Category: Industry News

OAK BROOK, Illinois (April 10, 2023) — Let’s Pave, a leading national exterior services provider, is pleased to announce that Chicago-based sales and marketing veteran Chris Walsh has joined the company as Vice President of Sales reporting directly to CEO C.B. Kuzlik.

As part of the executive leadership team, Chris will help guide overall business strategy as well as directly oversee the company’s complete sales and marketing mix, including sales process and talent acquisition, business development, as well as the implementation of all enterprise-wide sales capture tools.

Chris has decades of sales and marketing experience in a variety of industries including commercial construction and maintenance management services and hospitality. He brings a consistent track record of profitable YOY sales growth by creating highly effective cross-functional sales teams that drive maximized national and regional top-line revenues and successful customer retention.

“This is a key position for the future of our company,” said C.B. Kuzlik. “Chris has a wealth of knowledge and experience. As Let’s Pave continues our rapid growth, his sales leadership and proven ability to build top-performing sales teams will advance our pursuit to disrupt the status quo and exceed expectations.”

“Let’s Pave has an outstanding culture, a well-established reputation, and proven success,” said Chris Walsh. “I am excited to build on this solid foundation to enhance our sales processes and drive continuous improvement and innovation.”

About Let’s Pave

Let’s Pave provides end-to-end parking lot solutions and related services to commercial properties nationwide. Supported by a team of experienced professionals, Let’s Pave offers best-in-class service and rapid response to asphalt and concrete parking lot needs anywhere in the country. For more information, visit https://www.letspave.com/

 

Contact Information

Jessica Bordelon
Marketing Director
Let’s Pave, LLC
https://www.letspave.com/
804-332-4276

jbordelon@letspave.com

[MANASQUAN, N.J., March 31, 2023] — As part of its strategic growth, SMG Holdings LLC has announced the launch of a new division, SMG Clean™. SMG Clean™ will improve cleanliness with less cost and time by focusing on a wide range of janitorial services including both reactive and reoccurring support that includes preventative maintenance, specialty, and window cleaning for multi-site clients.

“Our ongoing vision is to integrate our core service capabilities to meet the growing needs of our valued clients,” said Jason Menser, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. “SMG Clean™ will complement the services being offered through SMG Facilities™ as well as align with SMG Energy’s commitment to the environment”.

Shannon Prato, Chief Executive Officer commented: “SMG has been extremely fortunate in successfully supporting large multi-site clients for nearly 30 years; we understand the space and have established a history of service excellence. We are in an excellent position to establish a new division that we feel addresses a current deficiency of providing quality, efficiency, and productivity of custodial cleaning and maintenance programs in the multi-site space.”

SMG Clean™ is the janitorial division of SMG Holdings LLC, a privately held facility services, real estate and investment firm focused on integrated facilities management, energy and sustainability solutions and services, strategic sourcing, and procurement.

The move follows SMG’s recent announcement of a new corporate headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey.

SMG Clean™ will be exhibiting at the upcoming ConnexFM National Conference in Grapevine, Texas on April 2-5, 2023. ConnexFM is the authority on Retail and Multi-site Facilities Management and leading membership organization for facility managers and supplier professionals. Learn more at www.national.connexfm.com

About SMG Clean™

SMG Clean™ delivers multi-site companies customized janitorial services provided by an established network of local, expert teams, all centrally managed through one point of contact. We partner with clients to establish and achieve savings and sustainability strategies while focusing on driving down costs, mitigating risk and improving overall operational performance. Learn more at www.SMGClean.com

About SMG Facilities™

SMG Facilities™ is an industry-leading, woman-owned, integrated facilities management (IFM) company committed to client success by providing comprehensive professional services and extensive expertise in facilities maintenance, construction, project management, disaster, and emergency response to multi-site businesses throughout North America and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Learn more at www.SMGFacilities.com

About SMG Energy™

SMG Energy™ delivers multi-site companies customized energy and sustainability solutions that lower costs, manage risk, and improve brand position. We partner with clients to establish and achieve proven energy-saving and sustainability strategies (ex. decarbonization targets) while maintaining a unique focus on driving down energy spending, increasing visibility, and improving overall operational cost savings. Understanding our client’s sustainability goals, cost drivers, and consumption profiles, we help to identify, analyze, and achieve sustainability and ESG metrics that meet their financial targets. Learn more at www.SMGEnergy.com

SMG Holdings LCC Media Contact

Erica Davis, Director of Marketing +1.603.547.7051 Email: edavis@smgfacilities.com

SOURCE SMG Holdings LLC

[IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, February 9, 2023] — Ecotrak, the leading intelligent facility and asset management platform, today announced its latest bridge round of funding, which will be used to accelerate Ecotrak’s aggressive growth plans in product development and innovation. The round was led by Gala Capital Partners and included investments from Rellevant Partners.

Ecotrak’s SaaS offering enables multi-location businesses to automate repairs and maintenance, manage work orders, assets, and service providers. Ecotrak’s differentiated data-driven software aggregates data to intelligently prevent equipment failures, keeping businesses efficiently running. The technology is revolutionizing the restaurant industry by reducing equipment downtime, increasing productivity, and saving restaurants money on repairs and maintenance so they can focus on the guest experience.

