Joe Arnold, president and CEO of Clean Team USA, knows what it’s like to stand in his employees’ shoes. He started at the company as a janitor when he was just 17 years old.
“It’s been one of those American dream type stories,” he said.
Unable to afford college, Arnold stayed at Clean Team USA. Working his way up through management, he became the president and CEO of the company when he was only 30 years old. Originally founded in the 1950s, the commercial janitorial company now services some of Lansing’s biggest facilities and specializes in daily janitorial services, 24-hour water restoration, mold remediation, commercial floor care, and more. In the eight years that Arnold has been in leadership, the company has nearly doubled in size.
“We base our entire company on honesty and being completely transparent,” he said.
Arnold believes that oftentimes, clients are being overcharged for janitorial services and restoration work. While other companies try to hide project details or individual line items from their clients, Clean Team USA believes in showing the client exactly what it will take to get the job done.
“When we charge you an invoice or we give you a proposal, we’re going to show you exactly what you’re paying for,” he said.
At Clean Team USA, customers are treated more like partners.
“We don’t work for anybody, we work with them,” Arnold said. “We’re going to do anything and everything we can do to help them.”
This atmosphere of respect, partnership, and camaraderie extends into the Clean Team USA culture. The company employs more than 300 janitorial staff across the region and 14 office staff housed in their Lansing office. Just like Arnold, every one of his office staff members started their careers on the janitorial team.
“I believe you can’t manage anyone unless you’ve done their job,” Arnold said. “We have created a great culture and a great atmosphere to be in. We’re creative, we laugh, we have fun, we work hard, and we have a good time together.”
If there’s one thing Arnold has learned over his 21-year career in the janitorial industry, it’s that everyone — from the office janitor to the multi-million dollar client —deserves to be treated with respect.
“We’re an honest, ethical company that gives fair treatment to everyone we come across,” he said. “Whether it be our clients or our employees, we treat everyone the same.” Clean Team USA is at 4055 English Oak Drive, Suite 20001A in Lansing, (517) 372-2111, www.cleanteamusa.com.