In Our Community
The Harrell Remodeling team is dedicated to being an active member of the community and giving back to those who have given us so much. Working with both our neighbors and national organizations, we are convinced that every effort has a positive effect at home and abroad.
Local Business Owner Wins YWCA TWIN Award
Mountain View’s Iris Harrell, CEO of Harrell Remodeling, is blushing. Recently named a Santa Clara Valley YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) award winner, she’s one of fifty female executives selected to be honored at the April 30th awards dinner for exemplifying excellence. For the past 19 years, the YWCA TWIN program has recognized Silicon Valley executive-level women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities within their companies. Judged by a panel of past TWIN honorees on their demonstration to have made a substantial organizational impact relative to innovation, growth and motivation, these women are noted as role models for other women aspiring to executive level positions. Harrell, while modest about the honor, is proud to be identified as possessing these attributes. “I’ve tried to create an atmosphere at Harrell Remodeling that benefits and nurtures each company individual,” says Harrell, “and that’s also reflected in how we care for our clients. I believe that by respecting our everyone as family, philosophy, our clients benefit, our employees benefit, and the company benefits.” Taking that everyone is family philosophy to the next level, in April of 2002, Harrell initiated a non-leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that, over time, will leave her remodeling legacy to those who helped build it, Harrell Remodeling employees. “It won’t all happen at once, but it’s a strong motivational tool that our employees can believe in and look forward to,” says Harrell. Nominated by a member of her staff, Harrell is looking forward to attending the TWIN ceremony along with several of her office teammates. Providing services to over 32,000 Santa Clara County residents, funds generated through the Annual Awards Dinner allow the YWCA to continue its mission to empower.
Girl Scouts Take On Home Improvement
Taking home improvement into their own young hands, Mountain View Girl Scout Troops #1023, #369, #1082, and #45 learned the tools of the construction and remodeling trade this last Sunday at Harrell Remodeling, Inc.
Learning from the skilled staff of Harrell Remodeling, a woman-owned residential remodeling company, thirty-seven girls had the chance to earn their Ms. Fix-It badge by learning about the various aspects of the remodeling industry – from what it takes to be a woman in the construction industry to the many skills needed for running a remodeling company. Iris Harrell, owner of Harrell Remodeling, led the day as the girls worked hands-on in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and tool and energy conservation workshops that taught them basic home-improvement as well as perseverance and pride in work. Additionally, in talking with the experts these industrious young women really got to understand the business aspect of remodeling and the many facets that belong to it. From changing electrical fuses to continuing education, these girls are ready to meet the challenge!
Groundhog Job Shadow Day in Mountain View
Thirty continuation students form San Jose Conservation Corps and Charter School recently had the opportunity to learn about the various aspects of the remodeling industry from Mountain View’s Harrell Remodeling, Inc., opening their eyes to new possibilities.
Preparing to enter the work force and curious about their options in remodeling, students from 17-27 years old spent several hours at Harrell Remodeling head quarters getting a feel for what it takes to be in the business. While normally this kind of job shadowing is limited to one or two students shadowing a CEO, Harrell Remodeling invited all who were interested and presented a series of speakers representing various jobs in the industry.
Led by CEO Iris Harrell, a PowerPoint presentation on the history of the company was given, which then led into a Q and A session between the Harrell Remodeling staff and students. Focusing on the various aspects of being a remodeling CEO, contractor, designer, production manager, and estimator, the education, skills, and business practices necessary to build a successful company were of particular interest to the students.
“[Harrell Remodeling] presented the good relationships and teamwork needed for a successful company, and the students really caught onto that,” says Jacqueline Richberg, SJCC teacher. “They also emphasized that no matter how old you are, you are always a student – I thought that was a really good point too.”
Richberg also noted that in thank you letters to the company, many students commented either they were now considering jobs in the remodeling field, or that because of how they learned careers develop they now know it is important to study so as to keep their job options open.
