About Hastings

Janet has been part of the team since 2003, and her position is twofold. As purchasing manager, she is responsible for all stock and special order products, which she secures by communicating on a daily basis with the many European factories that Hastings works with. She also oversees the customer service department as the manager and handles calls if her team needs additional help.

According to Janet, she feels her roles involve two particular skills: problem-solving and being a magician. She loves making customers happy and though she never expects thanks, when they do thank her, she feels especially good about the work she does.

Favorite product(s): The VOLA T39 Electric Towel Warmer because of its unique design. It is a truly beautiful piece.

Outside of Hastings: Enjoys cooking, and enjoys sporting events with her two college-aged sons (go Buckeyes!). She also professes to being a fan of tennis player Rafael Nadal.

Something coworkers would be surprised to know: I wanted to be a stockbroker, and the market crashed the year I graduated, and my plans changed. I've only had two jobs my entire adult life. I was at the first one for 15 years. I am very loyal.

John has been with Hastings since 2005, and because he is a man of few words, the best way to describe his role is with one word: essential. His strength is his ability to think outside the box when it comes to solving any/all technical issues that might arise.

Favorite product(s): The VOLA KV1 kitchen faucet, for its looks and functionality.

Outside of Hastings: John enjoys live shows, and he collects movie posters. He travels whenever he has the opportunity.

Something coworkers would be surprised to know:  I’ve been here so long, there are no surprises. I don’t hold back.

Charlene has been keeping our numbers straight since 1994. A huge fan of Hastings' complete catalog of products, Charlene somehow manages to keep everything in order, which is not easy when you have such a rich catalog. She considers herself a great team player, which is important when you are juggling as much as the accounting department juggles.

Favorite product(s): Charlene just cannot choose a favorite. She loves every product. We tried to pin her down—couldn’t do it.

Outside of Hastings: When not at work, Charlene teaches CCD (religious education for confirmation) classes.

Something coworkers would be surprised to know: I volunteer within my community, and I go on spiritual retreats a few times a year.

For more than 20 years, John Ardila has been a steady fixture at Hastings. He’s contributed to the Company’s success with his steady handling of operations, logistics and showroom sales. Navigating the myriad collections and the diverse clientele is where John’s expertise shines. He gained a lot of his experience prior to joining the Hastings family, working for a major retailer, and he continues to hone those skills today. Never one to rest on his laurels, John embraces new technology and he’s a keen observer of trends; right now, he’s seeing a lot of wall-mounted, floating vanities trending. His favorite product – like so many of his colleagues is VOLA’s T39 Towel Warmer. He feels the functionality and simple and minimal design are far superior to any others on the market. We agree!

One of Hastings’ long-time employees, Ronnie has been with the company since 1992. A true team player, Ronnie prides himself on his ability to work with all levels of people in what can sometimes be considered a stressful position. His enthusiasm is contagious, and his reliability is what everyone knows they can count on.

His curious nature has provided him with the opportunity to learn and embrace new ways of working and this curiosity extends to the products as well. He appreciates VOLA’s design aesthetic, particularly the showerheads and the color options of the faucets.

A proud grandfather of two grandsons, when not at Hastings, you will find Ronnie spending time with his family or at his nearby bowling alley, where he bowls a few days of the week.

Given the longevity of many of Hastings’ employees, Jennifer is a relative newcomer, having joined the team in February 2021. Diving right in, she makes excellent use of her degrees in Fashion Buying, Merchandising and Home Product Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology as she works with Hastings’ customers. Her keen eye for detail is important as she helps customers with product specifications, pricing and samples for VOLA and Hastings Bath Collections. As many before her, VOLA’s T39 Towel Warmer has become one of her favorite product designs. She considers it jewelry for the bathroom. When not keeping her eye on wellness and other trends in design, she indulges in her own version of biophilia by running, hiking and gardening.

Walter has been with Hastings since March 7, 1988! A true renaissance employee, Walter has performed virtually every position with the company; paving, warehousing, customer and tech services (each capping off in a management role), regional sales manager and now sales coordinator. His support to the staff, the dealers, the architects, designers and end users cannot be overestimated. He derives satisfaction from helping everyone with whom he comes in contact. At trade shows you will find Walter happily engaged in conversation with everyone who wants to learn more about Hastings’ collections.

Favorite product(s): There has been a long list of products (since we are always searching for the latest and greatest European designs) that has passed through Hastings over my many years but one item has been consistent most of our furniture is the VOLA HV1.The fact that it’s 50+years old and still looks good on just about every sink we’ve put it on. Timeless.

Something co-workers would be surprised to know: Walter says he’s an open book – but we all think he’s our version of the ’World’s Most Interesting Man’.

Christopher’s role in customer service is one that many consider the heart and soul of the Company. His friendly voice and demeanor are a critical component when dealing with customers and partners here in North America and vendors in Europe. 

A natural connector, Christopher loves forming relationships with Hastings’ network of partners. He   studied English and Linguistics at Stony Brook University and has worked as an English teacher focusing on ESOL. This background introduced him to many cultures and he gained a curiosity and enthusiasm for the blending of cultures. He brings this same enthusiasm to his work at Hastings and it shows. 

When asked what his interests are outside of work, he admits to a love of the outdoors, going to the gym and a bit of video gamesmanship. All of this might seem a long way from where he began; Christopher grew up raising chickens and guinea hens on a makeshift-farm on Long Island!

For anyone who has ever wondered how challenging it might be to ensure that solid surface bathtubs and other fixtures arrive safely, wonder no more. Meet Jordan Torres whose building expertise is put to good use on all shipments from Hastings. Jordan’s role involves building the crates that each product is shipped within, and he takes pride knowing that the products will arrive in pristine condition; he feels his degree in Applied Science is why he’s able to construct such safe crates. Even though hundreds of products pass through his hands, he admits that the VOLA showerhead is one of his favorites – the sleek look and the finishes draw him in. We thank him for the care he gives to every product!