Where we’re from. Where we’re going.
This isn’t a straight line. It’s a real one.
Here’s how Hardhat Coffee Co. came to be - and where it’s headed next.
Revision history
Every sheet in a set carries a revision block: what changed, when, and who signed for it. Ours is the company.
Growing up was a little bit different with Grandpa, but a heck of a lot of fun. He instilled perseverance, tenacity, and dedication. A magnetic man. He would have had an impressive career in the HVAC trade.
Best part? Never saw him drink anything but coffee.
CLAfter some odds-and-ends electrical side jobs through high school and shortly thereafter, trade work became the focus to carry on a legacy. Thanks, Grandpa.
CLAfter attempts at a surveyor path and an architecture program, a passion for work kept getting in the way.
CLThanks to some trade experience, a desire to learn, and an ability to hand sketch details on a titleblock, Beverly Hills came calling for a Superintendent. High-end residential pre-’08 was a blast! Then...BAM!
CLSome “extra” time on the hands led back to college for a Construction Management Degree - starting from scratch.
Thankfully, running work was still a possibility along with school, and some high-end residential came back around.
CLJumped into top-tier commercial general contracting and ran through Field Operations for five years, and into Recruiting for six years. One thing kept popping up - where is the next generation of qualified talent coming from?
CL50 years later, Grandpa’s legacy lives on. We supply the coffee - our customers build the next generation of qualified tradespeople and field management workforce across America - one bag at a time.
Best part? Construction and coffee remain in our blood.
CL
Cole Leslie
Founder & CEO · Hardhat Coffee Co.
Construction Superintendent · Coffee Purveyor
