Adam and Tricia Ascher, owners of Ascher’s Janitorial Services, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning at their new facility in Abrams.
The Abrams office, 2916 County Road EE, is in the middle of their service area and close to the couple’s Abrams home, where they started the business on Jan. 1, 2006, with three employees serving one customer in three locations.
“When we saw the opportunity, we educated ourselves and started to grow the business. Now we have about 32 employees and service seven counties,” Tricia Ascher said.
She is a majority owner in the business, and Ascher’s Janitorial Services is a certified woman-owned business through the National Women Business Owners Corporation. Ascher recently spoke at the NWBOC national conference in Florida as a recipient of the Eclipse Triumph award, which recognizes someone who successfully navigated a challenge or obstacle.
In Ascher’s case, the challenge was a brain aneurysm and two strokes she suffered three years ago that left her completely paralyzed. She was hospitalized in Milwaukee for a month and was grateful for the support she received from her co-workers.
“I was one of those teammates who needed my team to back me up,” she said. “Everything went without a hitch.”
When they decided to open the janitorial service, the Aschers were working full-time jobs—Adam in building trades and Tricia in chemistry. When the economic downturn began in 2008, Adam left his job during the slow periods and worked at Ascher’s Janitorial full time. Tricia, whose maiden name is Borkovec, joined him full time in 2010.
Adam Ascher said, while it has expanded over time, the company still retains a small-town and close-knit feel that reflects the small-town upbringing of its owners. Tricia grew up in Abrams, and Adam in Gillett. Through all the growing stages, the Aschers have relied on the strength of their employee team, Adam said.
“Everybody helps out,” he said.
According to Tricia Ascher, the basis of the business is to treat customers well.
“Everybody has a bucket of responsibilities, and it’s how can you carry your bucket and …. please the customer,” she said.
Ascher’s Janitorial works primarily with commercial clients, but also has several residential accounts. Its services include carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, interior and exterior cleaning, power washing and post-construction cleaning. The company offers regularly scheduled maintenance or specialized, one-time cleaning.
“We offer a dry carpet cleaning that’s phenomenal because it’s not done with chemicals or water. It’s green, and it’s safe. We have great results with it,” Tricia said.
As a full-service maintenance company, Aschers Janitorial contracts with plumbers, electricians, landscapers and snow removal companies for the upkeep of buildings. Cottage-owners hire Aschers for home maintenance and regular observation while the owners are away.
“Even when it gets 50 below we’ll take a ride out there to see that the pipes don’t freeze,” Tricia said.
With the larger facility, Aschers plan to expand their services, and they’re also considering renting out storage space. Some day, the space may be used as a business incubator in partnership with the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation, said Tricia, who serves on the county entrepreneurial advisory committee.
Tricia shares her business insights with others by leading Lean and Six Sigma classes.
“Lean can be used in whatever you do,” she explained. “I use it for throwing dinner parties, I use it in the business. Lean is for looking at the flow of what you do to improve it.”
Six Sigma is a method used to a solve a complex, variable problem. Although people can use a gut feeling to solve a problem, Six Sigma relies on scientific facts, she said.
The Aschers also were on the receiving end of business expertise when they participated in a mentor/protege program offered by the Green Bay Packers in 2013. They were counseled by representatives of a Bay Towel in Green Bay for two or three-hour blocks every other week. At the end of the program, the Aschers were named MVP — Most Valuable Protege of the year by the Packers organization.
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