Stories of Success

Every business faces struggles, but forward is the only direction on the path to success.

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I really enjoyed working on both profiles in this month’s issue of Cleaner. They feature companies born of very different circumstances, but they both illustrate the quality of people in and around this industry.

The profile on Minnesota-based All Ways Drains struck a chord with me immediately. Justin Moe formed the company with his father, Wayne, whom he idolized. Sadly, the older Moe fell ill and ultimately lost his battle with cancer.

I ran my mom’s business for a handful of years after she was diagnosed with cancer. I idolized her, too, so I immediately identified with this story. I appreciate and have great respect for family businesses, and I know firsthand that it’s an awful thing to be young and have a parent pass away well before their time.

We all deal with hardships; some are luckier than others, but sooner or later we all deal with the blunt realities of life. Things don’t always work out the way you want. Some people are taken from you. Some leave you. My mom knew those realities well. In the end, all you can do is take a page from her book and work harder, have faith and keep moving forward. That’s exactly what Moe did.

All Ways Drains has seen significant growth in all but one year – the year Wayne Moe died – since it opened in 2000. Justin Moe has carried on the family business, and he’s carried on the values his father instilled in him. It’s a big responsibility, and he’s handled it well.

Today, in addition to an expanding list of services and a growing customer base, the company is very involved in the local community. They have been cosponsors for the past two years with the Community Association Institute annual golf tournament, and they also are cosponsors of the Holes for Heroes Ice Fishing Tournament, honoring the armed forces. Participants include families of military serving past and present. Since Moe’s father served in the U.S. Army and spent a full year in Vietnam, it’s a fitting way to show some appreciation.

The other profile in this month’s issue features Scott Engineering. Dennis Denney had spent his share of time in the industry before he decided he was ready to own his own business. Rather than start a new company, he purchased Scott Engineering, a manufacturer of smoke detection equipment. Eventually, he began to see the business shifting and decided to segue into cleaning, inspection and repair services. In 2010, he sold the smoke testing equipment arm and pushed the company in a totally different direction.

Denney added CCTV equipment and bought a jet-vac combo unit and set out to provide inspection and cleaning services to municipalities and engineering firms. He eventually added lining equipment, which broadened his business base.

Both of these features are great stories about people with vision creating their own success in this industry. I hope the lessons contained within help you create your own success.

Enjoy this month’s issue.



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