Cliff Hunt Retires After 25 Years of Service
After 25 years of dedicated service, Cliff Hunt, Vice President of Risk for The Dutra Group, is retiring. During his long career at Dutra, Cliff was instrumental in overseeing IT, corporate risk management, and safety programs for the company.
Prior to joining Dutra, Cliff attended San Jose State University as a jazz performance major, playing the trumpet. At 35, he pursued and completed a degree in computer science from the University of San Francisco while working for Chevron. Over the course of 18 years he held various positions, ending his time with Chevron in the corporate IT group in San Francisco.
Upon joining The Dutra Group in 1999, Cliff established the company’s first IT department, focusing on integrating new technology to improve operational efficiency. In 2001, when the company Safety Director retired, Cliff’s extensive experience with health and safety at Chevron made him a natural fit for the position.
In 2007, Cliff was encouraged by Bill Dutra, Executive Chairman, and Harry Stewart, President and CEO, to pursue an MBA in Risk Management. Completing his MBA in 2009, Cliff was promoted to Risk Manager and led the IT, Risk and Safety Departments. As Risk Manager, Cliff increased risk communication and integrated risk strategies into the company’s operations. He built a strong Safety Team and with the help of the hardworking hands in the field, significantly reduced the incident rate at The Dutra Group to well below the industry average. He partially credits Bill and Harry for giving him the freedom to lead, but also points to his team, stating, “It’s not really me, but all of us working together who have been able to reach these numbers.”
Cliff’s academic credentials include a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of San Francisco, an MBA in Risk Management from Walden University, and an Associate’s certification in Risk Management from the Insurance Institute of America.
Cliff is quick to acknowledge the contributions of the talented individuals he has hired, like Patty Dutra Bruce, VP of Human Resources at Dutra, Hank Schukler, Safety Manager, and John Wyma-Hughes, the new Risk Manager. He notes they are smart, talented, and productive. Cliff has every confidence that Patty, Hank, John, and the rest of the team will continue to lead the company forward.
“Cliff’s leadership and expertise have been a critical component of The Dutra Group’s success over the last 25 years,” said Executive Chairman Bill Dutra. “His dedication to safety and risk communication has made a significant impact on our operations and culture.”
While under Cliff’s supervision, Dutra’s Safety Department introduced the “Harvey Freeman Safety Award.” First introduced in 2010, the award formally recognizes individuals who continuously work to ensure the well-being of their coworkers. Named in remembrance for the much beloved member of the extended Dutra family Harvey Freeman, the award is presented annually to a member of the company who, like Harvey, exhibits integrity, honesty, mutual respect, and above all else, prioritizes the safety of their co-workers. For the 2024 selection, the Harvey Freeman Award was presented to Cliff for his enduring commitment to the company’s safety culture.
Cliff and his wife Rose share six adult children and eight grandchildren, underscoring his role as a family man. His decision to retire was not made lightly, but he decided it was time to spend more time with his family, and to pursue volunteering and hobbies. “I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at The Dutra Group and the relationships I’ve built over the last 25 years,” Cliff said. “I’m proud to have helped develop the IT, Safety, and Risk departments, and to have had the ability to hire wonderful people who have carried out the initiatives and groundwork for our success.” Cliff also looks forward to playing the trumpet and guitar again, returning to one of his earliest passions. Additionally, he recently adopted two special needs dogs that he is excited to provide the extra care and attention needed now that he is retired. He is also interested in volunteering to help improve the lives and raise awareness for those living with autism, a cause close to his heart.
The Dutra Group recently celebrated Cliff’s retirement with a special event where family, colleagues, and industry peers shared their appreciation for his contributions to the company. Also among those attending was a special surprise guest from Cliff’s earliest days with the company: Amjad Shaikh, Cliff’s first team member at Dutra, who made a special trip from his home in Toronto, Canada to help send Cliff off in style. Cliff and Amjad worked together in the company’s IT Department. Together, Cliff as IT Director and Amjad as System’s Administrator, they built the company’s first IT infrastructure. They had not seen each other for 19 years!
