Mia Patel
Mina Starsiak Hawk, the co-founder of Two Chicks and a Hammer, revealed that she had to let go of several employees, including contractor Austin Aynes, due to downsizing. She expressed her desire to find alternative employment for those affected and successfully transferred Austin to her brother Tad's company, Hammer Construction. Mina's decision to downsize comes amidst challenges in her personal life, strained relationships with her mother, Karen E. Laine, and brother, Tad Starsiak, and the conclusion of her HGTV show, Good Bones. The show's end also marked the closure of the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, and the announcement of a new store in Noblesville, Indiana.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Austin Aynes |
| Position | Contractor |
| Reason for Leaving | Mina decided to downsize her team |
| Current Status | Employed by Tad at Hammer Construction |
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What You'll Learn
Mina Starsiak Hawk lets go of Austin Aynes
Mina Starsiak Hawk, the star of HGTV's Good Bones, has revealed that she decided to let Austin Aynes go from her team as part of a downsizing effort. Hawk explained that she wanted to find a "soft landing space" for her employees and reached out to her brother, Tad Starsiak, who owns his own construction company called Hammer Construction. She offered him the opportunity to take on two of her employees, including Aynes, and he agreed.
This decision came after Hawk closed her Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, following the wrap-up of Good Bones season 8. Hawk co-founded the company with her mother, Karen E. Laine, in 2009, and they began renovating homes together in 2007. The company was discovered by High Noon Entertainment in 2014, and the mother-daughter duo went on to film a TV pilot, which aired in May 2015.
However, in recent years, Hawk has faced challenges with city planners over construction permits and has butted heads with city officials, which contributed to her decision to phase out home renovation work in Marion County. Additionally, Hawk has revealed a strained relationship with her mother, Laine, and brother, Tad. She has also shared the financial burden and pressure she felt as the sole owner of the business after Laine retired in 2019.
The strain of starring in a TV show while running a business took a toll on Hawk, and she admitted that she started feeling the weight of the long-running series. She also mentioned that the 13-houses-per-TV-season format proved unsustainable, and the company faced thin margins and dangerously narrow breakeven points. These factors likely influenced her decision to downsize her team and let go of employees like Austin Aynes.
Despite the challenges, Hawk remains a successful real estate mogul and has announced the opening of a new location in Noblesville, Indiana. She continues to share her journey and provide updates to her fans through her podcast, "Mina AF", and her Instagram account.
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Mina downsized her team
Mina Starsiak Hawk, co-founder of the company Two Chicks and a Hammer, made the difficult decision to downsize her team. In October 2023, she revealed on her podcast that she was no longer in a position to maintain a large team and had to let some people go. She expressed her desire to find a "soft landing space" for her employees, so she reached out to her brother, Tad Starsiak, who owns Hammer Construction, and successfully arranged for him to take on two of her former employees, including contractor Austin Aynes.
Mina's decision to downsize came amidst challenges and changes within her company and personal life. She had been navigating a strained relationship with her mother, co-founder of Two Chicks and a Hammer, Karen E. Laine, which became more complicated after Karen's retirement from the company in 2019. As the sole owner, Mina carried the weight of the financial burden, which took a toll on her mentally and emotionally. She also faced difficulties with city planners and construction permits, impacting the feasibility of their home renovation projects.
The company's retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, closed after filming the final season of their HGTV show "Good Bones." Mina revealed that none of the show's cast members still work for her company. She also shared that she was not on good terms with her mother, brother Tad, and another family member, William. The stress of these relationships and the demands of running the business took a significant toll on Mina, leading to her decision to downsize and seek a more manageable workload.
Mina's downsizing decision was a strategic move to adapt to changing circumstances and alleviate some of the pressures she was facing. By reducing the team size, she could focus on core operations and explore new business ventures. Mina's priority was to ensure her employees' well-being, and she demonstrated her care by facilitating their transition to new opportunities. This challenging period in Mina's life showcased her resilience and commitment to both her employees and personal growth.
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Mina's mother, Karen E Laine, retired from the company
Mina Starsiak Hawk's mother, Karen E Laine, retired from their company, Two Chicks and a Hammer, in 2019. The mother-daughter duo founded the Indianapolis-based home renovation business in 2007. Karen has a legal background, and Mina has real estate knowledge, which they combined to find properties to flip.
