Joseph Barnes Celebrates 15 Years

Chief Development Officer Joseph posing in front of moving boxes branded with the Little Guys Movers logo

Around here we like to say, “Once a Little Guy, always a Little Guy.” We believe everyone who works at Little Guys Movers remains part of the LGM family even when they move on, but it’s even more meaningful when someone chooses to stay and build a career and a life with us.

Joseph Barnes joined Little Guys Movers 15 years ago, and we’re honored that he’s still with us today. He is now our Chief Development Officer, supporting our many locations and franchisees with his expertise. To celebrate his big anniversary with the company, we sat down to discuss his LGM journey.

Tell us about how you joined Little Guys Movers.

After taking about a year off to undergo cancer treatment, I was ready to get back into the workforce and take on a new challenge. While looking for an opportunity, I came across a newspaper ad for a “Branch Manager Wanted” position, without much more detail. I decided to apply even though I had no idea what the company or job was. Eventually, I received an email from Chris about having an interview the next day at a local music venue around 5, which seemed odd at the time but makes perfect sense now. I met Marcus and Chris there and the interview lasted until about 2 a.m. that Saturday morning. The rest, as they say, is history.

What has your growth path at LGM been like?

I started the Fayetteville, AR location from the ground up. For a while, I did all the moves by “hiring” some friends as I slowly built a real staff, answered the phones, did the estimates, made the schedules, did payroll, and sometimes went home to see my wife. As the location took off I was able to move into the office full-time and continued to run the location for a few years. The company was growing and needed more support at the HQ office with quality control and oversight. I was promoted to the HQ team, which involved a lot of travel to check in on various locations. During this time, I was also tasked with helping the company decide where to expand and which new markets to enter. Over the years, these experiences helped shape my current role.

As Chief Development Officer, what are your responsibilities?

At the HQ office, everyone wears multiple hats. My responsibilities include supporting our managers and franchisees in the day-to-day operations of their locations, setting the company’s long-term goals, making budget decisions, and collaborating with our advertising agency on marketing strategies. I also research and implement new technologies to enhance our business. As Chief Development Officer, my main focus is on the growth of the company. I conduct market research to identify promising areas for new locations and guide prospective franchisees through the entire process, from initial contact to awarding the franchise and finally opening their doors.

Do you have any favorite memories you can share from your 15 years at LGM?

Oh, so many! I’ve had a lot of great times and laughs with my coworkers and gotten to do a lot of meaningful work in my community. Of the ones I can share here, I’ll have to go with my first summer manager meeting in San Marcos, TX. That’s when I started to understand how special Little Guys is. Many of the people I met there 15 years ago are still my coworkers and friends. We mostly sat around in the Guadalupe River hanging out and talking. That’s all you really need.

What makes LGM a great place to have a career?

It all starts with the people. Marcus and Chris set the tone with their humility, integrity, and genuine care for the people who work for them and the communities we serve. That culture permeates the entire company. From top to bottom, Little Guys is filled with unique, talented, generous, and hilarious people who do hard things and the right thing with a smile.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future of LGM?

I hope that we continue to build on the foundation of what makes us great. The past few years have brought their share of challenges, but they’ve also reinforced who we are, what we believe in, and our combined strength. If we continue to stay positive, work together, and remain true to our values, we will continue to grow and accomplish great things.

Outside of work, what do you like to do?

I love spending time with my beautiful wife, family, and dog, making music with my band, constantly learning, and enjoying various outdoor activities.