Ooltewah-based Habitat International's CEO David Morris says the recipe to his company's success is its people; 75 percent of his workforce is comprised of physically or mentally disabled employees.
Habitat International CEO David Morris, center, recently spoke to the Collegedale Ooltewah Kiwanis club. The club meets Wednesdays in the Collegedale Municipal Building. Pictured with Morris are club member Don Self, left, and club president Brien Applewhite.His leading indoor-outdoor carpet supplier is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
"In this economy, the first people to go are the ones with disabilities," said Morris. "But the biggest benefit I've found is that when you bring them in and you see people trying so hard to make it, other employees take note. They start mentoring each other and developing a team, building a family."
The close-knit nature of Habitat International and a company history that shows its workforce can out-produce the competition two to one has gotten the attention of companies across the country, said Morris.
Representatives from Walgreen's recently visited and trained at Habitat International before building their own distribution center in Anderson, S.C., where anyone, regardless of their disability, is able to work. Companies like Lowe's and Best Buy are also moving in this direction, and representatives from Colgate most recently visited Habitat International, Morris said.
"We are looking to work with other local and socially responsible businesses," he said. "We take pride in changing the American workforce."
In addition to disabled employees, Habitat International has also made an effort to employ recovering alcoholics, homeless people and non-English speaking refugees.
Morris calls the company a company of positive distractions, because at his business the disabilities that might distract employees at other jobs are what make his business so successful.
"We're all human and in this together," he said. "We wouldn't be the company that we are without our missions and our people - they've given us a purpose."
Despite the economic downturn, Habitat international remains debt-free and does not accept any government subsidies for employing those with disabilities, said Morris.
"We do it for the right reason," he said. "If you take subsidies, you're admitting that that person is one-half, one-fourth or one-eights of a person. We won't do that."
For more information, visit www.habitatint.com.