After he finished high school, Darrell Howell attended the University of North Alabama. He took a variety of business classes, eventually focusing on accounting and management. He graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1989 with a BS in Accounting and Management. While he is certainly proud of his achievements in college, he is most proud of meeting the love of his life during his time at the University of North Alabama. He got married in June 1990, and he has two amazing children with his wife.
After graduating with his bachelor’s, he went into the working world for several years. He initially started as a Controller at a bank in Waynesboro, where he helped manage the books. He was responsible for making sure all of the budgets were on track, managing the accounts payable and receivable, and keeping the bank profitable. Even though he spent time with his wife as often as he could, he knew that he needed to invest in his career. He worked a lot of extra hours, making sure that all of the odds and ends were tied up. This resulted in a handful of promotions, and he eventually shifted from being a Controller at the local bank to being the CFO of the Canadian division of a multi-billion dollar insurance company. By 1999, he had worked his way all the way up the ladder.
Even though he was proud of his accomplishments in the business world, Darrell Howell knew that there was more he could do. Therefore, he decided to go back to school. He attended Middle Tennessee State University, graduating with his MBA in 2000. He focused on accounting during his time in graduate school, and he went back to work for the insurance company. Armed with his new skills, he took the insurance company in a new direction, fostering an unprecedented period of growth. Even though he saw the value in insurance, he knew that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and children.
His family had owned a single Pizza Hut since 1978. It has become a staple of the community, and Darrell Howell decided that he could become more involved with his local community and spend more time with his family and children if he decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and return to the restaurant industry. He worked hard, growing his Pizza Hut footprint significantly. Expanded his Pizza Hut franchise stake to include multiple locations in multiple states. He left the insurance industry in 2003, and by 2015, he was one of the largest Pizza Hut franchisors in the region. He sold those restaurants in December 2015, transitioning back to the corporate world.
Growing his Pizza Hut franchises was a significant challenge. Even though he had a lot of business skills from his decades of experience. He quickly realized that there was a significant difference between business in the corporate world and the business side of running a restaurant. Invested himself in Pizza Hut franchises because it was his family’s project and he believed that having affordable food was important for the local community. He is incredibly grateful for the support that everyone in the community has shown to his Pizza Hut restaurants.
Even though Darrell Howell has always been focused on his career, he works hard to maintain a solid work-life balance. He loves spending time with his wife and children whenever he can. And he enjoys giving back to the local community. Ever since he was a little kid, Howell loved sports. That is something that he carries with him to this day. And he works hard to take care of his physical health. He loves to play golf with his family members and friends, and he enjoys traveling. Back to Knoxville for Tennessee volunteer football and basketball games. In addition, he believes it is important to travel, as it provides everyone with a different perspective on the world. He loves to take vacations with his wife and children, where he explores new places. He is always looking forward to where he will go next.
About Me
Right now, the business world is in need of professionals who will advocate for the needs of their employees, customers, and local communities. That is exactly what has made Darrell Howell one of the most well-respected business leaders in the industry. He has made a name for himself in multiple fields, including insurance, banking, the restaurant industry, and in philanthropy. In doing so, he has made himself a positive example for countless others who want to follow in his footsteps while also spending time with those closest to him.
Darrell Howell was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee. Growing up, he had a variety of interests. He always loved exploring the mountains of Tennessee, spending time outdoors connecting with nature whenever he could. He was also heavily involved in extracurricular activities at his school, enjoying sports and the arts. Even though he focused hard on his studies, he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do when he got older. Therefore, he tried to get involved in as many activities as he could, trying to figure out what he was passionate about. Eventually, he realized that he wanted to spend his life helping other people, and he believed that one of the best ways to do so was by going into business.
