David Mills
David Mills began working in residential construction as a teenager but had a dream alongside his wife and business partner to launch Magnolia Patio and Pool. After the housing market collapse in 2009, David found himself out of a job and eager to take his future into his own hands by starting his own business. With hard work, dedication, and what he calls laser-focused goals, David has kept passion and aggressive goals at the forefront of his business model.
In 2017, David lost his daughter in a tragic car accident which made him realize “life is precious and short. You only get one shot at this life, and second chances aren’t always in the cards.” He wanted to make an impact on people’s lives and honor his daughter by founding the Kailee Mills Foundation. Through his charity work, he found similarities in missions for both Magnolia Patio and Pool and the Kailee Mills Foundation: to help improve the quality of people’s lives. Hearing stories of how these businesses have changed people’s lives is David’s fuel to find more ways to expand.
Looking back on his journey, David attributes his success to the company’s reputation, customer
service, culture, and quality of work, as a direct result of his team. He strives to find team members who are goal-orientated, have positive attitudes, and are driven by a purpose greater than money. David believes in the power of passion, networking, and “taking care of the people you are currently doing projects for, and you won’t have to chase down business. No matter what you do, always do it with integrity.” If you are interested in getting a pool or outdoor living space, contact Magnolia Patio and Pools.
Nick Wills
Nicholas Wills, known to many as Nick, grew up playing America’s favorite pastime, learning about teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, all qualities he transferred while making the decision to trade out his baseball glove for law books. From a young age, Nick knew he wanted to be in control of his time and grow a business. Shaped by a series of small yet significant moments, help from great mentors such as his dad and former boss, and the ability to lean on God, Nick opened The NMW Law Firm as an Attorney at Law.
His father instilled the value of hard work in him, and Nick has navigated the balance of effective time management by setting boundaries to give his best at work and in his personal life. Having a dedicated team with a positive and nurturing culture has contributed to Nick’s success. His goals and inspirations to continue growing his business directly connect with his goal of helping people. Nick has learned that nothing is guaranteed, and everything is a risk, so he prioritizes making time for his passions for playing baseball and classical music, to be the best version of himself for his clients. Outside of the courtroom, Nick enjoys working out, spending quality time with loved ones, and hanging out at his family ranch.
Nick believes that starting a business is fun, maintaining a business is hard, and growing a business is even harder. He offers three pieces of advice for future business owners: 1) perfect your craft, 2) do the right thing, and 3) do your best to make your clients happy, because 'if you want it, you can do it.' If you need a model Personal Injury Attorney, reach out to NMW Law Firm."
Shane Harper
Meet Shane Harper, a local self-starting Insurance Agent who traveled through various roles of Farmers Insurance training and management in Texas and Oklahoma, to gain knowledge and experience to take over the Harper family business of Porter Insurance Agency. Through determination to be the decision-maker in his career, sourced mentorship from his father, and continuous support from his family, Shane believes in being fair with customers and employees to build trust and a personable network.
“You only live once (YOLO!)” is a phrase Shane uses when making decisions, especially when working to attain a work/life balance. He feels that by empowering his staff, they can replicate tasks, bring in more customers, build stronger relationships, continue achieving goals with their clients, and boost the agency's overall productivity. Shane leads by example in his goal of avoiding burnout by staying focused on work during business hours and clocking out for downtime so everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labor. He values his hardworking and dependable team and believes they are the most important asset to his company, so he works hard to ensure they are relaxed, happy, and able to share creative ideas for his goals of expanding the business.
Shane believes in the phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” in both his home life and his business. He wants readers who aspire to grow their own business to remember that 'nothing worth having in this world is easy.' With the right team in place, prioritizing revenue-generating tasks, and taking care of your people (and yourself), it is possible and worth the risk! When you are ready to start saving on your home, auto, or commercial rates, contact Porter Insurance Agency.