Mark and Laura Dugger are a dynamic duo. Mark owns and operates a busy Chick-fil-A restaurant, while Laura runs The Savvy Sauce podcast and manages a full household. Their lives are full of work, purpose, and the joyful chaos of raising four daughters.
“I’m a restaurant owner of a quick service restaurant, part of Chick-fil-A,” Mark said. “And I love what I get to do. It’s busy, it’s full.”
Between coordinating a team of over 100 part-time employees, creating meaningful podcast content, and being present as parents, the Duggers realized something had to give.
“My wife and I together actually saw the need for some assistance with a lot of things,” Mark said.
When a friend recommended BELAY, the Duggers took the leap. Soon, BELAY matched them with Melissa — an Assistant who quickly became indispensable to both their businesses and their personal lives.
“It’s been fun,” Mark said. “We’ve been able to share her hours between my wife’s business and my business, and she’s managed that beautifully.”
Melissa brought the exact kind of support they needed: adaptable, trustworthy, and resourceful.
“She’s got such a diverse skill set that she’s been able to work really seamlessly in both places,” Mark explained.
And she didn’t just handle the to-dos. She changed how they thought about delegation.
“My wife had a to-do list right away, but it was different for me,” Mark admitted. “I had to really search and figure out what specific tasks or things were going to be beneficial for me. There were things I was still trying to hold on to, thinking I could do them faster or better.”
Then came the moment that shifted everything:
With Melissa in place, the Duggers found the freedom to focus on what only they could do.
“Within the first month, I started to see immediate benefits and so much growth and trust,” Mark said. “And now, she’s a part of our team. I very much consider her one of us.”
In Mark’s case, that meant spending less time wrestling with logistics and more time investing in people.
“We’ve got 115 part-time, mostly high school and college students,” he explained. “Trying to coordinate their schedules and meet with them regularly is like herding cats sometimes. You end up spending a lot of your time logistically working through those things.”
But not anymore.
“Melissa just very systematically worked through a lot of those things and was able to completely take it off my plate,” Mark said.
As a result, he got back to what he does best – leading his team.
“I’m not thinking as much about what tasks need to get done in the restaurant,” he said. “I’m able to focus on the things that really matter most — relationships, leadership… I’ve had the freedom to show up for my team, care for them, and help challenge them toward their future goals.”
Melissa’s impact extended to Laura’s work on The Savvy Sauce, where important projects had long sat on the back burner.
“Melissa helped her get on some new platforms that she wasn’t able to before,” Mark said. “Once we started working with Melissa, those projects became immediately possible.”
With Melissa managing tasks like transcripts, publishing episodes, and handling backend logistics, Laura could focus on what she does best — creating, connecting, and growing her podcast’s reach.
“Now all my wife has to do is focus on her guests, her content, and sponsorships,” Mark shared.
But the impact wasn’t limited to business. Laura also homeschools their four daughters — a role that requires time, presence, and heart. With Melissa taking care of podcast details, Laura gained valuable margin to pour into her children’s education.
The result? More growth, more presence, and more peace of mind — at work and at home.
“It’s just been so great for us,” Mark said. “It frees us up… even emotionally. I know that it’s taken a lot off of my wife’s plate.”
For Mark and Laura Dugger, Melissa didn’t just complete tasks; she gave them the margin to lean into what truly matters.
Whether it’s leading a team, launching creative ideas, or raising their daughters, the Duggers have clarity about what only they can do.
And thanks to BELAY, they finally have the time and support to do it.
Ready to start doing what only you can do?
Delegate to a BELAY Assistant today.