McDonald Remodeling
Chris Wylie spent his high school summers helping his uncles build houses for what was then McDonald Homes (now McDonald Remodeling). He joined the staff full time as a carpenter at the age of 19. Today—27 years later—he’s the CEO.
Wylie assumed the role in 2023 after growing his career within McDonald Remodeling, taking on roles that involved estimating, bidding, drawing, project management, and more.
His story is one that illuminates the immense opportunity for growth in trade industries like building and construction—and how a company that fosters passion and cultivates skill can retain employees throughout the majority (or entirety) of their careers.
Wylie credits former owner and CEO Jim McDonald and partners Greg Alsterlund and Jeff Heikkinen for creating a foundation of support that shaped his path. As a new wave of young employees join the workforce and companies in construction grapple with how to attract and maintain talent, McDonald Remodeling’s approach offers a blueprint for how core values and top-down support can make all the difference.
Provide Opportunities to Grow Within
Wylie’s progression through various roles at McDonald Remodeling is one example of what happens when employees are empowered to challenge themselves, try new things, and pursue their passions.
McDonald Remodeling
“After high school, I went to Saint Paul Tech for architectural engineering. I did one year of that and decided that I wanted to be in the building industry. I didn’t, at that time, want to be someone who sits behind a desk. I wanted to be out in the field,” Wylie explains.
As he took on new tasks, the dream of one day being a business owner in the construction industry took hold, and he actively took on new roles at McDonald Remodeling, upskilling with the support and mentorship of superiors.
Long-term employees like Alisa Dragt-Hoffman tell a similar story. When she joined McDonald Remodeling 15 years ago, she was a part-time design assistant. Now a full-time interior designer with McDonald Remodeling, her work at the company and mentorship she received from other lead designers has opened new creative pathways she didn’t even know existed when she began pursuing a career in interior design.
“There are many avenues that you can explore as an interior designer. When I got out of school, I thought that with my degree, the only thing that I could do was tell people what furniture to buy and what color to paint their walls,” she says. “We’re a remodeler, so we do floor plans, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, and light fixtures.”
These long tenures with the company aren’t by accident. They’re intentional. Wylie says that McDonald Remodeling makes a conscious effort to build expertise in house. “Giving people the opportunity to try different areas inside the company is important, instead of always bringing someone in from the outside,” Wylie explains.
[Related: How CREDS Aims to Solve Construction’s Labor Crunch]
Build an Inclusive Workplace
When Wylie started at McDonald Remodeling 27 years ago, only one woman worked there. Now, the male-to-female ratio is nearly 50:50. For Wylie, that shift has strengthened the company—and the industry.
“It has been nothing but a positive for the industry to see so many more women getting into the trades, even out in the field as electricians or plumbers and stuff like that,” Wylie says. “There are so many different avenues in construction that I think are important for women to be a part of and we are super thankful for the group that we have here.”
McDonald Remodeling
Dragt-Hoffman feels that support, too, and not just when she’s in the office. When she started at McDonald Remodeling, her kids were young, and finding a workplace that understood the balance she needed to maintain as both an employee and parent was crucial.
“McDonald Remodeling has always been really family friendly,” she says. “From the get-go, they knew that I wanted to leave to pick my kids up from school. There was a point where I needed to leave two days a week to bring my son to speech therapy. That was a non-issue. There was no question. You never feel forced to choose work over family.”
Wylie says that being a family-friendly company has always been a core value of McDonald Remodeling. This approach can be key to attracting and retaining talent, too.
“When I first started, I was fresh out of high school. But as I got married and had kids … it was great to have that support,” he explains.
Bottom Line
Courtesy of McDonald Remodeling
Investing in employees by leaning into their strengths, encouraging their curiosities, and understanding their needs both inside and outside of the office can go a long way at any company—and it certainly paid off for McDonald Remodeling, and it’s a legacy Wylie intends to continue.
“I always encourage everybody in our office to give me thoughts,” he says. “Or, if you think of something that might be beneficial to the business, let me know. It is very fun to see different perspectives of people and what they think they could change or do to benefit us.”
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