NWA Women in Business: Shelli McDaniel

Residence: Bentonville

Education: A.S., Connors State College

Professional background: McDaniel established Center Point Contractors in 2008 and has grown the construction company into a $6 million business. She began her career working for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in management roles in construction, remodeling and maintenance of stores.

How successful were you in your career with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.? In 1993, I went to work for Walmart traveling in the U.S. and Puerto Rico supervising carpentry fixture installations. Within nine months I was promoted to a construction manager over remodels. After one year in that position, I was promoted to a project manager for the maintenance department, managing hundreds of work orders simultaneously. I worked in this department until 1999.

Why did you start your own business? With my experience in the construction industry, I was driven to start a construction company that would be a blessing to others. A company where construction employees would have paid holiday and vacation time, as well as a 401K when they retire. A company where each employee and their family are prayed for on a regular basis.

You established your company in 2008 during the recession. How did you succeed? My husband, who is a co-owner in a site work and paving company, supported me and got my name out to contractors he worked with. New construction had declined, but there was still a need for commercial maintenance and painting. I worked hard to provide excellent service and better communication to my customers for a good price.

How has your company grown? The company has had its ups and downs over the years. However, I feel that it has grown from the strength and determination of the employees. Every person and their position is important and defines the true success of the company.

How much has annual revenue increased from when you started the company to 2015? Sales in 2008 were approximately $600,000. Sales in 2015 were approximately $6 million.

What’s been your most successful year, and what were some of the projects completed? 2015 was our best year. We completed multiple fencing and railing jobs on the Razorback Regional Greenway trail system and expanded our general contracting work in commercial remodels.

What’s been the most interesting project your company has worked on? The complete demolition of an existing building and the ground up construction of a new Dialysis Center in Northwest Arkansas was the most interesting and challenging project. This was our first project of this size and magnitude.

Explain the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. Being a woman-owned, small business has allowed the company to be certified with the DBE. Many projects in Arkansas are required to have a small percentage of DBE contractors perform the work. This allows us the opportunity to bid on projects and work with general contractors that we otherwise might not have known about or overlooked.

Describe the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council certification. WBENC certification has allowed the company to take part in commercial company initiatives to hire women-owned businesses. This provides a support network of other WBENC companies as well as an annual convention for networking and continued education.

Who has inspired you the most in your life? My husband, Chris. His faith in God and being the spiritual leader in our family has forever changed my life. He is supportive and helpful at work and at home. We both own and manage different types of construction companies, though his is much larger than mine. He continues to give me confidence to succeed in all my endeavors.

Explain how you see your business in five years. I see the company as a small business, one where we continue to strive to take care of each employee and each customer and be the best that we can be for all parties involved.

How do you spend your free time? Taking care of our cattle and property with my family and watching my sons ride motocross. Taking my grandmother to play bingo. Spending time with family. When I get the opportunity to get away, I enjoy going to the beach.