A veteran-owned restoration company is dedicated to not only helping its customers recover from disasters but also to helping veterans realize their entrepreneurial dreams.
PuroClean, led by U.S. Army veteran Steve White, operates in the emergency services world of property restoration.
“Water, fire, and mold damage happen every day to properties that people live or work in, and they cannot live or work there again until we come and help them recover,” he said.
White was commissioned as an infantry officer in December of 1979 and served for six years before leaving to start a career in business.
PuroClean is organized as a franchise, with headquarters in Tamarac (Fort Lauderdale), Florida. Today, it has 460 franchise locations across the United States and Canada.
White said his military service prepared him for business ownership by providing him with leadership experience and more.
“I developed a heart to serve and protect my country and our way of life,” he said. “I learned how to develop and follow highly refined systems for success. I learned the need to take action even when the information about your situation is not complete and to learn from each of those situations to continually refine and improve performance.”
Army National Guard veterans Jennifer and Jessie Wine are local franchisees for PuroClean in Burlington, Wisconsin.
Jennifer served in the Army National Guard from 2001 to 2013. She deployed to Bosnia in 2004, where she managed on-post activities, maintained relations with Bosnian police, and helped coordinate off-post missions. Perhaps most importantly while in Bosnia, she met Jessie.
“He followed me home so I decided to keep him,” she said. “We were married in July 2005.”
Jennifer said her military service undeniably shaped her into a more effective and resilient business owner.
“The experiences gained in the military have instilled in me a strong sense of discipline, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in high-pressure situations,” she said. “These qualities, honed through rigorous training and real-world challenges, seamlessly translate into the dynamic environment of entrepreneurship.”
Jennifer added that the military equipped her with invaluable leadership skills, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, strategic decision-making and fostering a cohesive team.
‘These attributes are directly applicable to managing and leading a successful business,” she said. “The ability to inspire and motivate a team, delegate responsibilities, and maintain a unified vision are key elements that military service has ingrained in my approach to business ownership.”
Jessie Wine was a high school sophomore on Sept. 11, 2001. He enlisted in the Army National Guard immediately after graduating in response to the attacks. He deployed to both Bosnia and Iraq and pursued an engineering degree while in the service.
“PuroClean’s commitment to veterans were exemplary and honorable and after visiting the fine men and women at the headquarters I know I was meant to be a PuroClean operator and franchisee,” he said. “Sometimes you just have a gut feeling and you move forwarded in faith. I have second guessed my decision and at every corner, PuroClean has continued to instill my decision was the right call.”
White’s advice to veterans who are considering starting their own business is simple. He said they should know that the skills and experiences they gained while serving in the military are not only useful to success in business and entrepreneurship but critical to that success.
‘When I first came into the business world, I was told that my military experience had no value.” he said. “I am glad I chose to ignore those people because they could not have been more wrong.”
To learn more about PuroClean, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.