Navy Enterprises cleaning up in Houma

Business is cleaning up for Navy Enterprises. Generating $2.7 million in net revenue for 2010, and being presented with the 2011 Louisiana Minority Business Supplier of the Year Award by the Minority Supplier Diversity Council, Navy is competing nationally for recognition at the end of October, the Houma-based business is hoping to make a clean sweep.

In addition to daily tasks, Navy Enterprises is also recognized for the number of academic scholarships it delivers each year and charitable contributions to local residents.

A business and industrial custodial service, Navy Enterprises employs approximately 40 people to provide general and hazardous cleaning in a variety of settings including government buildings, shopping malls, medical facilities, oilfield service companies, warehouses, banks and offices.

Office manager Lacy Rogers said in addition to basic dusting, carpet cleaning and trash removal, the company also provides parking lot sweeping, lawn services, facility maintenance, industrial supply, portal services, marine ship cleaning and garbage disposal for more than 40 regular clients.

Much of what Navy Enterprises does is done after hours and on weekends. Some locations require a 24/7 presence and attendance for special events.

“The most rewarding part of the job is when we are able to help our customers,” she said.

“I mean we are working around the clock sometimes.”

Rogers noted Navy Enterprises’ work performed at the BP facility on La. Highway 311, following the Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010. With additional oil company personnel located there, custodial needs escalated.

“It was good to help them out in that process when they were going through something that was so huge,” she said. “We actually provided a full time crew there to maintain the facility. They housed a lot of employees so we also provided them with laundry services, bath towels and pretty much anything they needed. That many people going through the building you would think it would be totally wrecked. But we were able to keep it maintained and looking like it should.”

Rogers said it is just part of life to expect some customers to never be pleased and identified that as being the most frustrating part of this job. “You know you are doing your part and your cleaning people are doing everything they can. When that customer still acts that way it makes you feel like your name is not any good because one person is not happy. We try to avoid that.”

Rogers said in the custodial business, one price does not fit all. Not revealing specific charges, this office manager said each job is individually priced, based on the amount of work required. Details such as foot traffic and frequency of cleaning per week and other factors are put into bid estimates.

“We don’t have a set price per square footage because if we did some people would be overcharged and others people would be undercharged,” she said. “You could have the same size building, but if one has two times more traffic or a shell road outside, it can change the whole prospect and factors. We try to accommodate our customers as much as possible and give a price quote for what they want.”

Rogers also noted that by setting high standards, they could keep more dedicated, detail-oriented employees while satisfying clients with quality work.

“A lot of people don’t understand what goes into cleaning a building such as time, effort, equipment and supplies,” she said. “I think the hardest part is getting them to understand what we are doing and what the costs cover.”

Rogers said that the most valuable benefit Navy Enterprises offers its clients is its employees, who have to be trusted, often alone, in another company’s building and accurately complete their work without making themselves suspect of misdeeds.

Custodial work definitely is a dirty job that somebody has to do. Rogers confirmed that to be successful in cleaning requires a special breed of employee who enjoys seeing an area put in order. That approach makes for award winners as Navy Enterprises works to keep their clients’ workspace and their own reputation spotless.

Navy Enterprises office manager Lacy Rogers demonstrates the work it takes to be named the Louisiana Minority Business Supplier of the Year by the Minority Supplier Diversity Council. MIKE NIXON