{"id":9655,"date":"2024-08-30T19:48:54","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T19:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/?p=9655"},"modified":"2024-08-30T19:48:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T19:48:55","slug":"it-begins-and-ends-with-our-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/30\/it-begins-and-ends-with-our-people\/","title":{"rendered":"It begins and ends with our people"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Do work and happiness go hand in hand? Ask any Schell Brothers team member and you\u2019re likely to get a resounding \u201cyes!\u201d In fact, the company\u2019s generosity-fueled warriors can\u2019t really imagine one without the other. It comes as no surprise, then, that Schell Brothers has earned a coveted position as #62 among Fortune 100\u2019s Best Workplace for a Medium-sized Company<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on straightforward feedback, the Fortune 100 rankings are determined by an analysis of anonymous employee responses about topics ranging from team dynamics and managerial relationships to work conditions, benefits, and overall culture. The transparent format ensures that companies on the final list exemplify true workplace excellence across a variety of business sizes and sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its corporate office in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Schell Brothers is a nonconforming builder that delivers stunning, production-style homes with a luxurious twist, offering countless, personalized selections and finish choices, as well as a deep focus on extraordinary customer care.\u00a0Schell homeowners don\u2019t just move into their homes; they find happiness there\u2014along with an atmosphere of pride that seamlessly extends to the surrounding community. From their first model home visit to contract signing and beyond, customers are treated like family and afforded an intrinsic sense of belonging, instantly becoming part of the charismatic Schell culture. By the time the moving boxes are unpacked, Schell homeowners already regard their neighborhoods in the same way that devoted sports fans relentlessly support their beloved team.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“I believe in empowering our teammates, which means inspiring them to thrive and be their best. A happy team makes me happy.” – JAMIE, Director of Sales<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How is this possible? Company co-founder and president, Chris Schell, is quick to say that the company\u2019s resourceful spirit begins and ends with its people. \u201cThe kind of environment we have attracts the kind of individuals who are self-motivated and basically propel this company forward without the micromanagement and oversight that goes on in other companies,\u201d he explains. Team members appreciate the ability to make decisions and work together toward a common goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept is intriguing, but what is the magic formula for creating\u2014and sustaining\u2014a rewarding work experience inspired by happiness? Here\u2019s the secret: it\u2019s not really about magic at all. It\u2019s about walking the talk when it comes to culture. At Schell Brothers, culture isn\u2019t a buzzword, it\u2019s just business as usual. From newbies to veterans, everyone is empowered to elevate their daily responsibilities to a whole new level … and then reach even higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cHappiness is ultimately the only thing that\u2019s important because anything else you might be pursuing is driven by a hope that it will lead to happiness.\u201d – CHRIS SCHELL, Co-Founder & CEO<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>

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The team\u2019s enduring energy is driven by Schell\u2019s down-to-earth mission that puts well-being at the forefront. \u201cI happen to believe there are things in life that are more important than your bank account,\u201d Schell says. \u201cHappiness is ultimately the only thing that\u2019s important because anything else you might be pursuing is driven by a hope that it will lead to happiness.\u201d  Motivated by this mantra, the company has broken all the rules, incorporating a financial model that flips the script, putting happiness above the bottom line. This requires a true commitment to people, with real-life employee benefits such as building a Schell home at cost, getting daycare reimbursement, enjoying company boat days, and many more. It extends to a genuine concern for customers that includes getting to know each family personally, and then adding surprising touches in each home\u2014called \u201chappy stories\u201d\u2014that are designed specifically for the residents. Trade partners feel like part of the team, with awards and ceremonies devoted to their individual contributions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And how does Schell Brothers keep the happiness going?\u00a0 They recognize generosity and make innovation a priority. For example, the company\u2019s Project Kudos<\/a> began organically, giving teammates the opportunity to show gratitude to each other at company meetings and events. Like everything at Schell, the coworkers dreamed bigger, extending Project Kudos<\/a> to the greater community, giving locals and tourists the ability to write a shout-out of thanks on a Project Kudos<\/a>-branded sticky note and attach it to the side of a one-of-a-kind bus that traverses the area. Other outreach opportunities include employee participation in canned food drives, building playgrounds and other civic facilities, and purchasing, boxing, and delivering food staples to hundreds of families in need. Most recently, the company created a one-of-a-kind theme park called Schellville<\/a>, drawing thousands of visitors to its annual Enchanted Winter Celebration and other seasonal events, with proceeds benefiting local charities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think I could see myself at any other company\u2014ever. I think I\u2019m a lifer.\u201d – GRACE, Community Sales Manager<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The result of this investment in people? Happy teammates, happy customers, happy trade partners, and, ultimately, happy numbers on the financial spreadsheets. As evidence of the unconventional business model\u2019s ongoing success, Schell Brothers was honored by Professional Builder<\/a> as the 2023 Builder of the Year<\/a>. With 14 communities in its flagship Delaware market, the company continues to grow nationally, expanding to Richmond, Virginia, Nashville, Tennessee, and, most recently, Boise, Idaho.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur mission makes us better in every way,\u201d Schell says. \u201cIt has shown the true value of running a company differently. Maybe we can get other companies to take notice and try to emulate it and then this sort of movement will grow. That\u2019s my hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the saying goes, hope may not be a strategy. But, at Schell Brothers, happiness is. And, according to the coworkers, it\u2019s a winning one, earning the company a spot among the country\u2019s best workplaces. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do work and happiness go hand in hand? Ask any Schell Brothers team member and you\u2019re likely to get a resounding \u201cyes!\u201d In fact, the company\u2019s generosity-fueled warriors can\u2019t really imagine one without the other. It comes as no surprise, then, that Schell Brothers has earned a coveted position as #62 among Fortune 100\u2019s Best […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1349],"tags":[1362,1365,145,1363,1364,322,525,1360,811,828,1038,1053],"class_list":["post-9655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-best-places-to-work","tag-best-places-to-work-in-boise","tag-best-places-to-work-in-delaware","tag-best-places-to-work-in-nashville","tag-best-places-to-work-in-rva","tag-delaware","tag-happiness","tag-happy-employees","tag-new-home","tag-new-homes-delaware","tag-schell-brothers","tag-schellbrothers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9655"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9687,"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9655\/revisions\/9687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schellbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}