Pat Durkee, chief operating officer of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services and a Navy veteran, recently wrote an article for Franchising USA magazine about why veterans make great franchise business owners.
“The same character traits that made them successful in the military – discipline, organization, leadership and being self-motivators – are likely to help them succeed in business,” he wrote.
3450 East Lake Road, Suite 200
Palm Harbor, FL 34685
Before joining the Office Pride family, I served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for an automotive supplier. However, I always had a dream of owning my own business, believing in my capabilities to make it a success.
Choosing Office Pride was a game-changer for me. The business model is not only scalable but also comes with minimal startup costs, making it a smart and practical choice.
Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship was a personal dream fueled by faith and my abilities. The desire to own a business was not just a goal but a lifelong aspiration, and venturing into it allowed me to turn that dream into a rewarding reality.
Now, as proud business owners, we enjoy unprecedented flexibility in our lifestyle. More importantly, Office Pride empowers us to lead with a philosophy that resonates with our values – treating our exceptional staff the way we ourselves want to be treated. Office Pride has not just changed my life; it has become the catalyst for a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey, where happiness and success go hand in hand.
Before joining the Office Pride family, I served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for an automotive supplier. However, I always had a dream of owning my own business, believing in my capabilities to make it a success.
Choosing Office Pride was a game-changer for me. The business model is not only scalable but also comes with minimal startup costs, making it a smart and practical choice.
Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship was a personal dream fueled by faith and my abilities. The desire to own a business was not just a goal but a lifelong aspiration, and venturing into it allowed me to turn that dream into a rewarding reality.
Now, as proud business owners, we enjoy unprecedented flexibility in our lifestyle. More importantly, Office Pride empowers us to lead with a philosophy that resonates with our values – treating our exceptional staff the way we ourselves want to be treated. Office Pride has not just changed my life; it has become the catalyst for a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey, where happiness and success go hand in hand.
I was a district manager for 12 stores in North Alabama for a large home improvement retailer.
The owner of an Office Pride franchise, whose daughter played soccer with mine, recruited me when he learned I was on the job market. After a few years working a job, I didn’t enjoy, we were finally able to finalize the deal when he decided to sell his franchise. With patience, prayer, and God’s help, all obstacles were eventually removed, and the rest is history.
After starting as a customer service associate and grew to District Manager in just 12 years. Despite being fully dedicated to my career and having no plans to pursue anything else, I was impacted by the reduction in force that followed the 2008 recession. It caused me to lose faith in corporate America and seek opportunities where I could have greater control and benefit directly from my efforts.
Office Pride has given me greater work-life balance, allowing me to use my business as a ministry and learn about the business community. As a business onwer, I’m able to provide jobs to more people and invest in commercial property with profits. Most importantly, my team’s support allowed me to care for my wife, Melissa, during her cancer battle. And along the way, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people.
I was a district manager for 12 stores in North Alabama for a large home improvement retailer.
The owner of an Office Pride franchise, whose daughter played soccer with mine, recruited me when he learned I was on the job market. After a few years working a job, I didn’t enjoy, we were finally able to finalize the deal when he decided to sell his franchise. With patience, prayer, and God’s help, all obstacles were eventually removed, and the rest is history.
After starting as a customer service associate and grew to District Manager in just 12 years. Despite being fully dedicated to my career and having no plans to pursue anything else, I was impacted by the reduction in force that followed the 2008 recession. It caused me to lose faith in corporate America and seek opportunities where I could have greater control and benefit directly from my efforts.
Office Pride has given me greater work-life balance, allowing me to use my business as a ministry and learn about the business community. As a business onwer, I’m able to provide jobs to more people and invest in commercial property with profits. Most importantly, my team’s support allowed me to care for my wife, Melissa, during her cancer battle. And along the way, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people.
I served as a Human Resource Conversion Manager at a local Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and specialized in ensuring businesses achieved compliance with their HR practices.
I firmly believe that God will frequently direct us when we sincerely share our heartfelt desires, and we are prepared for the answer to look how much different than we imagined. This is precisely what happened when I discovered Office Pride. I became familiar with Office Pride many years before I purchased my franchise unit because it was a client of the PEO that I worked for. I had the opportunity of observing a young couple’s remarkable journey of business growth. What attracted me to Office Pride was not only their core values, which resonated deeply with my own, but also their emergence as a promising brand within a resilient sector that withstood economic downturns. Additionally, being in the service industry and offering an affordable opportunity furhter solidified my interest in pursuing a franchise unit with Office Pride.
I am driven by my faith and passion for serving my community which is the exact opportunity Office Pride offers me as an owner.
I have always been fascinated and inspired by individuals who dare to take the leap and embark on their entrepreneurial journey. Though I never explicitly expressed this desire, deep down I was attracted to the freedom and autonomy that a successful business could offer, provided it was managed effectively.
Owning and operating our business has required dedication and hard work. Yet, it has also provided us with incredible opportunities for community involvement, enabling us to make significant contributions. Along this journey, we connected with some wonderful people whom we wouldn’t have met, if not for our role as business owners. As a result, our dream of independence has been achieved, allowing us to make meaningful connections and contribute to our community.
I served as a Human Resource Conversion Manager at a local Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and specialized in ensuring businesses achieved compliance with their HR practices.
