We had the good fortune of connecting with todd hanley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi todd, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The Hotel Congress and Agave Heritage Festival offer a very unique blend of business and enviromental sustainability best practices. We are small but mighty around both how we minimize our impact at the same time staying profitable and successful to insure future impact. The both represent adaptation and resiliency which is exactly what our community and world needs more of as we continue to navigate these unsettling times.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a former college athlete and self described hustler my career can be defined by never willing to slow down and wait for opportunity but also having enough vision and foresight to capture well placed opportunity based on passion, integrity and a willingness to sacrifice a little in the short term knowing the long term results speak for themselves. My willingness to be important but not famous has always driven me to create, start and finish opportunities such as helping start an inner city youth wrestling program and parochial school PE program to sitting on multiple boards and engaging as the president of a 40 independent restaurant organization after only 3 years in the industry. This plus running a 240 person family business and creating the Agave Heritage Festival that has become one of the gold standard festivals in the west offers me pride and satisfaction that hard work and integrity can be successful. I have learned that you are the owner of your own destiny and sometimes you have to simply push beyond what you see as possible just because there are not enough like minded individuals out there.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day One – Dinner at Maynards Kitchen and a hike up Ventana Canyon Day Two – Breakfast at Cup Cafe inside Hotel Congress and
Day Three – Trip to Patagonia, Arizona and San Rafael Valley meeting with Gary Nabhan and Bill Steen
Day Four – Trip to Sedona, Arizona
Day Five – Day long trip visiting Mission Garden, San Xavier Mission and Tumacácori National Historical Park finishing up with dinner at a local tacqueira
Day Six – Day of Rest sipping on mezcal
Day Seven – Send my friend home and hang with my family

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Please shout out to Rebecca Hanley and my 3 amazing girls Josephine, Abigail and Vivian along with Richard and Shana Oseran!

Website: www.agaveheritagefestival.com

Instagram: agaveheritagefestival

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-hanley/

Twitter: hotel

Facebook: agaveheritagefestival

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