We were lucky to catch up with Kathleen Hurtubise recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kathleen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.

Right before the 2024 holiday season, a high-end resort reached out to AlohaHP in urgent need of stewards. The resort’s remote location made the talent pool exceptionally limited, and they were skeptical about finding qualified candidates on such short notice. But AlohaHP thrives in challenges like these. Leveraging our proprietary high-tech recruitment search tool—designed to scan all employment platforms and identify the best-fit candidates efficiently—we swiftly sourced and secured five stewards ready to start within a week.

The resort was astonished by our speed and efficiency. Not only did the stewards meet expectations, but they exceeded them. After the holiday season, the resort permanently hired two of them and expanded our partnership, inviting AlohaHP to support their culinary, landscaping, and housekeeping departments. In a matter of weeks, we became their go-to staffing partner—demonstrating that AlohaHP doesn’t just place people in jobs; we create lasting, high-value partnerships built on trust and execution.

Kathleen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey into the staffing industry was not conventional, but it was intentional. My background is rooted in resilience, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of creating meaningful connections between people and opportunities. I’ve always believed that work should be more than just a paycheck—it should be a pathway to growth, purpose, and fulfillment.

AlohaHP was born from that philosophy. I saw a gap in the industry: staffing agencies were transactional, treating workers as commodities rather than individuals with dreams and potential. I wanted to change that. AlohaHP stands on the belief that when people feel seen, valued, and supported, they show up with more commitment and passion. That’s the heart of our company, and it’s what fuels everything we do.

At AlohaHP, we don’t just fill positions—we match extraordinary talent with extraordinary companies. Our approach is human-centered, solving the two biggest challenges in staffing: reliability and retention.

For light industrial companies, we tackle the well-documented issue of unreliable temp workers. Nationally, when companies request 10 workers, agencies often send 15-25 just to ensure 10 show up—and sometimes, even then, only 6-7 actually arrive. This is a failure of vetting and connection. AlohaHP disrupts this pattern by rigorously screening candidates, discouraging non-serious applicants, and personally engaging each new hire. We don’t just onboard; we integrate them into our culture of excellence and commitment.

For hospitality clients, we solve critical industry pain points:
Labor shortages: We recruit candidates who are eager to start long-term hospitality careers, fostering higher retention.

High turnover rates: We focus on the whole person, offering continuous support, career development, and wellness initiatives.

Skill shortages: We win grants to help workers earn certifications—like the Cornell University Service Excellence e-course—enhancing their skills and career potential.
Employee engagement: We maintain high morale through ongoing training, mentorship, and regular check-ins.

Through The AlohaHP Escort Program, we personally accompany every temp worker to their first day on the job, ensuring a smooth, confident start. This level of care and execution sets us apart. We aren’t just a staffing agency; we are a movement dedicated to raising the standard of service and human connection in the workplace.

I am most proud of the proprietary programming we’ve built at AlohaHP.
It starts with the AlohaHP Academy, which all temp workers go through as part of onboarding. Here, they learn:

Breathwork and meditation for grounding and confidence
The 10 Golden Rules of Aloha, outlining the mindset and professionalism expected on the job
Quarterly training programs that expand skills and increase earning potential
A comprehensive, open-book test that ensures material retention
This academy is a lifelong resource for our temp workers, helping them spiral upward in their careers and personal growth.

Our AlohaHP Escort Program is another game-changer—no temp worker starts their first day alone. A seasoned Staffing Management Team member personally escorts them, setting them up for success with a warm introduction to their new employer. Good beginnings create long-term stability.
Beyond that, our continuous engagement model includes:

Monthly e-newsletters with wellness tips, training opportunities, and community projects
Quarterly event training to boost income and career options
Community service initiatives, fostering a culture of giving back

These programs set AlohaHP apart, transforming staffing from a transactional industry into a partnership-driven, high-impact force for good.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

At AlohaHP, our vision is to scale a feeling—a feeling of excellence, integrity, and true Aloha. Every interaction, from clients to temp workers, should leave people with that feeling. But I’ve learned that culture doesn’t maintain itself—it requires constant, deliberate nurturing.

Culture is the sum of all the behaviors we celebrate minus the behaviors we tolerate. I’ve found that whenever I assume our culture is solid and step back, execution begins to slip. That realization has taught me that leadership requires consistent reinforcement of values. I now prioritize regular recalibrations—ensuring our team always understands, embodies, and elevates the AlohaHP standard.

Any advice for managing a team?

Consistency. Discipline. Mastering the basics.

High morale is not about occasional incentives or grand gestures—it’s about showing up every single day with clarity, purpose, and an unwavering standard of excellence.
At AlohaHP, we operate with:

A clear vision: Everyone must know why they are here and what we are working toward.
A defined pathway: A vision is useless without a roadmap. We make sure everyone understands how to achieve the goal.

Unrelenting discipline: Execution must always be at a high level. We don’t settle for mediocrity.
Great teams don’t happen by chance—they happen through intentional leadership, unwavering commitment, and a relentless focus on the fundamentals. That’s how we build a culture where people don’t just work—they thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alohahp.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alohahospitalityprofessionals/
• Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/drphyllis