CULTIVATE CULTURE
ACCELERATE PERFORMANCE
HardRock Infrastructure Leadership Retreat: Cultivating Culture, Accelerating Performance.
At HardRock Infrastructure, we focus not only on building and mentoring some of the best drilling crews in HDD, but also on developing future leaders for our industry. As one of the industry’s leaders, HardRock believes it is our responsibility to create more leaders - not just followers - to continue advancing HDD into the next generation and to remain the environmental solution for todays and tomorrows infrastructure needs.
Every year, leaders from all over the company pack their bags and head to our annual leadership retreat. This year we choose the beautiful Broken Bow, Oklahoma, as the setting for a week of professional development, team building, and a whole lot of fun.
Learning, Laughing, and a Little Competition
The weekend kicked off with leadership training that focused on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. It wasn’t all business, though. Between sessions, the group got competitive with axe throwing contests and adrenaline-pumping side-by-side trail rides. Sure, it was a blast, but these activities also reminded us how important trust, focus, and teamwork are—both on and off the job.
The Cooking Challenge Everyone’s Talking About
The highlight of the retreat? Definitely the nightly cooking challenge! Each team took turns whipping up dinner for the whole group. Armed with a fully stocked cook trailer, their aprons and a sense of humor, they grilled, chopped, and spiced their way through a friendly (but intense) competition.
Judging was based on three key things:
Plating: Did it look good enough to eat?
Taste: Did it hit all the right flavors?
Creativity: Did they try something new or exciting?
All the meals were impressive, but Team 3 separated themselves from the competition by adding a drink with their meal, giving them the final edge in the eye of the judges. They nailed it with bold flavors, a colorful presentation, and a pinch of teamwork. Their win? Totally deserved—and you can bet they’re not letting anyone forget it.
Take Aways
This retreat wasn’t just about food and fun (though there was plenty of both). It was about building stronger connections, learning new skills, and heading back to work with fresh energy and ideas. Events like this remind us why teamwork and leadership matter so much at HardRock.
Big congrats to Team 3 on their well-earned win, and here’s to more retreats like this one in the future! Let’s keep building stronger teams—and having a blast while we’re at it.
