“We exist to love and serve,” read the words on the mural at the corner of Old Pineville and Yancey Roads in Charlotte, North Carolina. While this mural attracts the attention of those passing by on a daily basis, partners and clients that know CBI and the Associates who work there are familiar with the phrase on the building and the Live Love Serve Philosophy that drives CBI’s culture.
The "Live Love Serve Philosophy" has been part of CBI's DNA from the beginning. It means we live life to the fullest by being in the moment and enjoying the journey. We love all those who come into our lives, for God has placed them there for a reason. We serve others with our unique talents, time and treasure, and we use them to make the world a better place.
David Longo, Founder, Chairman and CEO of CBI and the Live Love Serve Foundation, built the business based not only on a passion for serving clients and leveraging the built environment, but also a passion and desire to give back and serve the communities in which CBI operates.
David says, “I was taught from a young age to place service and faith at the center of my life, and this helped me to embrace the principle of servant leadership as a guide to my life journey. The Live Love Serve Philosophy is a huge part of the CBI Culture and is embraced by all of the Associates who join our company. As an organization, we believe we have a responsibility to love and serve others, which is what we strive to do at CBI and the Live Love Serve Foundation each and every day.”
We asked some CBI Associates what the Live Love Serve Philosophy means to them and how it defines CBI’s unique culture. See their answers below:
"The Live Love Serve Philosophy means to ‘Live a God centered life focused on love, and to love all those who come into your life, for God has placed them there for a reason.’ This is so true to CBI, its brand and its internal culture. The Live Love Serve Foundation sets CBI apart from any other company because it provides a way for Associates to look out for peers and those struggling in our communities by providing support financially and emotionally when needed. Knowing that your employer has an established Foundation willing to help you out when you’re in a time of crisis is rare to come by, and I’m so thankful to be part of an organization willing to provide such service to others.” – Jessica Peeler, CBI Greenville
“The Live Love Serve philosophy impacts everyone at CBI. Within our own walls, we encourage other teammates to grow within their roles and strive to excel within the CBI family. Outside of the CBI walls, we serve our markets. We wholeheartedly give back to the communities we live in by volunteering at the local level, providing support for those who need it more than ourselves, and joining forces with our coalition partners to serve our communities. This not only makes us better stewards to our communities but grows them and ourselves as well.” – Katherine Adcock, CBI Raleigh
“I am happy to know that I work for an organization that not only supports such important causes throughout the markets we cover and beyond, but also supports its Associates who are experiencing tough times. This really hit home for me and helped me understand how greatly we can impact the lives of others and how important it is to embody the Live Love Serve spirit not only in our personal lives, but also our professional lives.” – Lawson Still, CBI Charleston
“Most people have a keen desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and that is certainly true for me. One of my favorite things about CBI is that a fundamental part of our culture is the encouragement to use our time, talent, and treasure to positively impact our communities. I've never worked for an organization as focused on living out that philosophy as CBI is. CBI is generous to give individual team members the latitude, not only to get involved in their communities, but to invite their fellow teammates into supporting the causes they are passionate about. CBI doesn't just talk about something, CBI does something about it. A non-profit needs a place to operate from; we find space for them on our campus. Our brave military families need financial support during deployment; we provide it. A West Virginia veteran needs a home built; we send a team to West Virginia to do just that. The diversity of organizations and the depth of support to those organizations makes me proud to be a part of the CBI team. I feel inspired to continue to find ways that I and my team can make a difference in our community.” – Jodi Beere, CBI Jacksonville
"The Live Love Serve philosophy flows through the veins of who we are at CBI. The integration of David Longo’s Live Love Serve mentality allows us to remember what being human is all about – to live life to the fullest, love those around us, and serve our communities, both on the front lines in service and the back lines in giving. I am personally very thankful to work for an organization whose leadership not only values this but provides us with the resources and time we need for us all to give back. It’s a constant reminder that life is worth living, and we can make it an even better place for others." – Cassidy Barnett, CBI Knoxville
Our Live Love Serve Philosophy, continued success and David’s vision allowed us to create the Live Love Serve Foundation which is a is a faith centered foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit and extension of CBI Workplace Solutions that provides financial support, volunteerism, and advocacy for individuals, religious organizations and other charities primarily in local CBI markets. Learn more about the Live Love Serve Foundation here and the amazing work we continue to do in each of the CBI communities.