I firmly believe that God will frequently direct us when we sincerely share our heartfelt desires, and we are prepared for the answer to look how much different than we imagined. This is precisely what happened when I discovered Office Pride. I became familiar with Office Pride many years before I purchased my franchise unit because it was a client of the PEO that I worked for. I had the opportunity of observing a young couple’s remarkable journey of business growth. What attracted me to Office Pride was not only their core values, which resonated deeply with my own, but also their emergence as a promising brand within a resilient sector that withstood economic downturns. Additionally, being in the service industry and offering an affordable opportunity furhter solidified my interest in pursuing a franchise unit with Office Pride.
I have always been fascinated and inspired by individuals who dare to take the leap and embark on their entrepreneurial journey. Though I never explicitly expressed this desire, deep down I was attracted to the freedom and autonomy that a successful business could offer, provided it was managed effectively.
Owning and operating our business has required dedication and hard work. Yet, it has also provided us with incredible opportunities for community involvement, enabling us to make significant contributions. Along this journey, we connected with some wonderful people whom we wouldn’t have met, if not for our role as business owners. As a result, our dream of independence has been achieved, allowing us to make meaningful connections and contribute to our community.
Prior to Office Pride, I was in the consulting world, I focused on structuring financial models that provided organizations with better insights and analytics.
Office Pride stood out with its unique opportunity to make a positive impact on individuals both professionally and spiritually. I was excited about the prospect of joining other Christian business leaders in serving our employees through servant leadership.
After working for serveral global organizations, I was eager to provide smaller businesses with faster, more creative solutions and personalized customer service. Particularly those looking to reduce overspending.
This opportunity has transformed my family’s purpose and financial stability. Promoting from within and providing life-changing opportunities has been incredibly fulfilling. Our ministry department has also been a personal spiritual blessing, allowing us to serve and support the less fortunate.
Prior to Office Pride, I was in the consulting world, I focused on structuring financial models that provided organizations with better insights and analytics.
Office Pride stood out with its unique opportunity to make a positive impact on individuals both professionally and spiritually. I was excited about the prospect of joining other Christian business leaders in serving our employees through servant leadership.
After working for serveral global organizations, I was eager to provide smaller businesses with faster, more creative solutions and personalized customer service. Particularly those looking to reduce overspending.
This opportunity has transformed my family’s purpose and financial stability. Promoting from within and providing life-changing opportunities has been incredibly fulfilling. Our ministry department has also been a personal spiritual blessing, allowing us to serve and support the less fortunate.
I have enjoyed a successful 28-year career with a 14-billion-dollar home shopping company. Throughout my tenure, I have held various positions of increasing responsibility, with my most recent role being VP of Service and Experience.
With guidance of an exceptional franchise coach, I embarked on a journey that involved numerous introductions and explorations to find the right fit. Ultimately, I made the decision to purchase a commercial cleaning franchise, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice of Office Pride. As a faith-based company, Office Pride resonates deeply with my personal values, and I am grateful for the leap of faith I took. I am driven by my faith and passion for serving my community which is the exact opportunity Office Pride offers me as an owner.
After experiencing a layoff, I embraced the opportunity to pause, rest, and engage in deep reflection, while seeking guidance from God. This period allowed me to rediscover my passions and priorities for the next chapter of my life, which revolved around adding value and serving the community. Motivated by this newfound clarity, I delved into extensive research, exploring new avenues, and ultimately considering the path of entrepreneurship to become a business owner.
We are driven by a deep sense of service and take pride in the opportunitites that come with ownership, allowing us to serve and invest in our community. With Office Pride, we have the power to shape our future, while enjoying the freedom and peace of mind that comes from being part of a brand that holds tremendous credibility in this sector.
I have enjoyed a successful 28-year career with a 14-billion-dollar home shopping company. Throughout my tenure, I have held various positions of increasing responsibility, with my most recent role being VP of Service and Experience.
With guidance of an exceptional franchise coach, I embarked on a journey that involved numerous introductions and explorations to find the right fit. Ultimately, I made the decision to purchase a commercial cleaning franchise, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice of Office Pride. As a faith-based company, Office Pride resonates deeply with my personal values, and I am grateful for the leap of faith I took. I am driven by my faith and passion for serving my community which is the exact opportunity Office Pride offers me as an owner.
After experiencing a layoff, I embraced the opportunity to pause, rest, and engage in deep reflection, while seeking guidance from God. This period allowed me to rediscover my passions and priorities for the next chapter of my life, which revolved around adding value and serving the community. Motivated by this newfound clarity, I delved into extensive research, exploring new avenues, and ultimately considering the path of entrepreneurship to become a business owner.
We are driven by a deep sense of service and take pride in the opportunitites that come with ownership, allowing us to serve and invest in our community. With Office Pride, we have the power to shape our future, while enjoying the freedom and peace of mind that comes from being part of a brand that holds tremendous credibility in this sector.
I served as the Vice President of operations for a building services contractor.
I chose Office Pride because it is a faith-based Christian organization that fosters a family-like culture. Their values aligned with my own, and I appreciated the emphasis on treating employees and clients with respect and integrity.
I decided to start my own business because I wanted to create a legacy of generational wealth for my family and make a positive impact on society.
Office Pride has had a significant impact on my life. Working with franchise owners who share my values and beliefs has been the most significant benefit. The best part of it is that I get to positively impact my employees through the business.
I served as the Vice President of operations for a building services contractor.
I chose Office Pride because it is a faith-based Christian organization that fosters a family-like culture. Their values aligned with my own, and I appreciated the emphasis on treating employees and clients with respect and integrity.
I decided to start my own business because I wanted to create a legacy of generational wealth for my family and make a positive impact on society.
Office Pride has had a significant impact on my life. Working with franchise owners who share my values and beliefs has been the most significant benefit. The best part of it is that I get to positively impact my employees through the business.