12
Years ago my Canadian business went on a major path of expansion in Europe and we decided to open an office in the UK. After spending several months, touring the midlands and the outskirts of London, I stumbled into Portsmouth, and saw a Palm Tree on Rodney road. I had never seen a palm tree grow in the UK, and was bewildered. When most foreign companies open warehouses in the UK they open them in the Midlands, but what I found in Portsmouth, was special, and I never looked back. When I returned to Canada after that trip, I mentioned to my father that I was going to open our first foreign office in Portsmouth. He turned to me in a moment a son does not forget and said " You know your grandfather sailed from Portsmouth and was stationed there in WWII. After his ship was hit shortly after D-day he was later buried there". It was fate, Portsmouth was going to be our UK home.
Once
I found the town, I needed to find the team, and so I went about interviewing as many people as I could. 
I
must admit, Matt, was not my first pick, coming from a leasing company he was not the most qualified, but we hit it off in the interview and I hired him anyway for another role. What can I say I really liked him. So I passed on him for the Manager role, but when my first pick quit after a week, I realized that Matt may not be the most qualified... but damn it, he was the guy I wanted to work with. On many occasion in my life I have hired people that I just wanted to spend time with rather than who was the most qualified, and Matt was this guy. Matt was a team player from DAY 1, and what he did not know about our industry he learned very fast. Over 12 years He set up 3 warehouses, lead a team and represented our company at hundreds of meeting and events. He was shoulder to shoulder with every leader in my company, and when he showed up to our office in Canada, he was so appreciated and lit up the room with his smile and cheer full nature. 

I can not accurately sum up what 12 years of working with someone feels like, but with Matt is was fluid and just natural, it was great. He was not just an employee but a friend to everyone and he is deeply missed by everyone at Hatley.

Jeremy Oldland