Timothy Gourley is one of those people who knows life is about more than just a big paycheck and the perks that go with it. A life is complete when something is given back to the community, said Gourley, who recently joined Liberty Mutual’s Glastonbury office, located at 95 Glastonbury Blvd. He had owned a boutique search firm, East Coast Search LLC, where he helped build information technology, sales, finance, and accounting teams for companies across the Northeast.
Community involvement has been a key element of Gourley’s life going back to high school. Both parents were active in his hometown of Milford. He continued his commitment when he went off to the University of Connecticut.
“I was overly involved in community service events,” said Gourley. “It’s just a sense of responsibility that I’ve always had: be active and make the world a better place to live. It must have been instilled by my parents because it has always been there.”
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut in 1994 and is involved in various community initiatives including the UConn Alumni Association, Glastonbury Little League, Hartwell Soccer, the Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce, and MetroHartford Alliance.
The father of two, a daughter 7 and a boy 5, admits that it didn’t hurt that Liberty Mutual is a large company.
“The big attraction was going to a Fortune 100 company with a great history and a little more stability than running your own business in this market,” said Gourley.
A sound of pride enters Gourley’s voice as he talks about what he is able to give back to the community. He got the Glastonbury Little League team actively involved in a program called ResponsibleSports.com. If enough parents, coaches and others sign up and commit to the program’s philosophy of fair play, the local little league could win a grant.
People who are passionate about their beliefs outside the office tend to do well at their businesses, Gourley said.
“If you apply that passion to community endeavors, you’re also going to apply it to your business. You have to be involved. You can’t just say you’re involved.”
