Although entrepreneurship runs deep in the American psyche, it takes a special kind of person to leave the relative safety and structure of a large company and strike out on his or her own ... into the unknown.
Herman and Catalina Glaser of Branford did just that.
Catalina, an energetic whirlwind who thinks and speaks in fast forward with a Romanian accent, arrived in America from Bucharest in 1986. She had been a hotel manager in her native country, but when she moved to Connecticut from California, she studied business management at the University of New Haven. She met Herman, who was to become her future husband, when she went to work for Nuclear Systems Inc., a company which Herman, a technical engineer, owned.
Four partners had formed the company, which specialized in installing nuclear medicine equipment such as special cameras used to diagnose cancer and heart problems. In 1983, Herman bought out the other partners and still operates that business as a sideline, but now acts only as a broker for exporting the equipment.
The Glasers became interested in what now occupies them seven days a week when their former medical equipment company’s offices happened to be next door to one of the founders of the Northeast division of Servpro, a nationwide company and the leaders in cleaning and restoration services.
Herman, who has always had an entrepreneurial personality, recognized a unique business opportunity, and he and Catalina took the plunge and bought the franchise licenses enabling them to serve the New Haven area and the Shoreline, all the way to the Rhode Island line.
I first became familiar with the work of Servpro when, during a torrential rain, my basement flooded. Seeing the water rising and worried about important papers and stored clothing, I was slightly panicked, to put it mildly.
The Servpro crew responded immediately, vacuumed away the water (twice), moved other objects to safety and disposed of hopelessly damaged and water-logged items, all with efficiency and care.
Because they work with insurance companies to nullify progression of damage, the equipment and chemicals they employ must be superior to industry standards and of the highest quality.
From the more mundane tasks such as carpet cleaning to complex restorations from fire, smoke and soot or mold mitigation, Servpro is equipped to respond quickly.
A good example of their work occurred when the Blackstone Library suffered major water damage while the roof was being replaced. In this case, there were important documents that had to be saved, often the case as well with legal or medical firms when a catastrophe occurs.
The company is expert in a freeze-dry method that can restore and preserve important documents. They are also trained to handle criminal blood bio-hazard instances, cleaning up after murders or suicides.
The long hours and hard work have paid off for the Glasers. Starting 12 years ago with 3,000 square feet of space on Route 139, then moving to Branford Business Park, where they occupied 10,000 square feet, the Glasers recently built their own spacious 24,000-square-foot headquarters at 2 Sycamore Way in Branford.
Offering 24-hour emergency service, Servpro is a good name to remember. Call 203-488-8881 or 1-800-846-4466.
- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.
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