Franchise Owners Bring Compassion and Professionalism to Restoration Work
Charles and Sharon Atkins like to help people. For many years, the couple volunteered with their church in disaster relief efforts in Florida and North Carolina. They noticed that many property owners displaced by storm and flooding struggled to find dedicated remediation resources to help them restore their homes and return to normalcy. Looking for a business opportunity that combined their values and a desire to aid their community, the Charles purchased a PuroClean franchise in Cleveland, Tenn., in May 2014.
Founded in 2001, PuroClean serves both families and businesses impacted by water, fire, mold and other conditions that result in property damage. “Florida was where we became interested in restoration because of all the issues we faced due to mold,” says Charles, who had run an independent restoration business with his wife for 10 years. Sharon was a registered nurse for 18 years.
Core Values
When the couple decided to purchase a franchise, they were immediately drawn to PuroClean’s culture of servant leadership — a core value that emphasizes building strong local relationships and serving others, which deeply resonated with them. Their dedication was recognized at last year’s PuroClean International Convention, where they received the PuroClean Cares Award for their selfless service and commitment to giving back.
“We had several conversations with the PuroClean brand ambassadors, which convinced us that it was the best franchise for our family,” Charles says. The fact that the company encouraged buyers to leverage their professional experience was another bonus for Charles, who already had his Institute of Inspection and Restoration Certification prior to purchasing the franchise. He’s also been a disaster response chaplain for many years. Charles says the ease of setting up the company was another positive. “The staff at corporate was very supportive,” he says, providing assistance in everything from marketing to operations to employee training through the PuroClean Academy…