Dan Simoneau & Lynn Carl

The Hoot & Holler is, and has always been a community event. Afterall, cancer and pediatric care affect us all. While we are connected within the AEC industry, we are also connected to our beneficiaries in one way or another. You can image our pride and delight when our little industry concert started gaining support from other General Contractors (ie. DPR's direct competition)! It's an incredible testimony of how our industry can come together and do big things. You may not realize that so many families affected by pediatric cancer work in the local construction industry. Carson Leslie's dad is a Project Executive at Beck Construction, Kyle Murray's mom worked at Balfour Beatty Construction, and sweet little Ellie Simoneau's dad, Dan, works at Austin Commercial. We sat down with Dan and his partner Lynn to hear about what the Hoot & Holler means to them. ​

Dan Simoneau & Lynn Carl at Hoot & Holler in 2021

You've been supporting Hoot & Holler for a few years now, why do you keep coming back?
Dan & Lynn: We have been blessed to be asked to be a part of DPR’s Hoot & Holler through the Carson Leslie Foundation (CLF) and our common goal to cure medulloblastoma. Our daughter Ellie is two-and-half years no-evidence-of-disease (NED) from brain cancer.

Who has been your favorite performance? Why?
Dan & Lynn: Aaron Watson was amazing. Our friends David and Karlien Murray whose daughter also had brain cancer, joined us for the fun. It was our first time and our first big outing since our daughters got out of the hospital. It felt great to let our hair down and just enjoy the night and celebrate.

What would you tell someone that's never been to the Hoot & Holler before?
Dan & Lynn: It is the best event I have ever seen put on by a contractor. It gives you lots of room to wander and talk to many people in the industry as well as enjoy fantastic music and a good cold beverage. The ability to meet so many people is great, and to catch up with old friends.

How are you connected to The Carson Leslie Foundation or the Women’s Auxiliary of Children’s Medical Center?
Dan & Lynn: Annette is persistent!!! We met Annette with CLF by just reaching out and talking. We wanted to be involved in a local non-profit that hit home with childhood cancer and just happened that CLF fights for medulloblastoma just like our Ellie had.   

Which musician would you most like to see at Hoot & Holler? 
Dan & Lynn: Pat Green, Koe Wetzel, Stony LaRue

If Hoot & Holler was an emoji, which one would it be?
Dan & Lynn: I would say I am a bit too old for emojis. I will have to ask Ellie.

Haha! Thank you Dan, and Lynn for taking the time to share your thoughts. We are so grateful for your advocacy, and support. We can't wait to see you in February 2024!

- Monica and Kacie

---

If you'd like to get in touch with Dan or Lynn, drop them an email or connect with them on LinkedIn.

Dan Simoneau
Operations Manager
Austin Commercial
dsimoneau@austin-ind.com

Lynn Carl
Senior Project Manager
Pacific Builders
lcarl@pbidfw.com

---