Employee Spotlight: Riley Hilford

At Tandym, we know that success is a team sport, and every month, we take a moment to recognize one standout player who goes above and beyond. Our Teammate of the Month isn’t just someone who gets the job done; they embody our values, uplift those around them, and make a lasting impact. Get to know Riley Hilford, Tandym’s Office Administrator and Tandym’s Teammate of the Month for February 2026!

Who are you?

I was born in Connecticut and grew up in Fairfield County in a small town called Redding, where I lived for the first 21 years of my life with my parents and my older sister. My mom works in marketing and advertising for a luxury spa & salon, and my dad works in financial investments for a family office. I went to Joel Barlow High School, which combines students from two different towns. Growing up I played volleyball and tennis, and I even briefly played varsity golf in high school. When I say briefly, I mean I lasted about two practices.

After high school, I went to Penn State for a year, but COVID sent everyone home and I ended up transferring to UConn. I joined the Alpha Phi sorority and had an amazing college experience. I was also there when the UConn men’s basketball team won the national championship, which was pretty incredible. During college I also studied abroad in Florence for a semester, which was one of the best experiences I’ve had.

After I graduated from college, my family moved to Manhattan, so I lived with them for about a year. Now my sister and I share an apartment in Chelsea with our dog Evie.

Would you rather be an amazing breakdancer or an okay singer? Why?

I’m going with an okay singer. I like to sing, even though I’m definitely not very good at it. If the option were an okay dancer instead of breakdancer, I might choose that. But breakdancing feels like too much commitment. You cannot just randomly do the worm anywhere, but you can sing anytime you want.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can wiggle my ears. I am not sure that counts as a talent though. I always joke that if I were on Love Island during the talent show episode, I would have absolutely nothing to do because I do not have any standout talents. I used to play the piano growing up, which I guess technically count as skills. I probably need to start doing that again. Also, honest question: does going skydiving count as a hidden talent?

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Weirdly enough, I’ve actually met a bunch of famous people in the most random of ways. The most notable would be The Obamas. When I was in seventh grade, I went to the White House holiday party because my grandmother was a journalist and author who worked on ABC News 20/20. I’ve also met Martha Stewart while doing a fashion internship, which was pretty cool. Also, It’s New York City, you kind of just randomly bump into famous people all the time. At least, I do for some reason.

Who were your heroes or inspirations growing up?

My biggest inspiration growing up has always been my sister. We were not actually that close until she went away to college. Once she left, I realized how much I missed her. I always wanted to do the things she was doing and experience the same things she was experiencing, so I would visit her at college whenever I could. She has always been very motivated, giving, caring, and selfless. Watching her go through an accelerated nursing program while still managing to maintain a social life was really impressive. She works incredibly hard and has always inspired me to push myself.

Over time, we became even closer, and now she is not only my sister but one of my best friends.

Rumor has it you are not the biggest fan of pizza. Can you logically explain this atrocity?

I do not dislike pizza. I just do not really reach for it. I think the real issue is that I am not a big marinara sauce person. Give me vodka sauce any day of the week. I like creamier sauces. If I were stranded on a deserted island and pizza was the only food available, I would absolutely eat it. I love bread and cheese. When I was younger, I would actually take the cheese off the pizza and rub the sauce off and then put the cheese back on and eat it like that.

I know that sounds strange, but it is what it is. If I had the choice, though, I would take sushi over pizza any day. There should be plenty of that on the deserted island. Wait, I just remembered this isn’t a deserted island question, haha.

Did you find Tandym, or did Tandym find you?

Tandym actually found me. I had just graduated from college when someone from Tandym reached out because my LinkedIn profile matched the skillset they were looking for in a new Administrative Assistant. We spoke briefly and realized we had a mutual connection who already worked at Tandym. That person also happens to be one of my best friends. I came in for an interview, and the rest is history. I have been here ever since.

You are always on the prowl for great burgers in New York City. What are some of the best you have tried, and what is next on the list?

The best burger I’ve ever had is at definitely at 4 Charles. It’s legendary and the only way I got a reservation is through a family friend who couldn’t make theirs. But there are so many great burgers. J.G. Mellon is a NYC classic. It’s a great no-frills, basic burger. There’s also this spot Fairfax, that actually smashes their burger bun. It looks and sounds ridiculous, but it’s delicious. Other standouts are Pastis and Monkey Bar (definitely get the monkey bread if you go there!).

The next few burgers on my list I need to conquer are at Gotham Burger Social Club, Minetta Tavern and Red Hook Tavern, which is supposedly the best burger in all of New York. I’d add Lorde’s to the list, but the challenge with them is that they only serve like 10 total for the whole day.

What was it like hearing you won Teammate of the Month?

I was absolutely shocked. I was already nervous during the town hall because there was a video of my cousin that was going to be shown, so I was not expecting anything else to happen.

It was a whirlwind of emotions but mostly happiness and gratitude. It felt really nice to be appreciated and recognized. My role involves a lot of hustle and a lot of different projects and tasks behind the scenes, so it meant a lot to have those contributions acknowledged. A lot of people reached out afterwards to congratulate me, which really made it feel even more special.

Speaking of your cousin, what was it like being at the Winter Olympics to watch him win gold?

It was incredible. The entire atmosphere was happy, exciting, and really inclusive. Everyone was just thrilled to be there. None of us slept very much to be honest.

During the competition, we were all on pins and needles. Our hearts were racing and we were holding our breath the entire time. He had already won silver and bronze in previous years, so seeing him finally win gold while our entire family was there together was a once in a lifetime moment.

I also got to ski one day in the Italian Alps, which was amazing.

What are your goals for 2026 with Tandym?

I feel like I have built a really good rapport with people across the company, and I would love to get even more involved in day-to-day administrative work.

I enjoy helping different teams and contributing to things that help Tandym grow. One of my favorite parts of my role is preparing our team for conferences and coming up with fun ideas. I like making sure Tandym has a strong presence and leaves a lasting impression. Seeing what works and what attracts people to our booths helps us get better each time.

I also enjoy helping out with marketing projects and graphics whenever Eddie Rivera asks for assistance. Overall, my goal is to continue being a reliable resource for everyone at the company and someone people can always count on day in and day out.

If you had to have a small animal on your shoulder for a whole year to help with daily tasks, what would it be?

I would choose a tiny golden retriever puppy. They are soft, cute, and always happy, which would definitely make stressful days better. Now, as far as helping with tasks, I am not sure how that would work. Unless the dog can talk. If the dog can talk then it could dictate things to me, help me stay organized, and maybe tell me jokes throughout the day.

By the way, if this is somehow possible, I’m fully on board. I promise my productivity will not drop!