August 2024 Behind the Scenes: Unveiling Our Team’s Passions
August 5, 2024
Discover the heartbeat of our company with an exclusive glimpse into the diverse talents and personalities that drive our successes. Get to know the faces behind the innovation in our “Meet Our Team” feature.
Monica Hairston, Project Accountant
Meet Monica Hairston, a Project Accountant, Atlanta native, and crime TV show fanatic!
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I am originally from Atlanta, GA.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
A: In my free time, I love to travel and explore new places. I also enjoy shopping and spending quality time with family and friends.
Q:What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I am very inquisitive and love learning new things. Some may say it’s being nosy, but I see it as expanding my horizons and not keeping myself in a box! I also enjoy watching crime TV shows, with Law and Order and NCIS are some of my favorites.
Q: How did you find your way into the hospitality/construction industry?
A: I’m a numbers girl and have always enjoyed working in accounting and finance roles. I’ve always been deeply involved in the construction industry, from working at the Home Depot corporate office, where we managed material sales to contractors, to working directly for a company that builds single-family and multi-family homes. The construction industry is fascinating and offers many different paths.
Q: Could you recount one of the most meaningful moments you’ve experienced with your team members during your tenure at The Hardy Group?
A: Since day one at The Hardy Group, everyone has welcomed me with open arms. The environment here truly feels like a family, where you can interact on both professional and personal levels. HARDY has an open-door policy where you can speak about how you are feeling and there’s no judgement.
Q: How do your personal passions aligns with the work we do at The Hardy Group?
A: The values upheld by The Hardy Group align closely with my personal beliefs. As the saying goes, “treat others how you would like to be treated.” Integrity and honesty are fundamental; without them, both individuals and companies cannot achieve success. It’s important for people to trust in your reliability and passion for the services you offer.
Q: Has there been a mentor in your life who significantly influenced your career journey?
A: My parents have been influential in my career choices, always teaching me to work hard no matter the path I choose. Initially, my goal was enter the medical field, but after my freshman year of college, I realized it wasn’t for me. I then followed in my parents’ footsteps by pursuing a career in accounting.
Read more about Monica, here.
Travis Keele, Senior Project Director
Meet Travis Keele, a dedicated Senior Project Director who grew up around construction sites and ski slopes. He has known how to ski for almost as long as he has been walking!
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I grew up in Idaho but moved to Southern California for high school.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
A: I enjoy traveling, scuba diving, and being with my family.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: Growing up, my dad was a general contractor in the summer and on the Ski Patrol in the winter. I started skiing shortly after learning to walk. Being surrounded by construction from an early age, I knew I wanted to be in the industry. I have been working in construction since 1991, and every summer before that.
Q: What is a personal or professional achievement that profoundly shaped your life or career path?
A: My personal life is the driving force behind my professional life. My supportive wife and four boys, aged 16 to 24, inspire me to excel and advance in my career. The achievement of becoming a father and husband motivates me.
Q: Could you recount one of the most meaningful moments you’ve experienced with your team members during your tenure at The Hardy Group?
A: It’s not just one or two moments or individuals that stand out. Working at The Hardy Group is a blessing, allowing me to be surrounded by many smart and talented individuals. To everyone I’ve worked with, thank you—you’re amazing!
Q: Has there been a mentor in your life who significantly influenced your career journey?
A: Two people have influenced me in the best ways possible. First, my dad, a general contractor, inspired me with his work ethic and passion for building, which led me to pursue a career in construction. I always strive to match his dedication. Second, when I moved to Arizona about 19 years ago, I worked with Helgeson Construction Management, a small firm where Brett Helgeson became my mentor. Brett taught me to look beyond the daily grind of building and emphasized the importance of business practices, ethics, attention to detail, and building strong relationships.
Q: How do your personal passions aligns with the work we do at The Hardy Group?
A: I am passionate about hospitality construction, and that’s exactly what we do here at The Hardy Group. I feel honored to work at a company surrounded by so many talented team members. Working with smart and skilled individuals offers constant opportunities for growth and development. I look forward to continuing to advance my career with The Hardy Group.
Q: How did you find your way into the hospitality/construction industry?
A: In late summer and early fall of 2007, I was brought in to manage a project at the Four Seasons Troon in Scottsdale. This was a significant project, unlike anything I had ever worked on before. Having always been on the GC side of construction, this was my first experience on the ownership side. It was fall/winter leading up to the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona, and there was a lot riding on completing the project on time, with a list of VIPs, celebrities, and team owners staying at the resort. Looking back, I realize that I thrive on the pressure and energy of such projects. A year later, I returned to the property to manage a complete renovation of the pools complex. Since then, I’ve made it a point to stay in the hospitality management industry and love it.
