After 36 Years of Service to Hilldrup, Connie McGrath Retires | Q&A Interview
Congratulations to Connie on her career with, and retirement from, Hilldrup!
As a family business, Hilldrup knows that the people who make up our organization are just as critical as the business decisions and numbers that allow our enterprise to thrive. No one understands this balance more than Connie McGrath, Vice President of Finance. Connie, who leads our accounting, billing and collections departments has simultaneously led a large team of accountants and bookkeepers over her 36 years of service to Hilldrup. Now, in May 2024, Connie is retiring.
Recently, we chatted with Connie to learn more about how she began her career with Hilldrup, what she’ll miss most and her plans for retirement.
Hilldrup: When did you begin working at Hilldrup and what was the company like at that time?
Connie McGrath: I began working at Hilldrup in January 1988. When I graduated high school in 1976, I joined the Army and spent three years working at the Pentagon, while taking college courses at night. When I got out of the Army I went to work as an assistant manager at a Savings and Loan. I worked there until 1982 when my first son was born. When my second son was two years old, I decided it was time to go back into the workforce, so I applied for a billing position at Hilldrup, which was advertised in The Free Lance-Star. After my interview, I was offered the position of Accounting Supervisor since the person in that position had given notice that they were leaving. I moved from being a Supervisor to Manager and then to Vice President.
When I started with Hilldrup, annual sales were just over $10,000,000. Our current monthly sales are now almost $10,000,000. We had branches in Stafford, Lexington Park, Culpeper, Fredericksburg and Orlando. In 1989 we added Richmond. I was in charge of coming up with the new branch numbers, so I used the year we purchased them. For example, 89 – Richmond; 93 – Greenville; 96 – Burlington/Raleigh 99 – Charlotte; 07 – Atlanta, etc.
H: What will you miss most about Hilldrup?
CM: I will really miss the people at Hilldrup. I have worked with many of them for over 30 years and feel a close connection with most of them. We are fortunate to have many employees in the accounting department who have been here 25 years or more.
H: Did you have a mentor or someone at Hilldrup that you really looked up to or had an impact on your career? If so, could you share a little bit about them and their influence.
CM: Pete Marshall played a very important role in my career at Hilldrup. I worked directly for him from 1988 until he retired. We always got along well together, and he trusted me to take over most of the accounting duties.
H: What are your plans for retirement?
CM: My plans for retirement are to travel more, spend more time with my grandchildren and possibly do some volunteer work.
H: Is there anything else that you’d like to share or add?
CM: I am looking forward to retirement, but I am definitely going to miss the Hilldrup “family.” It has been such a bit part of my life for the past 36 years that I am having a hard time envisioning what the days will be like without it.
We’re incredibly grateful to have had Connie’s unwavering commitment to our organization and internal and external customers alike which have helped us to grow tremendously over the past nearly four decades. We look forward to continuing to celebrate Connie’s career and retirement with her family, friends and team in the near future!
On behalf of all of us at Hilldrup, congratulations on your career and retirement, Connie! We appreciate all that you’ve done to make Hilldrup the best moving services company, period, and wish you a relaxing and well-deserved retirement!
On behalf of all of us at Hilldrup, congratulations on your career and retirement, Connie! We appreciate all that you’ve done to make Hilldrup the best moving services company, period, and wish you a relaxing and well-deserved retirement!
Whether at the office or at Hilldrup’s many employee events that took place off-site, Connie’s commitment to Hilldrup and her team has always been exemplary. Through Connie’s leadership many employees have grown in their careers and have felt supported both in work and in life.
Giving back and supporting the local community is a big part of Hilldrup’s culture. Connie’s leadership has shaped our company’s culture in many ways, including always being available to support Hilldrup’s philanthropic efforts and events, such as our annual Stafford County Schools Art Show Open House.
