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When Donnie McMillan Jr.<\/a> founded DaBella in 2011, his vision was clear: to create more than just a home improvement company. He sought to build a thriving organization where employees and customers felt valued, empowered, and connected. Today, DaBella operates in 20 states with over 52 locations, a testament to McMillan\u2019s ability to cultivate a culture of success.<\/p>\n From investing in employee growth to fostering a customer-first mindset, McMillan\u2019s leadership exemplifies how a strong organizational culture can drive both excellence and expansion.<\/p>\n For McMillan, the roots of DaBella\u2019s culture lie in its name. \u201cWhen we started the company, we wanted to make sure we had a family atmosphere, so I named it after my two twins, David and Isabella,\u201d he explained. \u201cI wanted to name the company [after them] so everybody could keep it in the front of their mind that this is all about family. It\u2019s about the families that you go and see out there day to day in their homes \u2014 our customers. It\u2019s about the families and opportunities we provide for ourselves.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n McMillan believes this approach fosters trust, a critical ingredient for long-term success in the home improvement industry.<\/p>\n One of McMillan\u2019s most significant contributions to DaBella\u2019s culture is his commitment to employee development. Unlike many companies that hire leaders externally, DaBella promotes almost exclusively from within. \u201cWe don\u2019t acquire anybody. You have to start off as an entry-level person in the company and work your way through sales before you can be put in that class to go with the location for us,\u201d he explained\u200b.<\/p>\n This practice reflects McMillan\u2019s belief<\/a> in the power of personal growth. Every DaBella employee is encouraged to reach their full potential through leadership training, mentoring, and self-improvement programs. \u201cRoughly, you know, an average employee is getting about two hours a week in some sort of self-growth, teamwork, or leadership initiative,\u201d McMillan shared. \u201cWe invest a tremendous amount into even the most entry-level employee if they want to be involved in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaders and managers receive even more focused development, with 10% of their working hours dedicated to coaching and mentoring others. \u201cLeadership is an awesome responsibility. It\u2019s not about money. You better know that it\u2019s about taking care of other people,\u201d McMillan stated\u200b.<\/p>\n DaBella\u2019s culture is grounded in three core values: leadership, growth, and care. These values permeate every aspect of the business, guiding decisions and shaping behavior. McMillan explained the importance of these values during the company\u2019s rebranding process, when a third-party entity was retained to evaluate DaBella\u2019s identity<\/a>. \u201cWhat was interesting to them is the employee base \u2026 all of the staff could explain the core values, the culture of the company very well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Leadership, in particular, is central to DaBella\u2019s mission. The company invests heavily in training employees to lead with empathy and influence. \u201cYou find a good person who wants to grow, and eventually, you hire more people who want to follow them,\u201d McMillan explained\u200b.<\/p>\n Growth is equally important, both for the company and its employees. \u201cGrowth with success through the success of others. That\u2019s a cultural thing. We can\u2019t get anywhere on our own,\u201d McMillan said. This mindset is reflected in DaBella\u2019s rigorous training programs and promotion structure, which provide employees with clear pathways to advancement\u200b.<\/p>\n Care, the third pillar of DaBella\u2019s culture, extends to both customers and employees. \u201cWe care for families. We care for us, so you can\u2019t have one without the other,\u201d McMillan shared. This principle informs DaBella\u2019s customer service approach, where employees are taught to treat every home as if it belonged to their grandmother\u200b.<\/p>\n McMillan\u2019s commitment<\/a> to care goes beyond the company\u2019s operations \u2014 it also extends to the communities DaBella serves. One of the ways DaBella builds a culture of success is by fostering a sense of purpose among employees through community engagement initiatives.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s DaBella Cares program, which raised money for cancer charities, is a shining example of this commitment. In 2024, DaBella raised $280,000 for the cause. Additionally, DaBella provides free home improvement projects for veterans and families in need through Operation Hero in partnership with the GAF Community Contractor Program. McMillan\u2019s goal is to eventually offer free projects in every market DaBella serves\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to reach out back to that community, to be able to try to take care of people, is \u2026 really important to us,\u201d McMillan said. \u201cIt really does help us with our employees being reenergized. We\u2019ll see people in need to be taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n In an industry known for its challenges \u2014 economic fluctuations, shifting consumer behavior, and high competition \u2014 DaBella\u2019s culture has remained stable, says McMillan. \u201cIt\u2019s the day-to-day people that are actually getting that done,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the stats we track is how many people within the company make over $100,000 a year and every year, the number of those earners increases. I really feel that it\u2019s very important to give people those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n The company operates like a \u201ccontinuous startup,\u201d constantly refining its processes to stay competitive and efficient. \u201cWhat we\u2019re doing today won\u2019t be the way we do it six months or a year from now,\u201d McMillan explained\u200b.<\/p>\n For McMillan, the ultimate driver of success at DaBella is its people. \u201cEvery voice here matters,\u201d he said. \u201cThe company is full of 2,000 important individuals and no one is better than the other. If you\u2019re in leadership, it\u2019s an awesome responsibility.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you put people first, everything else follows,\u201d he said \u2014 a philosophy that has propelled DaBella to the forefront of the home improvement industry.<\/p>\n With McMillan at the helm, DaBella isn\u2019t just building homes \u2014 it\u2019s building lives, careers, and communities, one project at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Donnie McMillan Jr. founded DaBella in 2011, his vision was clear: to create more than just a home improvement company. He sought to build a thriving organization where employees and customers felt valued, empowered, and connected. Today, DaBella operates in 20 states with over 52 locations, a testament to McMillan\u2019s ability to cultivate a… Continue Reading The Foundation of Family and Care<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Developing Leaders From Within<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Core Values That Shape the Culture<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Building Community and Giving Back<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Navigating Challenges With a Strong Culture<\/strong><\/h4>\n
The Secret to Success: People<\/strong><\/h4>\n