Read more about Travis, here.
Kristen Anderson, Project Director
Meet Kristen Anderson, a Project Director that enjoys being active and is even competing in a CrossFit competition in October and a Triathlon in January!
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I was born and raised in Manchester, NH and went to college there. After college, I moved to Florida to be near my sister.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
A: I enjoy staying active. I’ve been doing CrossFit for almost 1.5 years and am currently training for a CrossFit competition in October and a triathlon in January.
Q:What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I’ve played basketball my whole life and even earned a scholarship to play in college!
Q: Has there been a mentor in your life who significantly influenced your career journey?
A: I have been fortunate to have many great mentors throughout my career, but one who stands out is my sister. With years of experience in the hospitality industry, she encouraged me to enter the field when I moved to Florida. I began my career in hotels, where I had a fantastic mentor who helped me grow in hotel management. After working with the HARDY team on The Ritz-Carlton Naples renovation, I transitioned to The Hardy Group. I am grateful to Mat and Nate for being influential mentors since I joined.
Q: How did you find your way into the hospitality/construction industry?
A: I graduated in 2008 with a degree in finance and economics and began working for a mortgage company. However, the financial crash made it a challenging time to be in that industry. My sister introduced me to a friend who worked in a hotel and thought it would be a great career shift for me. That’s when I caught the hospitality bug and got involved with hotel renovations. I discovered that I found fulfillment in seeing projects through from start to finish.
Q: How do your personal passions aligns with the work we do at The Hardy Group?
A: Working at The Hardy Group is all about positive relationship building, accomplishing goals, and being the best at what we do. I appreciate the core values and I strive to live my personal life in the same way.
Q: Could you recount one of the most meaningful moments you’ve experienced with your team members during your tenure at The Hardy Group?
A: When I joined The Hardy Group, one of my first projects was working on the restoration and remediation following Hurricane Ian. It was a challenging project for everyone, but what truly stood out to me was how HARDY team members supported each other. It was inspiring to see everyone stick together through a stressful situation and achieve something great. It’s rare to find a team where people are so aligned, exude positivity, and have such strong working relationships.
Q: What is a personal or professional achievement that profoundly shaped your life or career path?
A: My biggest career achievement so far was working on the renovation of the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. This was the first time I took a big risk, leaving my family, friends, and everything I knew behind. The project was challenging, involving a historical building with budget constraints, but I learned a lot about myself and honed my leadership skills. When I returned to Ritz-Carlton in Naples, I felt like I had taken massive leaps and bounds professionally, marking a true turning point in my career trajectory.
Read more about Kristen, here.
Ben Simmons, Senior Project Director
Meet Ben Simmons, a dedicated Senior Project Director who is an Atlanta native with a passion for boating and spending time on the water.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I am originally from the Atlanta metro area but lived in Charlotte, NC for 9 years and then I returned to Atlanta in 2023.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
A: I love boating and being on the water. Most of my free time now is spent running around with my 2 young kids.
Q: How did you find your way into the hospitality/construction industry?
A: After graduating college, I was offered a position as an owner’s representative for a national hotel company. Since then, I’ve spent the majority of my career working in the hospitality industry.
Q: Could you recount one of the most meaningful moments you’ve experienced with your team members during your tenure at The Hardy Group?
A: Before joining The Hardy Group, I had the pleasure of working with Project Executive Eric Augur. We went to a training in DC and unfortunately had a 3-4 hour flight delay on our way back. So, getting an opportunity to catch up on the past 10 years with Eric was a meaningful moment for me.
Q: Has there been a mentor in your life who significantly influenced your career journey?
A: My dad is a significant mentor in my life who instilled in me a strong work ethic and taught me that nothing in life is handed to you. Additionally, I have been fortunate to work with incredible individuals at various companies who have taken the time to mentor me, offering valuable feedback that has helped me grow along the way.
Q: What is a personal or professional achievement that profoundly shaped your life or career path?
A: When I worked for Extended Stay America, the company held a nationwide competition to recognize team members making a significant impact in their roles. I was fortunate enough to be nominated and finished in the top three. Reading all the incredibly nice things people had to say about me was extremely rewarding.
Q: How do your personal passions aligns with the work we do at The Hardy Group?
A: I have a passion for travel, and I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to visit many amazing hotels as part of my job.
Read more about Ben, here.
More Highlights
October 2024 Behind the Scenes: Unveiling Our Team's Passions
September 2024 Behind the Scenes: Unveiling Our Team's Passions
Vanderbilt Tower at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Earns LEED Silver®
The Hardy Group Celebrates a Decade of Excellence in Hawai'i
July 2024 Behind the Scenes: Unveiling Our Hawaii Team's Passions Continued
