Meet Hayden Simmons! Hayden is a lifelong Hall County resident and Mortgage Loan Originator at Homestar Financial in Gainesville. She is married to Graham and Hayden says they, “enjoy going to the gym then grilling out at home. We also love Tap It takeovers whenever there is one. We also like to travel to go see concerts in other cities.”
We want to thank Hayden for taking a few moments to answer a few questions about her life and love of Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “My dad got me into the mortgage business! He has been in the business for 30-plus years. He’s been a really great mentor to me . I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “Eat at Thai is some of the best Thai food ever! I get either the masaman curry or spicy basil chicken. I also like Avocados for the ambiance and their quinoa bowl.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived here my whole life. My dad grew up here, my grandfather…It goes back a couple generations. But I started working for Homestar Financial Corporation in December 2013.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County and why?
A: “I would have to say Pam Ware. She was my theatre teacher and director in high school. She works harder than anyone else I know. She’s always inspired me to work hard for the things I want and to expect more of myself.”
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: “My favorite childhood memory is my mom taking us to the library to check out a book and then getting ice cream at Corner Drugs. Definitely simpler times.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Right now? Would be the beach because I need a vacation…but I am going to France in the fall.”
Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “‘Free Willy!’ I think that shows my age too well.
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Don’t sit around and expect things to just happen for yourself. Get up and go after what you want.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I would love to go to cooking school or complete some kind of culinary program.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “I love the oldies so The Temptations, Sam Cooke, alive would be Stevie Nicks.”
Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County and why?
A: “Definitely Green’s Grocery on Riverside. It feels like a true local neighborhood market. Plus I could eat their chicken salad every day!”
Q: Choosing anyone (past or present and a non-relative), with whom would you love to have lunch?  And where locally would you have this lunch?
A: “I would love to have lunch with Sara Blakely the founder of Spanx. I so respect her drive, determination, and the business she’s built. But at the end of the day she’s a wife and mother first. Plus she’s a Georgia girl! We would go to 2 Dog and sit on the patio.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “I love the Gainesville square. Over the past two years it’s been so evident how much Gainesville and the rest of Hall County supports local business.”  
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “I see myself as happy as I am now. Plus a couple kids!”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I went to school for Interior Design. It’s still a passion of mine.”
Q: What are three words that mean “Home” to you?
A: “Graham (my husband), coffee, friends.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.