It’s no surprise that Debbie Danto is a force in the construction business in South Florida. Debbie has always had an innate drive to be the best at what she does and her approach in life and work is the same as her approach to athletics to “always do your best and work through the pain.”
Life lessons through athletic training
When she was young, Debbie skated competitively, where she learned the value of being dedicated and focused. Her love for ice skating fueled her through the rigorous training and competition, and she always had a plan for success. As she says, “You have to plan the work and work the plan.”
Later in life, Debbie’s athletic gifts translated to running long-distance. Debbie qualified for the Boston Marathon in 2021 and ran it beautifully. Recounting the race experience, she wrote:
“The last several miles were the toughest for me with my quads tightening up, but I kept saying “Make this count!” and “Never Quit!” I may have slowed down at times but I did NOT stop once, not even on the famous Heartbreak Hill! I pushed at the very end and was full of joy and pride to cross the finish.”
Debbie uses the analogy of running a race to running Danto Builders: “As much as I prepared and studied the course, it was so much like running a business, there were ups and downs (literally) from start to finish where I did not expect them.” Work is like athletic training in that it’s important to power through the ups and downs, no matter what.”
Debbie also never rests on her laurels; she’s training during the hot Florida summer for the London Marathon on October 2nd. It’s one of the Big 6 major marathons (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City), and the hardest one for U.S. citizens to qualify for. She’s thrilled to have qualified and isn’t going to let that opportunity slip away!
Two mid-westerners marry and do good in South Florida
Debbie grew up in Ohio and moved to South Florida where she met Craig Danto in 2003. Craig’s father founded the original Danto Builders in Michigan and Craig was raised in the construction business. He moved to South Florida to carry on the decades of knowledge and experience he had gained working in the family business.
When they married, Debbie joined Danto Builders as Chief Operations Officer and brought with her a wealth of business knowledge (she has an MBA) and work experience with large corporations, such as Pizza Hut and Arby’s.
Design-build work and philosophy of support
“Danto Builders is a design-build firm,” says Debbie. “We love to take a client from concept through completion, and even beyond that, because of other services we offer.”
In the design-build process, the company devotes a complete design-build team to the project, where everyone works together and fully understands the vision, goals, and budget for the project. Debbie even provides guidance on tax incentives, to maximize these for the clients, creating an even better ROI for the project work.
Danto Builders’ team-approach to construction gives their clients the support they need, and can rely on, to be successful. But they go further in their support, especially with clients in the restaurant business.
Craig Danto’s passion is helping restaurant owners realize their dreams of opening their own restaurant. He’s called the Restaurant Supercoach™ because he’s helped dozens of restaurants to open over the last 40 years. Craig has also helped countless others to be saved from the brink of losing all their investment because they didn’t know what was involved in opening up a new restaurant or food business.
For Debbie, this type of support means everything. In reflecting on her Boston Marathon run, she sums it up:
As I ran, I was thinking about and thankful for all the support I had received from Craig Danto, family, friends and the community… I was amazed how much I underestimated the importance of the support I received and how much it motivated me to push. I was also surprised by how the support from the crowds (especially the screaming college kids) that lined the streets throughout the 26.2 miles seemed to give me energy and help me pick up the pace at times….
I think the greatest lesson I learned was that my support system was the most important mentally and emotionally, and to keep an open mind and heart because you never know where the support will come from in a moment of need.
Award-winning combination
Debbie’s also a force in the community, on the Board and Executive Committee at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce (GFLCC), as well as the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) and Co-Chair of the Florida Design and Construction Professionals. Debbie and Craig are also known throughout Broward County for being the force behind the Big Bad BBQ Bash for the Special Olympics.
Because of their local involvement and devotion to making a difference, Danto Builders won the Business of the Year Award from The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce in 2019. And Danto has also won awards from professionals and peers in the construction industry, including the prestigious AIA Fort Lauderdale Award, and well as awards from the South Florida Business Journal, Architectural Digest and Gold Coast Builders Association.
When they’re not working hard in the business or supporting a local nonprofit, Debbie and Craig enjoy traveling around the world and spending time back in the mid-West with family. They love animals, especially their three rescue dogs, and enjoy being an integral part of the South Florida community.