20 Under 40 Power Couple: Scott & GeeGee Hammel
Scott & GeeGee Hammel – POWER COUPLE
The Hammel’s love for giving back has manifested itself into a new career for GeeGee and a slew of volunteer work for Scott.
It’s just the way they want it to be.
The couple attends Highland Park United Methodist Church along with their two children, Hadley and Hayden. GeeGee
Hammel is the accounting and finance director for HPUMC (she also teaches Sunday School). Scott Hammel, who runs his financial practice, is a member of an HPUMC small group, volunteers at the church’s cafe, and is scheduled to go on a mission trip soon to the Dominican Republic.
All of this wasn’t possible for the Hammel couple until they made drastic career moves: Both left their jobs.
GeeGee dove headfirst into volunteer work at her church, and Scott became his own boss – and gained plenty of extra time with his family – by opening Atlas Wealth Advisors.
Both Scott and GeeGee said that quitting their other jobs and pursuing their passions was life-changing.
“Quitting my job in 2007 to start a financial planning practice is the proudest moment of my life,” Scott said. “GeeGee and I moved from San Diego, and she had no job, and we had virtually no money. We had to live very, very frugally, and we love to reminisce about it because it really brought us closer and helped us define who we did and did not want to become if we ever became fortunate enough to have any kind of wealth.”
Also, for GeeGee, choosing to focus on her family and faith was an easy decision.
“My family is the reason I decided to leave my corporate career to find more balance in my life and to give back to my community through my gifts and talents,” she said.
The power couple even has a weekly lunch date at Below 40 Poke House.
“That’s when we discuss important business matters, like our marriage,” GeeGee said.
Scott Hammel
Age: 38
Business: Atlas Wealth Advisors
High School: Lebanon Senior High School,
College: University of Texas
Faith: HPUMC
Community Involvement: Member of HPUMC, Small Group there, volunteer at Cornerstone Cafe; Raised money for Carry The Load, Walk for Apraxia, daughter attend HPUMC, wife works there as well, President of BNI Chapter in Richardson, 2018 Texas Monthly Wealth Manager of the Year Award
What is the best advice you received when beginning your career? Love the process as much as the product
What is your business philosophy? Dare to Dream; Enjoy the Ride
What inspires you? Be efficient at work and get home to enjoy my girls every night
If you could tell 16-year-old you anything, what would you say? Allow the journey to unfold in it’s own time, it’s easy to impatient, especially in business. Some of the best moments came after I stopped pushing so hard.
What is your proudest career accomplishment? Leaving my job to start my own financial planning practice in 2007. Not sure where I found the nerve, but I was so convicted in the career that I didn’t even consider the prospects of failing.
What did you learn from your best boss or mentor? Communication fixes most problems, and most problems develop from lack of true communication.
What was your first summer job? Summer basketball camp with my dad
What do you love about your community? I came from a small town, and HP has a small town feel with the resources of a big city.
Where is the best place for a business power lunch in Park Cities or Preston Hollow? Below 40 Poke House – day date with my wife on Thursday’s
What is your fondest Park Cities or Preston Hollow memory? Small Group at HPUMC, it’s become a second home
Where will we find you enjoying your hard-earned time off? HP Pool, at home with the girls, or vacation in San Diego where GeeGee grew up
What do you want your last meal to be? Giordano’s Chicago Deep Dish
What is your favorite color? Blue
What fictional world or place would you like to visit? Atlantis
If you could be on a reality TV show, which one would you choose? The Profit – love the process of bringing value to business owners
What would your superpower be? Unlimited patience – I need it for these kids and wife 🙂
GeeGee Hammel
Age: 38
Business: Highland Park UMC
High School: Valhalla High School
College: University of California, Santa Barbara
Faith: Highland Park UMC
Community Involvement: I volunteer quite a bit with our church more so with the children’s programs or where ever help is needed – funeral services, Vacation Bible School, worship services, small groups.
What is the best advice you received when beginning your career? “Change is the only constant in life” and to “comfortable with being uncomfortable”
What is your business philosophy? Does it make sense?
What inspires you? Children. They are so precious and so impressionable. There is not enough love in this world.
If you could tell 16-year-old you anything, what would you say? I would tell my 16 year old self that she will never be perfect, stop striving for it and getting disappointed when you think you’ve “failed”. Enjoy the ride, life’s best lessons are on the journey. God always has a plan!
What is your proudest career accomplishment? My proudest career accomplishment is when I left my “career”! Cold turkey with no plan. It turned out to be the best decision for not only my family but for my happiness and wellbeing. I’m very proud of my career which makes me even more proud that I was able to leave it.
What did you learn from your best boss or mentor? She taught me to “dig in, roll your sleeves up and figure it out.”
What was your first summer job? Wet Seal (if any of you remember that store!! It was awesome as a 16 year old female – had the most stylish clothes!)
What do you love about your community? What I love about my community is just that! It is truly a community. This community is so diligent about keeping it a community, involving everyone, looking after everyone, making it feel like a family. I trust my neighbors and I feel safe. Isn’t that what we all want? And to think it’s in the middle of a huge city! But yet it feels small and close knit. I love it. I love how everyone is friendly, genuine and compassionate. There is always a familiar face on every corner.
Where is the best place for a business power lunch in Park Cities or Preston Hollow? Below 40 Poke House -only because that’s where Scott and I go for our weekly lunch dates! Ha! Where we discuss important business matters like our marriage. No really, I would say RD kitchen because of it’s atmosphere and they have great service.
Where will we find you enjoying your hard-earned time off? Somewhere by the beach, putzing around or at the spa!
What do you want your last meal to be? Brownies
What is your favorite color? Red
What fictional world or place would you like to visit? Bora Bora
If you could be on a reality TV show, which one would you choose? I’m not a fan of reality shows 🙁
What would your superpower be? Life Strategist – so that I can plan, figure things out, be more efficient and just because I like that kind of stuff 🙂
