Chandler and Franklin Hatchett moved to Westlake in 2020 from Dallas to intentionally lay roots in the same town Chandler grew up in. She graduated from Westlake High School in 2006 and left Austin to attend Baylor University where she earned degrees in Spanish and Broadcast Journalism. In 2009, she was set up on a blind date with a professional golfer from East Texas. Franklin, an SMU graduate from Jacksonville, had spent the previous decade competing on various professional tours. It was love at first sight for both of them. Once he knew he had found the one, Franklin left golf for a career in the Oil & Gas industry, and Chandler moved to Dallas to be with him. While Chandler moved from the newsroom to the classroom as a teacher, Franklin traded his golf clubs for courthouse records and lease agreements - stepping into petroleum land work as an independent field landman. 

They married in 2011 and have since welcomed three beautiful children into their family. Brooks is 11-years-old, and has very big plans to play golf on the PGA tour while also playing professional football in the NFL. Ainsley, whose parents refer to her as ‘pure sunshine’, is 8-years-old and loves singing, dancing, and owls. Both attend Cedar Creek Elementary. Lottie is a curly-haired, apple juice wielding 3-year-old, who loves to dance and snuggle. She is a spirited, determined little girl who knows what she wants and just how to get it! She’s a proud student of Casner Christian Academy. They’re fourth child is a 3-year-old Bernedoodle named Hazel, born just 5 days before Lottie - the two are convinced they’re twins. Two goldfish, Saffron & Ginger also live rent-free at their home.

In 2010, Franklin founded Hilltop Resources and dove into the Haynesville shale of East Texas and beyond. As a field landman, he spent long days in county courthouses assembling patent-to-present title abstracts, chasing curative requirements, and building relationships in the industry. Over time, he transitioned into aggregating mineral and royalty interests, clearing title for multimillion-dollar packages, and negotiating directly with owners to close deals efficiently. The skills he honed in the field (not to mention the patience gained on the golf course) became the cornerstone for his business. Today, he uses that foundation to identify and secure mineral, royalty, and non-operated working interests for Hilltop Resources and its capital partners. While Franklin enjoys the intricacies of the oil and gas, his greatest passions in life are his faith and family - with golf coming in at a close second. After taking the time off to regain his amateur status, Franklin now plays and competes for fun, which he says is infinitely less stressful!

Before 2020, Chandler was a high school Spanish teacher and ran a lifestyle blog. In 2019, she relaunched the site as an online publication for Christian women. During this time, she published a book, “A Proverb A Day - A Month-Long Quest for Godly Wisdom and Christian Character." After the pandemic, and their move to Austin, she embraced full-time motherhood. When she’s not driving carpool and coordinating playdates, you can find her writing devotionals and teaching Bible Studies to subscribers on Substack, speaking to various women’s groups, and participating in ministry events at Austin Ridge Bible Church. She’s also served in several capacities with local area nonprofit organizations. You’ll rarely see her without an iced tea from Texas Honey Ham - she swears it has magic powers that get her through the day!

If her name looks familiar, it’s probably because you saw it on a yard sign. She decided to utilize her education experience to run for the Eanes School Board in 2023, with 4-month-old Lottie in tow! She’s passionate about EISD initiatives and puts that passion to practice by serving on several district committees. She also sits on the EEF Board of Directors. This year, she chaired and emceed their inaugural Eanes Legends Luncheon, awarding 6 outstanding members of the Westlake community.

The Hatchetts don’t really care what they’re doing, as long as they’re together. They love road trips, and, most recently, they loaded up the car and drove to North Carolina. The Hatchetts say they treasure these moments - both the sweet and the “more trying” - that they experience together on these trips. Most days, you can find all 5 of them together hanging out and watching football at home, but if they do go out, it’s usually to El Alma, Lin Asian, or Austin Country Club. (Though Brooks will vote for P.Terry’s or Hat Creek every time.)

Both Chandler and Franklin believe they are living in “the good ‘ol days.” Chandler describes their current season with their 3 children as “magical,” knowing they’ll look back on these busy days with joy! It’s easy to guess what falls at the top of their gratitude list - their family. They thank God that they get to live this life together and feel immensely blessed to be here in Westlake.