Ten Years at TreHus: Lauren Hayes on Craft, Leadership, and Culture

Early Career at TreHus

Lauren joined TreHus ten years ago as a temporary Marketing Assistant supporting the Marketing Manager at the time: her older sister, Jenna. Soon, after only several months, Lauren was hired to join the team full-time. “My favorite memories about those early days were getting to spend a lot of time with my sister,” says Lauren, “We were living together, working together, and still never got sick of each other.” 

She also recalls the awe she felt witnessing the design process and watching stunning architectural work come to life. “I had not seen design or craftsmanship at this caliber before and I was always so awe-struck when we would walk into the clients home to photograph the end result,” Lauren reflects.

Capturing the Craft

Lauren is integral to the behind-the-scenes work at TreHus—managing the workloads of project managers, designers, and carpenters, leading HR and IT initiatives, assisting the CEO with strategic decisions, and serving as the team’s go-to problem solver.

But of the countless roles Lauren takes on at TreHus, helping with photoshoots at the end of remodel projects is one she finds especially rewarding. The projects that used color or creative fixtures have always been the ones to stand out over time for her. The Two Story Takeover remodel was no exception for Lauren, who remembers thinking “I want this kitchen!” upon walking in for a photoshoot. It’s hard not to feel captivated by striking green cabinets and white tile backsplash in this light-filled kitchen. 

More recently, Lauren helped photograph our latest custom home build, a project that stands out to her for its impressive character as a new build. “Every room in that house has something worth complimenting! Now that I know much more about the process of design and the challenges behind this home’s construction, I take notice of all the details a little bit more and appreciate things I might have looked past when I first started.”

Leadership and Growth as COO

As TreHus’ new COO, Lauren shares that this role change hasn’t drastically altered her day-to-day responsibilities, but rather has given her “a greater sense of confidence” that she now carries with her each day. After ten years with the company, she’s experienced a shift in how she sees herself, recognizing that “ten years is a long time to gather knowledge and build relationships.” One of her current goals is to deepen her understanding of the company’s financial operations, working closely with TreHus Controller Grace Bisping. 

Lauren describes her strengths as bringing positivity, optimism, and fun to the workplace, firmly believing that “the culture of a workplace is key to building and maintaining a healthy company.” TreHus has grown exponentially in the time since Lauren was initially hired– from 20 to nearly 50 employees– and Lauren makes it a priority to model the qualities she values in the workplace as TreHus continues to expand. She feels grateful for the support team she works with each day, reflecting on how lucky she feels to work alongside “such competent, fun and talented women.” 

Life Outside of TreHus

Outside of work, Lauren loves to spend time with family – her husband and two sons, August and Benson. They like to explore local parks, hike, visit the beach, and embark on adventures together. Lauren also enjoys traveling, cooking, trying new restaurants and breweries, playing volleyball, and attending concerts.