Lena (Betts) McNally ’05
Alumni Business Highlight
HIVEX Basement Finishing Co.
After graduating from Fredericksburg Christian School in 2005, Lena (Betts) McNally went to Christopher Newport University where she earned her BA in Psychology in ’08, and an MA in Elementary Education in ‘10. Lena spent her next two years serving as a kindergarten teacher in Culpeper County.
In 2011, Lena married her husband and now business partner, Christopher McNally! Christopher and Lena joined her parents, Dan and Linda in their home improvement business in 2012. Chris brought his own experience, having worked in commercial construction with his father, and through various summer jobs. Business classes he had taken would also become a benefit to their growing business. Lena grew into the business through part-time work while she raised their young children. In 2014, Lena joined full time as the company’s accountant, overseeing the financial aspect of the business.
Between 2016 and 2018 they began a slow transition of leadership within the family’s home improvement business. Founders Dan and Linda made way for Chris and Lena to take over many of the daily operations and vision for the company. Chris and Lena realized the need in the Fredericksburg area for a professional basement finishing business for single family homeowners. They created a business plan that included hiring their own trade people full time in order to keep their work flowing smoothly, and to give their customers consistent, quality work and finishing timelines. On average, they see a full basement finished around 8 weeks, start to finish! Their goal with their clients is to offer positive customer service along with beautiful custom basements in a streamlined fashion.
Chris and Lena, with the help of her parents, realized that with these more specific changes to the company, a rebranding was also needed. They wanted to stand out in the community and point to the way their company works together as a “hive”. HIVEX was introduced in 2017. Soon after in 2019, they braced for the impact that COVID may have on their newly rebranded business. By God’s grace, they were considered an essential business and saw great growth in the last few years. They currently have 32 employees and have finished 1204 basements to date!
Lena and Chris have three children, Lilah (9), Landon (7), and Cash (4). They live locally and attend Lifepoint Church where Lena serves on the worship team! Lena shares that Mrs. Herl directly made an impact on her life as someone who was full of faith and an encouraging spirit. She still thinks about the things that Mrs. Herl would share with her students about what God was teaching her personally! She also recalls Mrs. Ferguson as a faculty member who made her feel loved and cared for as her Spanish and homeroom teacher.
Lena, FCS so proud of where God has led you and your family!