Our team goes on offsite team bonding trips twice a year. This past November, we went to Boca Grande and just two weeks ago we spent time upstate in Kerhonkson. With many of our projects finished and in progress around the Kerhonkson area, it was the perfect place to be.
As you may know, we love having a collaborative team. Our offsites are days allocated to team bonding, sharing our values, looking at profitability, creating together, and brainstorming the future of our team. This trip we spent Wednesday-Friday between Tinkerbox and the Starlite Motel flushing out all of our thoughts and getting to know each other a bit better.
Day 1: Cabinets and Cocktails
Our offsite began with meeting at Cabinet Designers. We’ve been working with Cabinet Designers for many years. It was the first time for a lot of us meeting the team at Cabinet Designers in person. We were able to see their showroom and talk through material selections.
After Cabinet Designers we drove over to the Starlite Motel, where we were going to be spending the next two nights. We stayed at Starlite during our first offsite last year and were all thrilled to be back!
We quickly mobilized to Tinkerbox where Ben F made us all a happy hour cocktail. Ben’s hot toddy was inspired by our next stop, Cat Hill.
It was the first time for many of us to walk in and around Cat Hill. Our client graciously let us roam around her home, take pictures, and bird watch.
After Cat Hill we headed back to Tinkerbox and got to cooking. We split up into four groups and each tackled different parts of the meal: salad, pasta, dessert, and grilling the shrimp, zucchini, asparagus, and portobello mushrooms. Of course we had to snack while doing so, so we had some cheese, hummus, pita chips, and bread.
With wine pouring and conversation flowing, it took us a good amount of time to sit down and eat, but once we did we all devoured our food.
Day 2: Project Hoot
We started day two off with some of Colbi’s famous cold brew and bagels with conversations about ourselves received by open ears and encouragement. We then got started on a surprise project. Every offsite, we spend time building something together – a bird house, or a sandcastle, or a table… This year, Marica had something extra special up her sleeve – and it just got better the more she shared. We are thrilled to say that we’re working on designing custom Owl Houses that will be built by none other than Braxton Alexander. Braxton is an extremely talented local furniture maker who we’ve worked with for a number of years. The Hudson Company, a local wood supplier, will be donating all of the necessary material.
The Owl Houses will be auctioned off at Field and Supply over Memorial Day Weekend. The best part of this entire project is that all proceeds from the auction will be going to support Ukraine. As you may know, there is a significant Ukrainian community in the Hudson Valley that has been mobilizing to provide aid where it is needed most. We’re working with some of them to determine where best to donate the proceeds. Follow us on Instagram and keep an eye out for an upcoming blog post that will share more about Project Hoot!
Later in the day we piled into cars and visited the construction at Wass House where the pool is really starting to take shape.
We then shared our strengths as a team and our values in a workplace. After holding space for one another we headed to Rough Cut Brewing Co where we shared stories and childhood pictures.
After dinner we headed back to the Starlite Motel where we enjoyed a cozy fire outside.
Day 3: South Mountain House
For our last day we met at Tinkerbox to some more cold brew, muffins, and donuts, courtesy of Saunderskill Farm. We discussed profitability, and then headed to our last stop at South Mountain House.
The home is almost complete and we are so excited to see it when it’s all done! More photos to come…
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