Travis Hebert Exemplifies High-Performance Culture
When South Lafourche native Travis Hebert joined the Danos team in September 2021, he had no idea he would find himself moving to South Texas and then Montana within just a year. But Travis has exemplified being open to change, a Danos high-performance culture trait, since day one on the job, which happened immediately following Hurricane Ida.
After graduating from Nicholls State University with a degree in petroleum safety management, Travis started working at Danos as an administrative assistant in the safety department. Just two months after his start, he was offered a safety specialist position in South Texas. He accepted the offer and fell in love with the work and the area. As a safety specialist, he was in the field daily making visits, working with employees and clients, attending safety meetings, and maintaining relationships with field employees, something that is different from the usual safety experience for many.
One such relationship he formed while in South Texas was with Danos Production Operator Ruben Zamora. In May 2022, Ruben’s life was turned upside down by the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. His 10-year-old daughter Mayah was critically injured and spent two months in a hospital undergoing more than 20 surgeries. Travis exemplified how Danos employees care for one another and demonstrated another high-performance culture trait: bias to action.
“As soon as I heard about the shooting, I called the account manager from Uvalde and spoke with him,” said Travis. “We learned about Mayah, and I immediately jumped into action to find out how Danos could help through the Foundation. I kept asking, ‘What can we do?’”
The Danos Foundation was able to pay for hotel rooms near the hospital for Ruben and his family to stay close to Mayah during her recovery. In addition, Travis visited the Zamoras in the hospital to bring food, flowers, stuffed animals for Mayah, and a donation check from Danos employees through Danos CARES.
While Travis had known Ruben as a safe and good worker, the two were not particularly close before the incident. However, in the weeks following, the two grew to become friends.
“He started to trust me and reach out to me with anything he needed,” said Travis.
A month after the shooting, Travis was back home playing golf in Matthews, Louisiana. While there, he met a woman named Cara Adams who works with Texas Relief Warriors in Houston. Founded in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Texas Relief Warriors is dedicated to helping those in need in Texas and along the Gulf Coast. Cara was in the area assisting with Hurricane Ida Recovery.
“We say it’s by the grace of God we met on the course that day,” said Travis. “When I told her about Mayah, she said, ‘We have to do something.’”
Cara, who also serves as community outreach coordinator for Houston’s Gallery Furniture, first suggested getting Mayah to an Astros game, which then turned into her throwing the first pitch. Then, the Carlos Correa Family Foundation got involved and made Mayah its Hero of the Month.
On August 23, a group of 25 Danos employees traveled to Houston to watch Mayah throw out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game against the Minnesota Twins.
“We were honored to support the Zamora family during such a difficult time,” said Danos CEO Paul Danos. “The outpouring of generosity from company employees by way of donations was inspiring. I’m humbled that the Foundation was able to help the family during a time of need, and we remain grateful to Travis for his leadership and bias to action.”
Thanks to Travis’ involvement, the Correa Foundation is building the Zamoras a new home. Others, including Texas Relief Warriors, Gallery Furniture (and its well-known philanthropist Owner Mattress Mack) and Danos employees, have all agreed to help build and furnish the home
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In August, Travis was once again open to change and accepted a new role as an account manager in Ekalaka, Montana.
“Everyone is awesome here,” said Travis. “It’s a smaller account, so there are more opportunities to meet with each employee monthly. And they see me in the field every day.”
Although he has moved, Travis is still in touch with Cara. They talk frequently about more ways to help Mayah. And, of course, he also checks in with the Zamoras regularly. Ruben, Mayah and their family have formed a special relationship with their new Cajun friend.
As Mayah’s eight-year-old brother Zack said, “Cara and Travis really care about us. They even cry with us.”
Travis does, in fact, CARE.
Danos Account Manager Travis Hebert, Mayah Zamora and Cara Adams of the Texas Relief Warriors pose for a picture with the Houston Astros players Martín Maldonado (left) and Yordan Alvarez (right).
Mayah Zamora throwing the first pitch.