Chris Weekley is the current President at David Weekley Homes, one of the largest privately held home builders in America. The story of David Weekley Homes began in Houston, Texas in the seventies, when David Weekley — at only 23-years-old — started his own home building company. Today, David Weekley Homes spans across 12 states and 19 cities across the United States, and has been featured multiple times on Fortune Magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Chris Weekley, AMIGOS ’98 Alum, began his journey with David Weekley Homes in 2007 as a Builder, and then Sales Consultant for the Austin Division. After transitioning to Houston, he worked as a Project Manager, Division President, Vice President of Central Living and Innovation, Senior Vice President and, most recently, Executive Vice President. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from The Acton School of Business.
Sara Nathan, AMIGOS President & CEO, recently interviewed Chris Weekley. He shared more about his experience as an Amigo in Honduras in 1998, the importance of these transformative experiences for youth, as well as the role of Houston on building global communities — and some insight on David Weekley Homes’ culture and philosophy.
Sara Nathan:
Chris, welcome. It’s so wonderful to speak with you today. First, I would love to start with your AMIGOS experience and, knowing you were a volunteer in the program, where did you go with AMIGOS and what was your project?
Chris Weekley:
Yes, I was in Honduras. This was in between junior and senior year, so it was the summer of ‘98. I was in Honduras in a little town called El Zapote and was down there for six or seven weeks. The town that I was in was a five-hour hike from the main road…No roads to get up there. I remember building fourteen stoves and a couple of latrines while we were there.
Sara:
Wow, 1998…we share similar histories with AMIGOS. I was in the program almost the exact same time. Thinking back on your past, what other experiences did you have growing up that really unlocked transformation for you as a person and as a leader?
Chris:
Oh, good question. The other experience I had was with a group called Outward Bound — that was more of a wilderness, outdoors, adventure…pushing through limits kind of experience, whether it be through hiking and rock climbing and all that sort of stuff. But from a true cultural experience, AMIGOS by far takes the cake, right? By being in a different country and being immersed in another language and with local families, immersed in local politics, et cetera…
Sara:
Absolutely. As you think about your life now and where you are in your career today and with your family — what skills do you think young people need in order to succeed? Not only in their careers, but in their lives?
Chris:
I would say breadth of experiences. So many of us grew up in the same town, went to school with the same people…you don’t venture far away from college, if that’s the route you choose. For me, it’s just having a bunch of different experiences with different people. That’s socioeconomic diversity, racial diversity, et cetera. It’s just easy to stay within your one-mile radius, if you will. I think experience — experiences — to understand who you are and how you fit in the world are important.
Problem solving and a drive to succeed are also important. With AMIGOS, there are so many examples I could give on that front — where do we find enough horse manure and cow manure to mix into these stoves and how do we collect it? To…what family are we going to eat with tonight? All sorts of problem solving.
Last but not least, just hard work and will to succeed. Pushing through obstacles, even though the end might not seem that near. I remember there were times with AMIGOS where it just seemed like the day wouldn’t end. You’re down the bottom of the pit digging a latrine and it’s deep, it’s hot, you’re hungry, and thirsty. At the same time, it’s bigger than you and you have to push through that all the way to seeing that latrine finished and knowing that that’s the town’s first plumbing that they’ve ever had, and now they have a place to go to the restroom versus out in the fields. AMIGOS taught me lots of different lessons for sure.
Sara:
Yeah — that you’ve definitely carried through to now, which is amazing. Chris, I know you’re engaged in a lot of different activities in the Houston community and beyond. In this moment, what gives you hope for our future based on these collective experiences that you have?
Chris:
First of all, just the diversity of people. Truly becoming a globalized society is exciting. From a work standpoint, we actually have a team in India that we work with, where some of them were the first person to graduate from college in their family.
The whole globalization of the economy and the ability to work alongside people from all over the world is very special, unique, and something that 20, 30 years ago was not possible without all the technology that we have today. That gets me excited about the future. It really is amazing the kind of true globalization that the world is going through.
Sara:
Do you have a person, a role model, someone who inspires you in your life?
