Meet Julia Hoffbauer, Harmony Healthcare Controller
1. What’s the best place you’ve ever visited?
I enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures and scenery. It’s difficult to pick one place, but one of my favorites is Viareggio, Italy.
I loved the colorful umbrellas from the bath houses by the Tuscan Riviera with the Apuan Alps in the distance. We enjoyed wonderful Italian cuisine at a sidewalk café and a relaxing afternoon by the beautiful sea.
2. Tell us about a moment you made a leap of faith.
We were living in Ohio where I had transferred with my job for a few years and were ready to get back to the Southeast. My husband was offered a job in Tampa, and we decided he should take it. That left the kids and I to finish up their school year, pack up a house, and move to Tampa 2 months later without having seen our rental house and with no job lined up for me.
For someone that likes to have a plan, that was a leap of faith.
3. Share a favorite memory from your past.
My dad and grandfather were Clemson graduates along with a couple of other generations in my family. I spent a lot of weekends there attending footballs games and have many fond childhood memories surrounding that campus that extend well beyond the sport of football.
I was able to attend their national championship game in Tampa a few years ago. Being there in person to feel the electricity and emotion of the crowd upon that victory – and feeling that my dad was still there in spirit with us – was an amazing experience.
4. If you could only sing one song for karaoke for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I much prefer listening to karaoke! My husband, friends, and I did an impromptu karaoke at our wedding to “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, so I’ll go with that one.
5. Create a soundtrack to your life with just 5 songs.
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- “Saltwater Gospel” by Eli Young Band: I love the beach and the calming effect it has on me.
- “Carolina in My Mind” by James Taylor: I was born and raised in South Carolina, and it will always be home regardless of where life takes me.
- “Lose Yourself” by Eminem: This is a good one for energy and getting pumped up and focused.
- “Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean: Dirt roads have led me to some amazing friends and fun adventures in my Jeep group.
- “The Dance” by Garth Brooks: It’s about living life knowing that you’ll have pain and low points, but if you don’t put yourself out there you’ll miss all the good as well.
6. What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
I used to work for a company that Warren Buffett owned and liked his advice: “Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
Adaptability is important in our professional and personal lives.
7. In less than 100 words, what words of inspiration do you wish you could share with yourself 10 years ago?
Around 10 years ago, I was transferred to a new region with my job. I had 2 young kids who were adjusting, a demanding job, and I also took on the task of obtaining my CPA license after being out of school for years. This was a challenging time with a lot of adjustments.
If I could go back and share words of encouragement with myself, it would be to stay focused on the goals and the end game, but to also enjoy the ride. The hard work and challenges do pay off, and the challenged times are just temporary.
