Thank You for 25 Years + Happy Holidays

As we welcome the season of gatherings, giving, and gratitude, our team is celebrating an incredible milestone: our 25th year in business! Building something that stands the test of time takes a village; we wouldn’t be here without the people who support us. Thank you to our brilliant team, trusted partners, local community, and treasured clients! We are deeply grateful for each of you.

We wish you a merry and bright holiday season. May each of us cultivate more peace, joy, and love in 2025. We hope your New Year is happy and healthy – cheers to the next adventure!

Before we begin the projects, tours, and events that 2025 will bring, we want to take a trip down memory lane. From someone who has been here from the beginning, Greg gives us a glimpse into his perspective on McDonald’s past and future. Scroll below to read what lessons 25 years in business have taught him along the way.

Reflecting on the Start

What do you remember most about your first day at McDonald Remodeling?

I was hired to establish the remodeling arm of McDonald Homes – I turned out to be the first of many hires! I began my role as a trimmer for McDonald Homes, which gave me insight into the company’s players, procedures, and much-needed time with our lead trimmer. My first weeks were spent trimming in new homes before I was pulled away to meet with a potential remodeling client. Funny, I never returned to do any more trimming.

How did Jim McDonald (the company’s founder) impact your early days here?

Jim and I have a long history that goes back to my Jr. High days. My parents built a home next to his family; as a kid, I mowed his grass, split wood, shoveled snow, and helped with other projects when asked. Sure, I made a few bucks, but the real benefit was connecting with another adult beyond my parents, who taught me life skills, the value of hard work, doing my best, following through, and living up to my word.

Looking back, this is where I was exposed to the idea of servant leadership. Jim was never afraid to guide, critique, praise, or include me in his work. He truly became another father figure in my life.

In the early days, I was granted a long leash when working with clients. Jim allowed me to try things, make mistakes, and learn from them. I asked a lot of questions, but I always felt trusted and included in decisions from the start.

I will be forever grateful for the impact that Jim has made in my life and, subsequently, the life of my family and the lives of so many of those who represented McDonald Remodeling. Thank you, Jim.

What was one of the first projects you worked on, and what made it memorable?

My first project was a bit of a surprise. After only a few weeks of trimming, I was pulled away to help with a home addition. Vern and Betty were my first clients, and they were great. I knew them from church, and they gave me abundant grace, knowing this was my first sales call.

I asked a lot of questions to get an understanding of what they wanted. Little did I know that this simple act of listening to clients would prove to be an incredible skill. Vern and Betty’s remodeling goal was to live in their home longer and more safely. We built an addition on the back of the house overlooking the garden, with a mudroom, upstairs laundry room, and a living room. What makes this project stand out is that for nearly 30 years, this space was used and enjoyed as intended.

Building Relationships

What’s one client relationship that stands out to you from over the years?

If I must single out one client relationship, it would be that of Tim and Linda. They are Jim’s neighbors, whom I met early on. After discussing their goals, we landed on a kitchen addition and main floor remodel.

During their project, the sheet rockers left the house in a condition that wasn’t the greatest. To put it bluntly, we needed to do a better job of cleaning. It was the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and Tim called saying that the house needed to be cleaned for the long weekend. I went over to the home, and that evening, Tim and I cleaned the house together. We had some great conversations that night. It was the beginning of what’s become a lifelong friendship. Our families have since shared countless dinners, school activities, so many life events, and vacations.

How have your working relationships shaped your experience with the company?

Our employees, sub-contractors, and vendors have been with us for many years. We’ve got some subs that have been with us since the beginning. You get to know each other on a deeper level; you become aware of their celebrations, challenges, and lives outside of work. I’m grateful for the family we’ve all become.

I’ve learned that we all share the same objective: a desire to serve our clients to the best of our abilities. Through that common goal, we come together and support each other with the client as our main focus. Over the years, I’ve learned to let go and to trust the team that has been assembled.

Looking back on the 25 years of building relationships, what is the biggest thing you’ve learned?

The client relationship is one that’s earned. People have so many remodeling choices as to who they want to work with on their projects. Our clients invite us into their homes to work with them. When they turn over the keys to their homes, there’s a lot of faith and trust put in us to do what we said we’re going to do. It’s our responsibility to do our part each and every day. We need to always keep that client in focus as we serve them throughout their project.

When we’re fortunate enough to have earned that client relationship, then we’ve done our job. When we have those repeat clients and even client referrals, those are treasured and so meaningful.

Looking Back and Forward

What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in the company or industry since you started?

The easiest answer is technology. We can now email, text, call, connect over social media, FaceTime, pay bills online, research, and order products from the palm of our hands. The means of communication have changed a lot, but the clients’ expectations are still the same.

Back in the day, our office was filled with product reps. Now, the web is full of product possibilities, and we’ve had to become experts on any product a client brings us. That’s been an adventure, challenge, and also a fun opportunity.

Product wise, I believe the greatest change to our projects has been in lighting. We can now find any light tone, color, or brightness setting and even control it with an app. Lighting can go anywhere inside or outside homes now; we’ve placed lights in countertops, glass shelves, closet systems, showers, floors, and more. If you can think of it, then you can do it with LED lights! Oh, it’s also made finding light bulbs a bit of a challenge. 😊

What are you most proud of when you think about our company’s growth over 25 years?

It’s incredible to think about all the people we have collaborated with over the years. So many people touch our projects every day, from employees to sub-contractors to vendors. These people go home to their families and have lives outside of work; they get married, buy homes, and grow their families. To me, the real blessing is how this place has grown to serve so many people.

If you could tell our clients one thing on this anniversary, what would it be?

Thank You! Thank you for your trust, your confidence, and your willingness to invite McDonald Remodeling into your homes and lives all these years. We look forward to serving you for many more to come.

What is your biggest hope for the next 25 years for McDonald Remodeling?

I hope this company never loses sight of the fact that we’ve been invited into our clients' homes; we’re guests and we are here to serve them through their projects.