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'A presidential election always causes our industry problems'

Q: Describe your company.

A: Duraclean International is a growing 85 year old cleaning & restoration franchise company, serving the residential and commercial markets, with franchises in 31 states and 8 international countries. We also operate a company owned franchise out of our corporate office. There are great opportunities for continued growth for our business, as people recognize the health benefits of cleanliness and germ/allergy free environments, and independent-minded business people see the great value in our franchises.

Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?

A: We added two people this year and will continue to add to our staff as we expand.

Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?

A: A presidential election always causes our industry problems from the residential side of the business. All the commercials for the candidates interferes with normal cleaning cycles; people become distracted so our franchises understand they will have to market smarter to keep customers on schedule for their carpet and upholstery cleaning.

Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?

A: Wireless communication, now a technician can arrive on a job, take pictures of a loss, upload those to the insurance company then have the insured sign the work authorization with his or her finger on his tablet and upload that to the insurance company. This all takes place in a matter of minutes allowing us to return more homes and businesses to a normal state in less time.

Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie CEO, what would it be?

A: Surround yourself with intelligent, talented people who challenge you and make you think.

Q: Do you have a business mantra?

A: "Never fear failure, but always fear succeeding at things in life that don't matter."

Q: From a business outlook, who do you look up to?

A: People who think "outside the box" like Steve Jobs & Bill Gates; true visionaries, people who did not allow themselves to be limited in their thoughts or actions. To be successful in our industry you must be a problem solver and you must think outside the box.

Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know?

A: Since 1930 most people think of Duraclean as a residential or office carpet & upholstery cleaning company but we really are capable of so much more. An interesting fact that people may not know about Duraclean is we have been in the dry out and cleanup of every major hurricane and flood since 2004. We were in Florida for Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004; Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, and Rita in Florida in 2005 and we then followed Katrina to New Orleans also for a major cleanup project. We were in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the big flood in 2008. We answered the call in Texas in 2011 for Hurricanes Irene and Ike and the flood in North Dakota. In 2012 we were in New York & New Jersey drying out damage from Hurricane Sandy and then moved to Colorado Springs cleaning up from the disastrous forest fires.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: My wife and I love the outdoors and have been camping since the early 70s. We started with a used pop-up and have traded up to the present motor home that we now have. We travel to destinations all over the U.S. and Canada.

Q: What book is on your nightstand?

A: "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand

Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: Government regulations on small businesses.

Q: What was your first paying job?

A: I was in grammar school and I worked behind the soda fountain in my father's pharmacy.

Q: If you could put your company name on a sports venue, which one would you choose?

A: The United Center but only for the Blackhawks.

Q: What is one funny thing that has happened to you in your career?

A: Problem here is funniest happenings cannot be printed. One item of interest might be that when I was finished with college all I wanted to do was to begin a career in sales. It was difficult for an inexperienced 21 year old to find a sales job out of retail but on April 4, 1960 ServiceMaster hired me and over 55 years later I am still in the dirt business.

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