like that,” she said. “As long as I get to earn something every month, I could build a home for my family, I could send them to school, I could put food on the table. That’s a big milestone for me already.” 

She and her husband have discussed continuing this arrangement long-term, ideally until she’s 60, “because this is the best setup for us,” she said. 

Through HireSmart, Christy has achieved those family goals. The work has enabled her and her husband to purchase a home and provide quality education for their children. Her daughter Zanna is a HireSmart Cares scholarship recipient, attending one of the Philippines’ premier private schools. 

“As long as I am healthy and I was able to do something for the company that I work with and with HireSmart, that’s a big accomplishment for me,” she said. 

HireSmart works diligently to locate and train thoughtful employees like Christy to serve U.S. clients. The company’s process includes a 40-hour certification program, where employees who have been approved by a client receive an additional week of training to prepare them for onboarding. 

HireSmart’s successful placement rate tops 98 percent. The company provides virtual employees free health and dental coverage at no cost to clients and awards educational scholarships to VE children through HireSmart Cares. And HireSmart has recently added a retirement plan option for its employees. 

As Christy’s historic double victory demonstrates, when the right match is made, everyone wins. The client gets reliable, dedicated service; the employee builds a meaningful, sustainable career; and families thrive. 

If you’re interested in finding an employee like Christy for your team, click here to schedule a free consultation at your convenience. 

If this environment of personal development and genuine support sounds like the right place for you, click here to apply to HireSmart Virtual Employees.