Chris:
I would say there’s not just one. I feel like there are different ones for different areas of my life. Obviously, my mom and dad. My dad from a business and philanthropy standpoint — our family gives back a lot to charities and nonprofits. My mom, in terms of raising kids and being there for us, always. At work, there are a lot of different people that I work with day in and day out that are so much better than I am in so many different things. People that are so committed to our company, to our team, and to the community that we work in. It’s just so awesome. There’s a faith component in my life as well, so obviously I draw a lot of role models there.
Sara:
As we think about AMIGOS and the work that we do offering young people the chance to leave their home realities, whatever that might be, and go live, serve, and learn about the world — from your perspective, whether it’s in Houston or another city or going abroad, why should young people be engaged with volunteer service?
You can’t fathom that until you go live it. Perspective is huge. As I’m saying that, I’m picturing the families, all the people I interacted with…it’s still so vivid. It sounds silly, but six weeks or seven weeks, really did shift my perspective and a lifetime of thinking. I appreciate it for that.
Chris:
My one-word answer is perspective. I don’t care how you grew up in the US, what circumstances, what part of the country — you really don’t have a perspective on how lucky you are until you live these experiences in other countries. At the same time, I say that and part of me feels guilty, because the families that I worked with in Honduras were truly some of the happiest people I’ve ever met. And, for instance, they had never been to a movie theater. They had never done all these things that in the US are just so normal. But they were truly some of the closest families and happiest people I’ve ever met.
At the time, I think I had $200 hiking boots that I brought with me there. Well, the average income for the families we worked with was $200 a year. You can’t fathom that until you go live it. Perspective is huge. As I’m saying that, I’m picturing the families, all the people I interacted with…it’s still so vivid. It sounds silly, but six weeks or seven weeks, really did shift my perspective and a lifetime of thinking. I appreciate it for that.
Sara:
As we think about engaging more students with AMIGOS, what advice would you give young people who are searching for direction and purpose in their own paths?
Chris:
My first reaction to that is: just go out there and do something — you have to start somewhere. Oftentimes, there’s paralysis analysis, right? You’re trying to figure out, who am I going be, what am I going do when I grow up? It comes with a lot of societal pressure. But at some point, you just have to sign up and go do something.
Regarding AMIGOS, there are other easier organizations and that might be more fun, right? You could be more glamorous and go on a cruise ship for the summer, go do this, or go do that. But, from an impactful and gravity standpoint, AMIGOS, for me…it was a huge experience.
My answer would be to just start somewhere — and be willing to accept the curve balls that life throws at you. Because there will be plenty. And it’s all about your attitude and how you approach those. When problems happened, I used to get upset and frustrated and now, I just know that stuff happens, right? Whether it’s in business or personal. It comes down to, how do you react to those and how do you do the best that you can individually and then collectively, with your team or your family, to resolve those? I’d say, just get started and then be willing to accept the changes that life throws at you.
Sara:
If you were also talking to a student today, or say, your colleagues that you work with — what skills do you think at a young age, are important for people to learn in order to rise into leadership roles?
Chris:
It’s funny, my sophomore-year daughter keeps asking me why high school math is useful in adult life. I think that when you’re in school, the exact subject matter isn’t as important as the human interaction between yourselves and your classmates, yourselves and your teacher, how you work together on team projects, and just how you approach different problems together. I think it’s less about the subject matter and more about your attitude and willingness to work and solve problems with others. I think about college. College for me was less about exactly what I learned and more about that maturation process from a high school kid to a young adult.
Sara:
So flash forward…We are now 24 years since your time with AMIGOS in Honduras.
Chris:
(Laughs) Thanks for that time…
Sara:
(Laughs) When you think about this moment that we are in today, why does our work matter to you?
It’s giving that opportunity to others, especially in a time when society is so “me” focused. I think it’s vitally important for our younger generations to be “other” focused, and at least have that perspective and knowledge.
Chris:
A lot of reasons. First of all, I’ll go back to my previous answer, which is perspective. It’s giving that opportunity to others, especially in a time when society is so “me” focused. I think it’s vitally important for our younger generations to be “other” focused, and at least have that perspective and knowledge.
