Destinite honors those who did what he couldn't with a Maid Brigade

Destin businessman Don Hay gave back on Veterans’ Day, awarding a Maid Brigade franchise valued at more than $45,000 to Crestview veteran Philip Thomas Piaget.

Hay started Maid Brigade, a maid service company, in Atlanta in 1984. After 25 years in business, Hay now has 130 offices around the country. And in just a few months, Piaget will open one more office somewhere near Destin.

“Hopefully we’ll open shortly after the first of the year,” Piaget said. “I’m looking into Niceville since it’s more centrally located than Fort Walton Beach or Crestview.”

Piaget was chosen from over 100 applicants. After the pool was narrowed down to six veterans, a panel of four judges spent two days with the finalists, evaluating leadership, management, interpersonal skills, financial capabilities and behavioral profiles.

“It was the best two days in 25 years of running my company,” Hay said. “But picking the top three was very, very hard because these guys were all so good.”

When it came time to make the final decision, Piaget was chosen as the Gold Award winner, which entitled him to working capital, equipment, waived franchise fees, training and support, based on the leadership and commitment he demonstrated in the U.S. Armed Forces. Piaget, a father of four who retired from the Army in September, was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal of Valor, campaign medals for Kosovo and Iraq and numerous Meritorious Service Medals during his 20-year career as an Airborne Ranger.

“I was surprised and honored to be chosen,” Piaget said. “Anytime you go into business for yourself, you and your family have to sacrifice, so having this help is huge for us.”

The idea for the Maid Brigade Veterans’ Giveaway came from Hay’s wife, a self-described Navy brat. But she isn’t alone in her appreciation for the military. Hay, a licensed pilot since he was 17 years old, said that his dream was to be a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. But because Hay, originally from Canada, was not yet a U.S. citizen, becoming an officer in the Air Force was impossible.

“My heart is in it (the Air Force),” Hay said. “All I ever wanted to do is fly. I always say I’d go today if they called me.”

While Hay never got that call, he kept a special place in his heart for the military. And after spending most of his life in the business world, he’s found a way to act on his appreciation for the armed forces.

“These folks all volunteer to go over there, put themselves in harm’s way and be separated from their families,” Hay said. “It felt so good to be helping out such terrific guys. It was so successful and we loved it so much that we’re going to do it every year.”