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We've been in the cleaning industry since 1990
when a friend and I
opened a part-time carpet and upholstery cleaning franchise. I was
a manufacturing engineer at the time. Gena was a graphic
designer, a job I always thought looked like a lot of fun.
The business turned full-time a couple of years later when the
company I worked for moved both my job and my business partner
to the Midwest.
After we were blessed with the
birth of our daughter,
Gena joined me in the business handling many of the day-to-day business operations.
In 2000 we left the franchise system to go it on our own.
For
the next five years we operated Clear Choice Carpet and
Upholstery Care, a name you may recognize.....along with the
"old" picture above.
Then, in 2005 we pulled up roots,
sold the business and moved to the warmer climes of
beautiful southwest Florida. After 15 years we were eager
for a change a pace. I landed a position as a
construction manager for a builder. Gena got her real
estate license.
While I've
always been a handy sort, construction was something entirely new. It's hard to imagine
how I was
 ever
hired. And, it's one of those careers you either love or
hate. After six weeks of training, or watching as I called
it, I was handed the keys to my very own truck with
"Superintendent" on the fender, a brand new set of power
tools and a stack of
prints and sent out into the field.
While I was learning about tie beams and fire blocking,
sheathing inspections and such, I was also discovering some
Florida bugs pack a big bite despite the fact they're so small you can't even see
them, at least one little snake has all the feistiness of a
Chihuahua, and the Florida version of a Wolf Spider might fake
like it drowned in the pool and then lunge at you when you fish
it out. I'll tell you, when you find a black widow sitting in
the living room eating a scorpion....ah, never mind.
Working in Lehigh Acres, I was in the
boonies. Dirt roads with miles of nothing but bugs and
snakes. Learning to build homes is one of the more
challenging things I've done. Looking back,
sixty-some completed homes later, for all the toil and
frustration it was one of the most rewarding jobs I never loved.
Honestly, though, I'm truly grateful to Paul and Anne at Hansen
Homes for two good years and the opportunity to learn a new trade.
And, now we're back!
It was fun and we enjoyed it
but in 2008 we made our way back to Laurel and opened Drynamic Carpet and
Upholstery Care. Gena still lends a hand with some of the day-to-day
operations. She continued her career in real estate here in
Maryland for a time and now caring for family.
That interest
in graphic design I mentioned earlier eventually
turned into to Miller Creative! Printing and Graphic Design.
Offering an array of graphic, web page and printing services, my focus is in the cleaning industry but
I serve a range of clients. I'm here at
http://www.pdqmarketing.com if you or anyone you know needs
printing or graphic design.
Now
that you've gotten to know a little bit about us we look
forward to meeting you!
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