In a blog post titled "Karen's Big Announcement," Karen wrote about her decision to step back from day-to-day operations:
> "Although it is hard to leave this wonderful group of people, it is exactly how wonderful and capable they are that makes me comfortable leaving. I have complete confidence that the company Mina and I founded, based on the novel idea of improving neighbourhoods by rehabilitating the worst houses in a neighbourhood, one house at a time, has a bright future! I won’t be far, and will likely just be puttering in the yard!"
Karen reassured fans that she would still be a part of the HGTV show Good Bones, shifting her focus from home renovations to DIY projects. However, Mina announced on her podcast in August 2023 that Good Bones would be ending after eight seasons. The show's finale aired in October 2023, and Mina revealed that she and her mother were no longer on speaking terms.
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Mina's relationship with her mother and brother, Tad Starsiak, is strained
Mina Starsiak Hawk's relationship with her mother, Karen E. Laine, and brother, Tad Starsiak, has been strained. Mina revealed in a podcast episode in August 2023 that she was not on good terms with either of them. She described how they would all put on a polite front but then talk negatively about each other behind each other's backs.
Mina and her mother, Karen, co-founded the company Two Chicks and a Hammer in 2009 and starred in the HGTV show Good Bones, which ran for eight seasons. However, their relationship has not always been perfect, and they have had a falling out. Mina has described the final two seasons of Good Bones as "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically." She also shared that she felt the weight of the long-running series falling on her, and the financial burden affected her mood on set.
Karen retired from the company in 2019, and Mina has since felt the pressure as the sole owner. In addition, Mina has closed the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, and downsized her team, letting go of several employees, including contractor Austin Aynes. She has also revealed that she is not on speaking terms with another former employee, Cory Miller, with whom she used to have a great relationship.
Mina's brother, Tad Starsiak, owns his own company, Hammer Construction. Mina reached out to him when she was letting go of employees and asked if he could take on some of her former team members, including Austin. Tad agreed, and Austin now works for him. It is not clear what caused the strain in Mina's relationship with her brother, but she has described it as "nonexistent."
Mina has also hinted at family dysfunction in the past, and it seems that their relationships are complicated and strained.
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Mina closes the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location
Mina Starsiak Hawk, the star of HGTV's Good Bones, has decided to close the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana. The decision comes after the filming of Good Bones season 8 wrapped up, marking an end to the show's eight-season run.
Two Chicks and a Hammer is a company that Mina co-founded with her mother, Karen E. Laine, in 2009. They began renovating and flipping houses in their hometown of Indianapolis in 2007, and their business venture eventually led to the creation of the popular HGTV show. However, in recent years, there have been reports of strained family dynamics and financial challenges.
Mina has revealed that she is no longer on good terms with her mother, Karen, as well as her brother, Tad Starsiak. She has also downsized her team, letting go of contractor Austin Aynes, who has since joined Tad's company, Hammer Construction. Mina explained that she wanted to ensure a "soft landing" for her employees and reached out to Tad to offer them alternative employment.
In addition to closing the flagship store, Mina has also announced that she will be opening a new location in Noblesville, Indiana. This decision comes amidst speculation about a potential new HGTV show for Mina, as she shared that she was filming her lake house renovation with designer MJ Coyle, who has continued to assist her. While the details of Mina's new business venture are not yet clear, she has expressed a desire to focus more on the construction side of the business, as reflected in the company's redesigned logo, which emphasizes the word "Hammer."
The closure of the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks marks a significant change for Mina and her company. As she navigates new business ventures and family dynamics, Mina continues to be a prominent figure in the world of home renovation and reality television.
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Frequently asked questions
Mina Starsiak Hawk revealed that she had to let go of contractor Austin Aynes from her Two Chicks and a Hammer team.
Mina explained that she decided to downsize her team as she could no longer maintain a large team. She wanted to find a soft landing space for as many people on her team as she could.
Mina reached out to her brother Tad, who owns Hammer Construction, and asked him to take on Austin. Tad agreed, and Austin now works for him.
Yes, Mina also revealed that she is no longer on speaking terms with her project manager, Cory Miller, who runs his own construction company, Miller Built LLC. She also closed her Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, and announced she was opening a new location in Noblesville, Indiana.
