Constructing the Elements for Success
There is no quick and easy formula for long-lasting success. Just ask Dale Contant, principal owner of Atlanta Design & Build. Since 1996, ADB has persevered through good times and bad, pressing forward to a strong future with Dale as the driving force behind the company’s success.
A native of South Florida, Dale received his work ethic from his father, a residential contractor. The knowledge and hands-on experience he gained from working alongside his father was a strong factor leading to a profession he would continue to revisit throughout his professional career.
1982: Dale established a business sub-contracting masonry work, but then found himself working in the insurance industry. Both the training and real-world education he received selling insurance would turn out to be one of the keys to his success later in life.
Seven years later, he and his family moved to Georgia and Dale began working in sales for a company that sold pre-manufactured sun rooms. It was here that he formed his friendship with co-worker Mike Pike. Dale remembers, “Because of many requests, I was doing a lot of work on the side. Mike joined me on many of those projects. I realized that I could do just as well or better working for myself and I saw a need in the Atlanta market for a trustworthy remodeling company.”
1996: Dale founded Sun Fun Remodeling, Inc. with Mike as a co-owner. “We started out building decks and outdoor areas”, Dale says. Dale took the lead as the face of the company, which now had a more comprehensive approach including elements of design and architecture.” Wanting to be part of a professional organization dedicated to the industry, Dale became a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) in 1998. The sales training I had through the insurance company helped out”, Dale says, “but I always had a penchant for talking with people, reasoning with people and selling. And all the hands-on experience I had in construction gave me a handle on the nuts-and-bolts of running a business.” He is convinced that this is the reason Atlanta Design & Build has prospered where others have failed.
2001: This is not to say that Atlanta Design & Build did not have its share of growing pains. “In 2001, I hired a consultant to help us become more process-oriented so that we could do a better job on all the intricacies of the business,” Dale says. As their processes evolved, so did the scale of projects contracted. “As we received more calls for doing interior work, we decided to change our name to Atlanta Design & Build”, recalls Dale. Additional consultants brought the team through a rebranding initiative. Dale became associated with Remodeler’s Advantage Roundtable, an industry brain trust comprised of professional remodelers across the United States. Having served the NARI Atlanta local chapter in various committee chair roles since 2003, rising in the ranks to President in 2007, Dale and several team members earned credentials through the NARI educational programs available. All of these opportunities for gaining experience, input and wisdom from others have contributed to ADB growth and progress.
2009: When the economic downturn hit, in some ways ADB was better prepared to survive than the average company. It still was not a painless process. The company faced serious downsizing, something that haunts Dale even years after the fact. Once the dust had settled, however, and the economy began to recover, Atlanta Design & Build was still in one piece. “Some of it was luck,” says Dale. “Some of it was business strategy and just the determination and endurance of our ADB team.”
And for the future? Dale says his outlook has evolved with the business. “In the past,” Dale says, “I was always focused on growing, growing, growing. And truly, what I’ve learned is it’s not really important to grow for the sake of growing—if you’re not having fun and you’re not making a decent profit. What it really boils down to is: you want to make a living, you want to pay your bills, you want the people around you to be successful and, most importantly, you want satisfied clients.”
Today, Dale’s professional associations includes his work with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Having been a member since 1998, he served the NARI Atlanta local chapter in various committee chair roles since 2003, rising in the ranks to President in 2007. He began serving as an officer on the national level in 2013 and is currently serving as President-Elect—in line to become President this year. For Dale Contant, running a successful company is a fine achievement, but, he says, “finding the right work/life balance is just as important.”
Based on the firm foundation of the past 20 years and the current strength of the company, the Atlanta Design & Build team is moving forward with great expectations for future success. Their new logo retains elements of their original logo, yet updates the look in keeping with the company’s desire to be on the cutting-edge of design. They have moved to a new location in order to provide easier access for clients. They have been experiencing solid team growth that allows them to more effectively serve an expanding client base. The unusual longevity of ADB’s employees points to a positive working environment and ensures clients will have highly experienced professionals engaged in their projects.