It Started with a Foreclosed Hotel
By Sasha Tuddenham
A wave crashed against his back as he admired the gloomy Fort Lauderdale beach. His mind raced as he squinted to study the grandeur of a foreclosed hotel. Another wave crashed into Micah Bennet. His head tilted as the seed of an idea took root, the excitement growing. Another wave crashed into his back, but he had become oblivious to it as the image of his future took shape: the owner of The Bennett Residence.
Years later, this rainy day on an ordinary family vacation remains vivid in the Marist alum's memory. That was the day Micah decided he would learn the ins-and-outs of the hospitality business. He jumped into the industry, working as a front desk representative at the Marriott Residence.
“From the time a guest gets out of their car and walks through those double doors, you have 30 seconds to change that person’s day, give them the best experience, and put a smile on their face,” Micah says.
“I want to see those teeth when you walk through the door. And knowing I could make a difference in someone’s life by just saying a couple of words — that was key.”
Micah has the gift to talk, the gift to smile, the gift to make a person laugh. However, his dream of operating his own hotel evolved. Still motivated to be a source of joy, he decided to channel his charisma through a humanitarian lens. That was the beginning of his company, Hudson Valley Concierge.
Hudson Valley Concierge focuses on delivery, transportation, and personal services. When Micah first had the idea for a concierge company, he went directly to huge conglomerates, like Hannafords, McDonalds, and BurgerKing. They turned him down.
Instead of being deterred, Micah came up with a better idea: going straight to the consumer.
Clients immediately realized that Hudson Valley Concierge was different from other concierge services. The company is much more than their motto, “We give you your time back.” Micah and the employees go beyond their hired services because he shapes the company to the needs of the customer. They make sure to meet their clients at the door, walk them to the car, and even help them with the seat belt.
Painting by Jamie Goodman
A California mother was upset that she couldn’t be able to visit her daughter, a student at Vassar College, for her birthday. Hudson Valley Concierge came to the rescue by delivering a cake, balloons, and ensured the delivery driver would sing “Happy Birthday.” The business even threw in a gift card. Not only did it make the daughter’s day, but the mother was ecstatic.
The director of operations at Hudson Valley Concierge said to Micah, “This is not work Micah, this is ministry.”
The company has come to embody this sentiment, because they never fail to leave an impression. They always show up in suits, ask what type of music the client would like to listen to, and adjust the temperature of the car to the wants of the client.
“There’s a way that we walk, there’s a way that we look, there’s a way that we talk, because actions speak louder than words,” Micah explains.
His driving force is rooted in being around and loving people. Ultimately, giving people something more than how they are just feeling that day.
The simple joy Micah feels from making someone smile or laugh began in his childhood. His mother would wake him up every Saturday morning shouting, “Wake up! We gotta get to church!” Upset about not being able to spend Saturday watching cartoons like his classmates, Micah now recognizes that the stability and guidance his parents provided, shaped the hard worker he is today.
His mom was a true “tough cookie,” being both boisterous and outgoing. It was her work with the health ministry at their church and her assurance to stand in front of the entire congregation that gave Bennett the confidence to speak in front of people.
“She would pull me up there and I would have to speak,” Micah recalls. “The butterflies went out the window because that became second nature.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Micah was equipped with assurance and drive inspired by his mother. Micah was first to start brainstorming ideas of how to adapt the company to help a wider range of individuals. He started by protecting the safety of the drivers and clients, ensuring each car had a Vollara Fresh Air device to filter air. Drivers also get tested for COVID-19 every week.
Micah did not stop at just protecting his clients and employees. Since the age of seven, he’s specifically wanted to find a solution to feeding those facing food insecurity. It’s just an instinct to give back.
Hudson Valley Concierge partnered with Frankie Flowers, a Dutchess community member, to help deliver food to the homeless, especially on Thanksgiving Day. The company also provides transportation at no cost to struggling individuals where Flowers distributes clothes and toiletries. Micah knew the stimulus checks were not going to be enough for people to pay for gas and get the items they needed.
Micah also partners with the Community Matters 2 Inc. to share his philanthropic ideas and volunteer. Struck by the number of kids dying from gun violence on the streets in Poughkeepsie, Micah helped formulate programs to help move these kids off the streets. One program involves mentors, like Micah, taking kids out to a shooting range to teach gun safety. Another program focuses on teaching etiquette.
In Poughkeepsie and within every community, there are people that need help. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the disparities in resources for those living in Dutchess County. Like many selfless healthcare workers, volunteers, and business owners, Micah took action.
“If you see something, jump right in. Ask the question,” Micah says. “Go up to someone and tell them you want to be involved. Stop the backyard talk. If you're going to talk about it, do something. Show up. Show up. Show up.”
FOR THE RECORD UNCUT
OBJECT PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography by Bobby Oliver
For this year’s project, we asked our Changemakers to bring items that had meaning to them to the shoot.
“Picture with my family: My family is my WHY. I work hard everyday to build a legacy for them, tomorrow isn't promised and I want to make sure that before my time is up. that I can be the best role model, Father, Husband ,Leader. I Find Joy knowing that my kids are watching me, and I love that fact that What i do can make an impact on their lives for the future. From my actions I pray that they care for my torch to change their lives and impact others! MY wife is my back bone who builds me up and pushes me forward when I have doubt or mentally in trouble. She is my support, my love and best friend. Drake the rapper has a phrase in a song " You wasn't shooting with me in the gym". Literally she was from day one with me practicing seeing the vision even when I lost sight and she got me on track and advised me everything will be ok. she said "Just remember what you wanted to do and what the vision is and go after it"!
The Book "What Do You Do With An Idea"- This book was given to my son by my wife's Aunt (Tita). I cherish every word when I read this book to my kids. Knowing that I have a passion for business and knowing how hard it is to start and come up with an idea. I was able to relate through the story with my son and explain the journey I went through with coming up with the idea of Hudson Valley Concierge Service. knowing how I felt when I had the idea of HVCS and the process I went through to nurture my idea to what it is today. The Journey was inspirational and impactful and it continues. I believe we need to connect, educate, stimulate our children's minds, and we can't do that if we do not lay the foundation or expose their minds to the endless possibilities life has to offer.
Community Matters 2 shirt- I am the communication director for this organization. CM2 is a local non profit organization whose primary focus is to change and impact the lives of the youth and others in our community. CM2 brings me so much joy knowing that I can work with our community on a micro level feeding , clothing ,cleaning our streets/parks/neighborhoods, education, youth mentorship program and many more things we have done, but just to name a few. I love knowing that I found an organization that is aligned with my heart and my vision of caring for the people. Planting the seed is critical to all life and that is our job when we go out to the inner city/ community asking questions, providing a shoulder to cry on, providing assistance when needed for our youth.
L'Quette Taylor who is the director is my best friend, brother and he has a heart of passion. and I believe we make an amazing team and we will change the way people, live , play and work in our community.
Baby Sonogram: I am blessed to know that I am having a daughter. This is my 3rd child, I have prayed and I felt that the community I love also helped pray that my wife would give birth to a girl. I believe women are undervalued in the workplace and in the world today. knowing that i will have my own child/daughter I can craft her mind, show her things and expose her to things to come. In other words create a space so she can thrive and break ground to create opportunities for other women as well. LEading by example is key but having a daughter will allow me to think and love differently in all that I do!”