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Welvin Williams, owner of cleaning company, Bradaco Services
Job: Owner, Bradaco Services, Woodstock
What I do: When Welvin Williams, 47, decided he wanted to leave corporate America to run his own business, he took things one step at a time. Now he's cleaning up -- literally -- as president and CEO of Bradaco Services, a commercial cleaning company he runs from his Woodstock home.
"I was not going to leave corporate America until I knew this thing was going to be solid," he said.
Williams started out about 10 years ago, cleaning one office on weekends while keeping his day job at a Fortune 500 company. Soon, he was adding clients and hiring temporary workers to clean offices in Cherokee, Cobb and north Fulton counties.
By his fifth year in business, Williams was adding Monday-through-Friday evening clients and making enough money to cover his expenses, pay for health insurance for himself and his family, and provide a steady income.
After careful thought and prayer, he said, he went solo in 2003. "Everything was in place." Now that he's devoting full time to the business, he hires fewer temps; he does most of the cleaning himself, with occasional assistance from his son, Bradlee, who is general manager of the company.
Williams' wife, Jeanene, is the company's chief financial officer, and other family members make up the board of directors. "That way, the people are just as concerned about the business as you are," he said. "Everyone has a dream about starting a business, but you have to manage that business."
What got me interested in this: Like many children, Williams said, "Mom made us clean the house."
Later, when he was working in a large office, "I did not see the people who were cleaning do a very good job." He thought he could do a better job and said to himself, "Why not?" He spent time with a friend who was in the cleaning business to learn how to run an operation.
Best part of my job: "I get to see the people, meet the manager and the employees." Williams visits clients during business hours to see how they work and how to tailor his services to their needs.
Personal contact is important, he said. "I've formed not only a business relationship, but a friendship. That is uncommon. I'm invited to weddings and holiday parties; I know their kids' names and birthdays."
Most challenging part: "Staying competitive." While close relationships are good, Williams said he can't get away with doing a poor job. "I want to make sure my cleaning company stands out from the rest."
What people don't know about my job: Doing the cleaning and handling the paperwork are "not as heavy a workload as people may think," Williams said.
He said he comes to each job with a high level of energy that people may not expect from someone working a night shift. During the day, he has time for his granddaughter, Kaylee, as well as his church and business groups in Cherokee County.
What keeps me going: "Fulfilling the dream. I love what I do."
Preparation needed for this job: "Really analyze what you want to do," Williams said. He suggested putting your plans on paper to see whether they're workable. "See if people want to buy what you're excited about," he advised.
During his corporate work for 19 years, much of it in customer service, "I was being groomed how to run Bradaco. It was perfect." Williams has an associate's degree in religion from Liberty Bible College in Lynchburg, Va., and continually takes courses in business.
- By Karl Ritzler, for ajcjobs. Got an interesting job that you love? E-mail your story to jobseditor@ajc.com.
