Welcome to the 2014 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo show issue of Cleaner. I hope you’ve made it to Indy and are excited to take in all the Expo has to offer.

I’m looking forward to talking to as many of you as possible, getting your feedback, listening to the issues you’re facing and hearing your stories. We have two good contractor profiles in this month’s issue. Both company owners were at last year’s Expo.

BlueWorks Inc., based in Clearwater, Fla., has established itself as the go-to contractor for small-diameter pipe rehabilitation in its service area. The company works primarily in high-rise residential complexes. While most contractors look at going bigger, BlueWorks has gone smaller, specializing in 8-inch and smaller lines.

The company serves the entire state of Florida, generating approximately 85 percent of its business through full rehabilitation projects involving televising, cleaning and relining of the pipes in large buildings. It’s small-diameter work, on a large scale, and one of the most interesting aspects of the story is how the company’s leadership saw opportunity in an untapped market and aggressively pursued it. They’ve truly carved out their own niche, and have found great success by doing things the right way.

Bill Heinselman, owner of Express Sewer & Drain in Rancho Cordova, Calif., also turned an opportunity into a successful business. Heinselman had spent many years on the municipal side of the industry, operating cleaning and inspection equipment as a sewer district supervisor.

But Heinselman wanted to run his own company. He established Express Sewer & Drain in 2007, targeting a residential and commercial customer base, but he quickly realized there was greater opportunity in the municipal market. All it took was one small municipal job to see the potential.

While he was employed by the sanitation district he didn’t see all the subcontracted work, but once he was out on his own the volume of available work became clear. He could see the possibilities for growth by serving the sewer agencies in Northern California, and began adding services. First pipe bursting, then CIPP lining and eventually CCTV work.

Heinselman had found the path to success, and he equipped himself to follow it. Today, he has 20 employees, a long list of clients, and a fleet of equipment that includes three Vac-Con units, a CUES inspection truck and two US Jetting trailer jetters. 

Enjoy the show

The Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo is also full of opportunities for your business. From the moment you leave your hotel room to the very end of the night, in the elevator on the way down to the lobby, at breakfast, on the walk to the convention center and all throughout the day, you’ll have no problem striking up conversations with your peers. So take advantage, the insight you gain could make all the difference for you and your company.

Plenty of educational seminars are also scheduled during the show to help you improve and expand your operations. And of course there are tools and trucks – lots of them. Take it all in, and enjoy the show.

Welcome to Indy!