Hixson Celebrates Our In-House Instructors!

Hixson has supported organized, in‑house learning since 1990 and formally established the Hixson University structure more than 25 years ago to better serve associates’ training and development needs. Made up of “colleges” that offer focused learning opportunities and role‑oriented learning tracks, Hixson University courses are taught by both internal subject‑matter experts and highly qualified external instructors, creating a well‑rounded and practical learning experience for associates across the firm.

Each year, Hixson hosts the HUey Awards, our own version of the Academy Awards, to celebrate excellence in learning and knowledge‑sharing across the organization. At the 2026 celebration, held last week, nearly 40 awards were presented, recognizing standout contributions from the past year in categories that were both fun and meaningful, including Shortcut Savior, Lasting Impact, “I’m Using This Tomorrow,” Longest Ongoing Improvement Assignment, Most Attended Courses, and the Unsung Hero Award. While the majority of honors go to Hixson associates who share their expertise as presenters or serve the Hixson U organization in some way, the program also traditionally includes recognition for an outstanding external presenter and for those who attend and participate in Hixson U classes. This year’s awards were presented by Jamie Drout, Hixson’s Continuous Improvement Specialist and leader of the Hixson University organization, alongside Allee Amstutz, Senior Interior Designer and one of the Deans of Hixson University.

And while we may not hand out Oscars, 2026 award recipients took home a special honor of their own: the HUey trophy, symbolizing Hixson’s ongoing commitment to learning, continuous improvement, and celebrating the people who make it all happen!