Meet a Hansonite: Clare Davis
Welcome to the first installment of our “Meet a Hansonite” blog series! In this series, you’ll meet Hanson employees, learn a little about their background and passions, and discover what they like most about working at Hanson. Today, we’re getting the conversation started with Clare Davis, Administrative Associate.
Sally: How long have you been at Hanson?
Clare: I started in September of 2015, so almost 3 years!
Sally: What’s your role? Describe what you do here.
Clare: I am an Administrative Associate, which means I have a hand in just about everything happening in the office. I’m the go-to for things like travel, meetings, office and administrative duties. I am the first face our clients see and usually the chipper voice you hear on the other end of the phone. In some ways, the cog of the office.
Sally: What are 3 things you love most about your job?
Clare: My 3 favorite things are definitely the rapport I have with clients, the group of friends I have made here, and the people that I work with—not to mention the amazing work I get to see produced on a daily basis. The people here are so intelligent and creative. I firmly believe the friends you make at work are an important part of enjoying your job and being successful. You do spend more time with them than anyone else, you know? I have made some pretty brilliant relationships here plus we’ve got great clients that sometimes feel more like friends here and that’s always a plus in this position.
Sally: Do you have a favorite newspaper or blog you read regularly?
Clare: I read theSkimm every morning, as well as CNN and BBC World News podcasts each morning. I like to hear the news from different angles, not just one specific bracket. I’m not a big blog reader, but I read a lot, and I just finished a great novel by André Aciman called “Call Me By Your Name.” I’ve got a goal to read 20 books this year, so I have a lot ahead of me!
Sally: What are you passionate about, or what are some things you’re involved in?
Clare: I’m super passionate about giving back and lending my time to those in need—veterans especially. This passion led me to a leadership position with a non-profit called Team Rubicon. We are a disaster response organization that answers the clarion call in the midst of chaos and disaster. I LOVE it. We focus mainly on veterans and the elderly when disaster strikes. Examples include hurricanes, fires, mudslides, tornadoes, and floods. With the help of a lot of partners and donations, we were able to get a little over 2,100 people on the ground to help clean up these communities when Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston and the surrounding areas. It was our biggest deployment in Team Rubicon history and we had teams on the ground from August 30-December 1. I was able to help remotely by procuring pallets of food, drinks, and equipment to various Operating Bases. I was then able to deploy over Thanksgiving and spend the week mucking houses, initiating mold remediation, and developing awesome friendships with my team. All in all, Team Rubicon completed 63 Operations all over the country and I was able to deploy to three of them. What I’ve learned in my time as a volunteer and leader is that you truly never know the tenacity and strength of the human spirit until you’ve seen people and hugged them on their worst days. Volunteering with veterans and civilians during my time with TR is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Sally: Before working at Hanson, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Clare: I wanted a cell phone when I was about 12 and so did my siblings so my Dad told us if we got jobs we could get cell phones! I think he was joking but we all split a paper route in my little town. We’d get the papers delivered on Friday and we’d have until Monday morning to assemble and deliver them. We actually did this until I graduated high school!
Sally: Here at Hanson, our core values are: Be yourself, own the adventure, stay curious, get emotional, and embrace family. Which one do you most resonate with and why?
Clare: I’d definitely say “Be Yourself.” I can’t really be anything else, which is why I embarrass myself on a daily basis and enjoy taunting Don (our CAO) on the regular.
Sally: If you could describe Hanson in 3 words, what would they be?
Clare: Innovative, fun, inspiring.