It’s a win-win on both sides, from the volunteer standpoint and from the standpoint of families and communities that AMIGOS works with. There’s an obvious need out there. I think it has a profound impact on both the person that’s volunteering, but also real impact on people out in the world. I’m grateful for AMIGOS and appreciative of the work that you do.
Sara:
You mentioned that it gives you hope that we’re in a more globalized society, where you can work with people from all different backgrounds, side by side, and that technology has helped us get there. Houston is a very global community — the most global, you could argue, in the United States — which is incredible. What does global community mean to you?
Chris:
Shared appreciation, respect for different cultures. It’s so easy to get stuck into your circle with people that look like the people you grew up with. Just being able to have that shared perspective — and not perspective only — but respect for the cultures and their belief systems and values is so important.
Now with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with all these different conflicts around the world, there’s plenty of room for society to improve in that standpoint. Just having that shared respect and appreciation — and knowing that at the same time, it’s okay to disagree. It’s okay if you and your friend disagree on politics, as long as you do it respectfully.
To me, a global community…that’s part of it. It’s okay that we disagree and that you believe in a different God that I believe in, but at the same time, I will respect that and I hope that you will respect that of me as well.
I think you see diversity celebrated in all sorts of food and restaurants all over the place. You see it at our sports games and just around [Houston] in general — it feels like a celebration that this can happen.
Sara:
What do you see as the role of Houston in our global community?
Chris:
I’m a born and raised Houstonian, so I’m completely biased. (Laughs) Number one, the diversity within the city…I think you see diversity celebrated in all sorts of food and restaurants all over the place. You see it at our sports games and just around the city in general — it feels like a celebration that this can happen.
Number two…anything about Houston, the medical facilities, for example. So many doctors are international. The cultural diversity of not only the staff, but also the patrons of those facilities — is astounding.
Obviously, you have the oil and gas piece, energy, as a whole. I think Houston has a huge opportunity over the coming years and decades, as we transition from oil and gas to an overall energy hub. I’m excited about Houston. Yes, it’s hot. Yes. We got some mosquitoes, but, you know, we can all get used to that over time. (Laughs)
Sara:
Yes, it truly is incredible. And I think Houston is an outstanding example of what’s possible for many places, both within the United States, as well as around the world. In terms of seeing so many different people from different backgrounds and languages spoken, working together. It is amazing.
Now I have a few questions about your work at David Weekley Homes. I know that it was just ranked number one on the 2022 Best Workplaces in Construction lists. Congratulations! That’s a huge achievement. What would you say makes David Weekley Homes such an amazing place to work?
Chris:
Thank you. Well, I’m totally biased. You can see my last name. (Laughs.) My dad started it in 1976 and I’ve been here 15 years now. Number one for us is culture. We invest a lot of time, energy, and effort on that front and make sure that our team members are well taken care of. Our mission and purpose is building dreams, enhancing lives — and that’s our team, our customers, and our community.
With our team, we do a lot of different benefits, a lot of fun outings. We actually volunteer together as well through a service program that we put on nationwide. We invest a lot of time in our people, because we know that at the end of the day, that’s what makes the company special. We’re super proud about being number one in construction. And, on Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For, we placed number nine this year, which was huge. We’ve been on that list either 16 or 17 years in a row — but this is our first time in the top 10. We are proud of that, and it’s what we strive to be in the long term.
Sara:
Tell us about the concept of a home, and how has that evolved for you over time?
Chris:
Anytime I think about that, I think about our marketing team — they work with CGC, consumer generated content. That’s all of our customers, posting photos and videos in their homes on social media.
We have thousands of pictures like this on our website…the picture of the daughter coming downstairs in the prom dress. The picture of the newborn baby in their new home. It’s a privilege and honor that we get to have a small piece in what takes place at home. It’s just a special product, and something I’m proud to be associated with.
It’s fun to be able to see the physical output of your work. To drive by and see communities of homes that we built — with kids playing in the front yard, parents washing cars, and all that sort of stuff. It’s an especially unique business and we are proud to be a part of it.
Sara:
In terms of your own leadership, what kind of leader do you try to be? Both within Weekley Homes and also in the broader community?
