Hospitality: An Unlikely Path

By Everett Ledet, Co-Founder & Managing Director

If you told me 20 years ago that my journey—from washing dishes in a chain restaurant kitchen—would one day lead to designing luxury hotels, I would’ve smirked and said a prayer for you. Yet, here I am.

It all started in my hometown of San Angelo, Texas, where I helped my mom with accounting for a local restaurant. She later went on to work with Prism Hospitality and retired earlier this year from Aimbridge. Watching her navigate the business side of hospitality planted an early seed of curiosity. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but that exposure to restaurant development sparked a lifelong fascination with the people, places, and possibilities within this industry.

Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats—
Dishwasher. Hotel Manager. Event Producer. IT. Construction Consultant.

Each role taught me something different: how to anticipate guest needs, manage team dynamics, and balance service with profitability. I’ve worked Mother's Day brunch in a hell well, survived the chaos of TX/OU weekend with a skeleton hotel crew, delivered the magic of perfectly timed events, and watched the sun rise on hotel opening days—scrambling to finish before the inspector arrives. I’ve lived it, and I empathize with everyone who keeps the hospitality engine running.

That lived experience directly shapes Tower Design Studio’s approach. We don’t just design spaces that look beautiful—we design with operational realities in mind. We consider flow, staffing efficiency, preventative maintenance, and how design supports not only the guest experience, but also the team delivering it.

My path from chain restaurants to luxury hotels may be unlikely, but I believe the most impactful careers in hospitality often are. It’s the tangents, the rabbit holes, and the relationships forged under pressure that ultimately shape who we become—and how we lead.

I believe that this path makes Tower a stronger partner. We understand both the big-picture pressures of development and the micro-details of daily operations. I know what it feels like to live behind the front desk—and that’s why the spaces we create aren’t just beautiful; they’re human-centric.

As Allie Bergeron, our Design Principal, leads with creative rigor, my hands-on experience in hospitality acts as another tool in Tower’s unique value proposition. Together, we aim to maximize creativity and purpose. It’s a culture we strive for in our work—with Registered Interior Designers, LEED certifications, and partnerships like NEWH—all driven by what Allie describes as, “slightly choreographed and highly collaborative.”