Spotlight on… Pat Roder
Cleaning success through education
Roder takes pride in educating not only his employees and clients, but also people in need of employment.
by Kris Ross
Pat Roder has loads of JanSan knowledge and skill, but he also has a big heart.
With 17 years of experience in the commercial building maintenance industry, he not only works directly with employees and clients to ensure proper care, but also with those looking to begin a career in the cleaning industry.
In 1991, he founded Roder Enterprise Solutions LLC (RES), a company that provides a multitude of services from commercial janitorial, hard surface floor care, and carpet cleaning to interior/exterior painting, snow plowing, and lawn care.
“In providing these services exclusively to my customers, it helps them to control their annual cleaning and maintenance expenditures and budgets, and lowers their vendor list,” he said. “Customers also receive discounted rates on additional services purchased.”
In addition to providing services to customers, Roder’s company goes a bit further with specialized training for others seeking work in the JanSan industry.
Through the RES Training Division, Roder and crew provide training in a variety of areas, such as custodial training, hard surface floor care, carpet care, customer service, and interior/exterior painting.
One would think that Roder has a lot on his plate with his own business, but he doesn’t stop there.
He also serves as director of training/job placement and facility management for Multicultural Community Services, a Milwaukee, WI-based organization that specializes in training and employment for people who have difficulty finding jobs due to the lack of skills or training opportunities.
The training program began in 2005 for the welfare reform program, Wisconsin Works (W-2).
“Trainings are comprised of students from very diverse backgrounds and lifestyles,” Roder said. “I am often the first contact students have with the commercial cleaning profession.”
The 120-hour, six-week training program features a variety of topics, including curriculum by Cleaning Management Institute®, taught by RES, Multicultural Community Services and Merkt Educational Group and Associates (MEGA).
The course is complemented by the Spartan Chemical Company’s Clean Check program and Green Solutions.
“Students are immersed throughout the training with hands-on experience using equipment necessary for employment in the cleaning and specialty divisions,” Roder said.
Upon successful completion of the course, students are certified as Custodial Technicians.
Roder loves to educate clients on the long term advantages of high-quality cleaning while also serving as a source for people looking to get into the JanSan field.
“My favorite parts of my job are providing trained, quality staff for the industry, helping people become employed, and providing a clean, healthy environment for my clients,” he said.
Helping people find jobs and obtaining funding for training also proves to be the most challenging.
His least favorite… companies that give the industry a bad reputation by providing poor service.
“The lack of trained employees was a contributing factor to the creation of my current training program,” Roder said.
In his free time, Roder enjoys spending time with his wife Rhonda and their four children: Patrick Jr., Tiffany, Sharlena and Jadon.
“We enjoy movies, dinner, boating, and occasional hunting,” he said.
“Going to sporting events (Go Packers, Brewers, Badgers, and Bucks!), is a way I unwind with friends and co-workers.”
Kris Ross is a CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management magazine® associate editor.
Do you know a cleaning pro who should be Spotlighted in CMI Networking? Send his/her name and contact information to kross@ntpmedia.com.
To return to your newsletter, close this window. To go to the CMI® website, www.cminstitute.net.