What I do
Green is good. That's the opinion of dozens of Chicagoland businesses and individuals on a waiting list for "green" cleaning services from The Green Maid, Inc., a business located just north of Chicago in Evanston, IL.
"We're finally catching up with demand," says President and CEO Angela Vanegas, who opened The Green Maid® with her husband in July of 2007. "At one time the wait was three weeks before we could get to a new customer. We thought 'green' cleaning might take awhile to catch on, but we've been shocked by the demand."
Vanegas points out that "green" cleaning isn't just good for the environment…in many cases, it's just more economical than traditional cleaning.
And "going green" can be safer for the whole family—or the whole company. "Did you know you may have a miniature toxic waste dump under your kitchen sink?" asks Vanegas. "The average home has about 10 gallons of petroleum distillates, heavy metals, ammonias, chlorine bleaches,
volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.s) phosphates and other corrosives and solvents…all in the form of household cleaners. And some commercial cleaning products are even worse."
The Green Maid® uses only non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning agents, notes Vanegas. "We research available products to find cleaners that are toxin-free, biodegradable and safe for water systems. And then we test them to make sure they work as well as, or better than, the hazardous products we're trying to replace. What's more, we use only ecologically friendly vacuum equipment, recycled paper products and organic cloth
materials to deliver a superior clean in a ecologically responsible manner."
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My Story
- My passion:
- Simply stated, I sweat the details. I am often heard saying, "It's not right until it's right." My customer's needs are of paramount importance. I see to it that our staff convey this passion at every touchpoint in the sales & service delivery process.
- Why I started my business:
- I launched this effort knowing there was a market need and knowing we could do it better than anyone else! My goal is to deliver a superior product & achieve a quality of life for my family and myself that I have dreamed of my entire adult life.
- Why I joined the M3 RACE:
- To learn more about myself and my business than I think I know today. To gain the knowledge and assistance necessary to make the best next steps in preparing my organization for tremendous growth.
- Best business advice:
- My biggest challenge:
- Finding capital in this economy, for reinvestment, R&D, marketing, growth and planning.
- What helps my business grow:
- Excellent service delivery, exceeding customers expectations and receiving more business on referrals than we could achieve via traditional marketing media alone.
- How I balance work/life:
- Not sure I am following a process. In fact, I am certain that balance remains elusive. Each day exists independently as a new challenge to surmount. Spousal support has been an integral factor.
- Within five years, my business will:
- be nationally recognized and thriving at the $1M sales benchmark.
- My professional affiliations:
- U.S. Green Building Council, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau
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