a woman of style and grace

Today, we had a guest speaker come to our agency to discuss her life.

Haven Parchinski was an account executive at Hill, Holliday back in 1997. She handled some of the agency’s important pieces of business, including Spaulding and Bank Boston. Even then, she was a woman who took on all challenges with a sense style and grace.

Her parents never understood why the young Miss Parchinski dated a promising young cyclist, who, in the off-season, was employed as a landscaper.

Seeking the truth, the Parchinski parents made the trip to the Fitchburg Classic in Massachusetts, a bicycle race, to question the young man’s intentions, and assess his prospects in this strange world of bicycle racing.

The young man, who had already won young Miss Parchinski’s heart, also won the race that day. Miss Parchinski’s parents began to develop an appreciation for the fellow who had the insane idea that he would one day be a professional cyclist.

He went on to get a job riding his bicycle for a living, and had a few epic moments along the way. He helped Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France. He won Liege-Baston-Liege. He won a stage in the Tour de France with a broken collarbone and finished fourth overall. He won Olympic gold in the time trial. He remembered to do right by those in the MS community, and started a foundation that also supports young cyclists.

His name is Tyler Hamilton, and he is the man who accompanied Haven Hamilton to Europe.

In this picture, I am standing next to Mrs. Hamilton who said she thought the shot looked like I’d just opened a new checking account.

She told us all about the ups and downs of life as a professional cyclist. And as you would suspect, she did so with the style and grace that is her trademark.

This fall, Tyler and Haven begin a new chapter in their lives, and all of us at Hill, Holliday wish them all the best.