Undivided Life is stepping in as a co-owner of Dallas-based Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, teaming up with founders Tom and Margaret Landis to help take the mission-driven brand into its next chapter of national growth.
The goal is simple and ambitious: open more stores, grow the catering business, and create even more opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—all while serving what fans already know as some of the city’s best super-premium ice cream.
“We couldn’t imagine a better partner,” said founder and president Tom Landis. “Undivided Life believes in our mission and brings the leadership and experience to help us reach more communities and team members who deserve meaningful work and a chance to shine.”
Founded in Dallas in 2015, Howdy Homemade has built a loyal following not just for its ice cream, but for an employment model that puts adults with IDDs front and center. Today, the company employs more than 100 adults with IDDs and has earned national recognition, including the 2025 National Down Syndrome Congress Employer of the Year Award. Along the way, it’s landed features on The TODAY Show and ABC’s World News Tonight and partnered with brands like Keurig Dr Pepper, which licensed its Dr Pepper Chocolate Chip flavor royalty-free.
Undivided Life now holds a significant minority stake and will help lead strategic growth, with plans to expand retail locations and scale inclusive employment nationwide. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the Landises will retain majority ownership and continue guiding the brand’s vision.
Looking ahead, Howdy Homemade plans to open more than 60 company-owned locations by 2030 and create over 1,000 jobs for adults with IDDs—one of the most ambitious inclusion-focused growth plans in the country.
“This is exactly the kind of business we believe in,” said Jeff Schiefelbein, co-founder of Undivided Life. “Howdy Homemade proves you can build something that’s joyful, successful, and genuinely world-changing. Together, we’re scaling a mission that changes how people see adults with IDDs—one scoop at a time.”