Chris:
At Weekley Homes, one of the things we talk about with all of our management is define reality and give hope. We want to define the opportunities that we have in the current times, and then at the same time, give hope for what the future holds.
I try to do that to the best of my ability. We have a very entrepreneurial team at the company, so my job is to get out of their way and let them explore and try new things. I want to be careful from a management standpoint about guardrails, or speed bumps, or anything like that, that we would put in front of their progress. At the same time, being a larger company, we can’t be all things to all people. We try to provide a shared, common direction that we all buy into. A direction that fits our customers — and our customers are at different stages of their lives, as well.
That’s how I would sum it up. It’s more of a partnership role with the team that I have the privilege of managing. And oftentimes they’re teaching me more than I’m teaching them. I appreciate them for that every day.
Sara:
I know that we both served with AMIGOS in the 90s, so it was ‘97, ‘98…right around your time. When I look back on those experiences and what I thought then…there was an excitement about leaving, about getting outside of the United States, about experiencing something new. There was an excitement about serving, about volunteering.
I’m curious — what drove you to get on that plane with AMIGOS? When you came back, what was different? Was it what you expected, was it a totally different takeaway?
Chris:
I would say it was a lust for adventure, a way to get out of the normal summer activities that everyone was doing. Going to a place I had never been to, on my own…it was exciting. It was going to be an adventure, something I had never experienced before. It was something I would have never experienced if it weren’t for a program like AMIGOS.
Of course, there were days when I loved it and days when I hated it (laughs). It was almost a microcosm of psychiatry — you go through so many emotions, because you are away from home, the longest you’ve ever been. You miss your family, technology, certain food. But you are also having these incredible experiences day in and day out. As you get older, you remember all the positives and are really appreciative of how it shifted your perspective.
Because it was fun, I loved it — but it was not easy. This isn’t some vacation getaway. You’re going to do work, but it’s going to be so impactful and you’re going to make great friends doing it – it will impact your life. As I’m sitting here talking about it, I’m like, “wait, how can I do AMIGOS for adults?” (laughs)
It was such a huge part of my life. It’s amazing how six or seven weeks, out of 41 years, can have such a big influence. But it did, it truly did.
Sara:
Thinking of next summer, 2023, we are excited to be offering programs that are two to six weeks in the summertime. As we’re actively recruiting…imagine you’re talking to a parent of a child interested in AMIGOS. What would you tell them?
I’d say, from a parenting standpoint, the fact that your kid wants to do it – good for you! You should feel good about that. The fact that you raised a kid that is interested in doing not the easy, fun thing – but the hard, impactful thing. That’s a big deal in today’s day and age. Again, our society is so focused on “me, me, me” – it’s great to have people that are focused on others, and want to go out there and do something about it.
Chris:
This is close to home. I have five kids and the oldest is 15. I’ll be having these conversations soon. First of all, it’s going to be okay. Second, AMIGOS has incredible experience doing this, this is not an organization that has just been around for a handful of years. I’m sure AMIGOS has been through every type of scenario, and has protocols to handle things in-country. It’s an established program with an amazing track record.
The other thing I will say, while the parent is likely scared and nervous – at the same time – what an exciting opportunity for your child. Be appreciative of the fact that your child is even open to it. I mean again, this is not an easy, summer camp deal. This is hard work in the real world where you are changing lives, hopefully changing your own life at the same time.
I’d say, from a parenting standpoint, the fact that your kid wants to do it – good for you! You should feel good about that. The fact that you raised a kid that is interested in doing not the easy, fun thing – but the hard, impactful thing. That’s a big deal in today’s day and age. Again, our society is so focused on “me, me, me” – it’s great to have people that are focused on others, and want to go out there and do something about it.
Sara:
Thank you so much, Chris, for taking the time to talk today and share about your experiences, your leadership in Houston, and beyond. We really appreciate you reconnecting with the organization and reflecting on your time, and sharing why more young people should get out there and go do something like AMIGOS.
Chris:
It’s a pleasure. Appreciate it so much, and thanks for leading a great organization, I look forward to staying involved longer term. Thank you.
AMIGOS has been making an impact on young people’s lives for more than 57 years.
Find out more about our history here.
About David Weekley Homes.