Dishing with a Director: Erin Hurley

Dishing with a Director

Editor’s Note: Normally call these informal internal chats “Dishing with a Designer” because we sit down and do a little one-on-one with one of our designers. However, in this installment we are dishing with our new Director of Business Development, Erin Hurley. Enjoy!

Background

LD & Co: First off, I just want to say how happy we are that you are part of the LD & Co team. Your experience and background will truly help to strengthen out the sales and marketing efforts of LD & Co. And I for one, am thrilled to have you as a colleague!
Let’s jump right into this “dish.” How did you end up here? What is your background, where are you from…what is the Erin backstory?

EH: I grew up in Ohio and went to college there (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio). After graduation I moved to Florida.

LD & Co: Why Florida?

EH: Partly for change of scenery, but also because I got a job as a project manager for a graphics company that created elevations, e-brochures and virtual fly-throughs of the communities for the homebuilding industry. This was in the early 2000s so online collateral was the marketing channel for builders. I worked with major national homebuilders like Ryland, DR Horton and a few other smaller builders. I would travel to DC, Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Chicago, working directly with the marketing and architectural teams to bring their visions to life. It was a fantastic learning experience and I met so many different people in the industry.

LD & Co: How long did you do that, and why did you leave?

EH: I was in that role for three years then moved to Colorado.

LD & Co: How did that happen? That move?

EH: It’s funny actually, I had come out to visit my best friend who lived in Boulder at the time. It was just a short visit. But that’s all it took. I fell in love with Colorado and figured, why not move there? I was in my 20s and realized if I was going to make a move like that it was the perfect time. So, I packed up my car with all my worldly belongings, my dog, and drove across country.

LD & Co: Love it! It’s so easy to fall in love with Colorado. Did you have a job or know where you’d land professionally once you got here?

EH: I landed a job as a design consultant in a design center for one of Denver’s top homebuilders. While I loved that it combined my marketing background with my previous housing industry experience, it was short-lived because of the housing market crash. Fortunately, I was able to fall back on my marketing expertise and got a job working as an account manager for a promotional marketing company, working with Brown-Forman’s national brands Jack Daniel’s, Herradura and Korbel.

Back to the Building Industry

LD & Co: It was definitely a difficult time for many. How did you get back to working in the building industry?

EH: At this point, I had my sons and realized that I needed to be fulfilled professionally to balance being a great mom and a successful professional. I wanted to move back into the homebuilding industry, which I love. I realized that working with people in the building industry was where I felt the most fulfilled. I started working with a company where I helped people to design a home that’s both functional and beautiful.

LD & Co: Tell us a little bit about that experience. Because a large part of what makes you such a valuable part of our company is your diverse experience and your unique perspective.

EH: It was fantastic. I was working with all different kinds of people on all sides of the home business: homeowners, builders, architects, and designers. It was my responsibility to see the project from concept to delivery, meaning I’d work with homeowners to select the floorings, countertops, cabinets and other core pieces that stay within the home even as paint colors, furniture and other temporary design elements change. I’d work with homeowners to uncover preference and determine any lifestyle considerations on the front end, then work with the various trades to ensure proper installation. For me, it was very important to meet budgets and exceed expectations while delivering the best quality work possible.

LD & Co: That is wonderful.

EH: When I think about it, I have helped thousands of people build homes they love. But the part that really fulfilled me was working as part of a team and developing trusted relationships with the builders, the designers, and the homeowners.

LD & Co: Your ability to cultivate relationships with myriad of people is something that attracted Lita to you. How did you meet?

EH: I’ve known Lita for a few years now. We initially met through the Professional Women in Building (PWB) mentor program. As luck would have it, Lita was paired up to be my mentor. As you can imagine, she was an amazing mentor. I’ve learned so much through her. And, after our official mentor/mentee program was over we stayed in touch. The timing worked out such that Lita approached me about an opening at the firm that she thought I would be perfect for, and well, here I am.

The Importance of Home

LD & Co: We are so glad that you are. So, what is it about the home building industry that is so appealing to you?

EH: I think about how important a home is. The feeling of home is so important to me. Be it an 800-square foot apartment or a 6,000 square foot mansion, home is integral to everything. And to be a part of that, of helping to provide a home for someone is so special. I feel very fortunate that this industry is full of caring people. I feel blessed to be a part of it.

LD & Co: That’s lovely. Since you are so new to the team, I thought I’d ask some questions I don’t normally ask, specifically about your goals here at LD & Co. What would you say is your immediate goal, and perhaps long term goal?

EH: Well, my immediate goal is to get to know LD & Co.’s team and our clients, and start forming relationships. It’s definitely a challenge these days with so many things being virtual, but in the same breath, virtual can also be helpful. It’s easy to join a Zoom call or sit in on a presentation with a client to learn more about their vision and how our teams work together. And as far as long term, I want to be able to build on the amazing work that Lita has done. She has established an incredible track record and lasting relationships. My goal is to build on this foundation of excellence and help it grow.

LD & Co: Those are admirable goals, here’s hoping you not only achieve but exceed them. One more question before we let you go…if you could tell your younger self something, a piece of advice, what would you say?

EH: Oh, that’s a good one. So many things… but if I had to say just one thing it would probably be that there is no perfect time but the present. If you are searching for the perfect time, you might always find a reason to wait. Stop waiting and start doing.

LD & Co: That’s fantastic advice. Thank you so much.