“This round of funding propels us into the next phase of Ecotrak and we are proud to partner with these notable investors,” said Matt Singer, CEO. “We are in fantastic company with a team that has deep experience fueling high-growth restaurant concepts and technology.”

Rellevant Partners is a private equity firm focusing on the lower middle-market, providing growth equity to the restaurant, restaurant technology, and food & beverage industries. Rellevant was founded in 2019 by Janice Meyer and Jessica Kates and is based in New York.

Gala Capital Partners is a private investment firm based in Southern California founded by long-term restaurant operator, entrepreneur, and investor, Anand Gala. The firm invests in or acquires real estate, software, and emerging restaurant franchise brands. Current investments include Altametrics, Lunchbox, Plate IQ, Perfect Software, Cut & Dry, Simple 123, Rusty Taco, Dunn Brothers Coffee, Cicis Pizza, and MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes.

The investment comes on the heels of significant growth for Ecotrak in 2022, adding more than 10,000 locations and over 13,000 service providers to its platform. With Ecotrak’s asset first philosophy combined with predictive analytics and automation, Ecotrak is reducing the downtime of critical equipment and creating a solution so smart that nothing ever breaks.

“Between labor shortages, supply chain issues, construction lead times and increasing operating costs, Ecotrak’s intelligent facility management solution is helping restaurants reduce uncertainty and plan for the unknown with rich business intelligence data,” said Janice Meyer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Rellevant Partners.

“We are thrilled to partner with Matt and the Ecotrak team to support their mission of simplifying facilities management and empowering businesses with actionable data to make better business decisions,” said Jessica Kates, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Rellevant Partners.
To learn more about Ecotrak Facility Management Software, visit www.ecotrak.com.

About Ecotrak

Ecotrak is the premier Facilities Management SaaS platform – revolutionizing facilities using an asset first methodology, mobile-first technology, and a data first approach. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Ecotrak’s mission is to empower businesses with actionable information to make better business decisions. Customers such as Inspire Brands, Flynn Restaurant Group, Texas Roadhouse and Dutch Bros save thousands per month on repairs & maintenance and increase efficiency using the platform. For more information, visit ecotrak.com.

Ecotrak Media Contact

Shawna Moore
Director of Marketing
shawna@ecotrak.com
(310) 365-7634

LEWISVILLE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MCS (or the “Company”), the national property services Company founded in 1986, announced today it has acquired industry-leading commercial facilities services firm Chain Store Maintenance (“CSM”). MCS’s interior commercial facility services platform will be marketed as Chain Store Maintenance – an MCS Company, offering the core interior maintenance services that CSM is known for. Exterior facility services will continue to be marketed under MCS. In addition to expanding the Company’s overall commercial services offerings, the acquisition enhances MCS’s ability to serve its residential clients in the mortgage servicing and single-family rental industries with an expanded network of service providers and its growing network of self-performing service centers.

“From pricing, sourcing and contracting through project management, work order completion and quality control, this partnership will result in enhanced capabilities across the commercial property services spectrum that we believe will exceed client and vendor expectations.”

“We strive to be a true ‘go-to’ facilities services provider and fostered this partnership with Chain Store Maintenance to enhance our ability to provide customers with best-in-class interior and exterior services at all levels across the commercial and residential property services industries by leveraging MCS’s self-performing service centers and our combined, extensive vendor network,” said Craig Torrance, Chief Executive Officer of MCS. “Our expertise in exterior maintenance combined with CSM’s impeccable reputation for interior maintenance services adds value to the existing customer base across both firms. John Catanese and Steve Hopkins have spent over 30 years building the CSM brand and take great pride in their hands-on, client-focused approach to doing business. MCS is thrilled to merge our commercial services platform as we further our mission to be the nation’s premier property care company.”

Founded in 1991, CSM began developing a service provider network and customer base across its native New England and quickly grew to include coverage down the East Coast and later into the Midwest and Western U.S. Today, CSM has agreements to provide facilities services to more than 130,000 client locations across the country and in Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam with an expansive network of qualified contractors that now totals over 30,000.

The core CSM H.E.L.P. interior offerings – Handyman, Electrical, Locksmith and Plumbing – represent the bulk of company’s service requests, augmented with pest control, backflow services and fire extinguisher programs. From order entry to invoice generation, CSM systems accommodate a wide variety of emergency and standard facilities needs and will integrate seamlessly with MCS’s established systems, provider network and regional service centers. Catanese and Hopkins will remain with the company with Catanese serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Hopkins as Senior Vice President of Operations.

“We started this business over 30 years ago and have always been committed to providing our customers with responsive service, consistent communication, competitive pricing and the highest quality work,” said Catanese. “This next chapter in our evolution promises to deliver an expanded commercial service offering bolstered by the latest technology and the ability to self-perform in key markets, setting a new standard throughout the lifecycle of every job.”

MCS’s hybrid service model combines an expansive network of local service partners with the company’s own network of self-performing service centers and the use of innovative technologies to ensure transparency, enhance quality control and code compliance, and maximize efficiencies. The vendor network in place at CSM will complement the already vast MCS network to provide an even more robust suite of offerings for commercial and residential properties including handyman, electrical, locksmith and plumbing, as well as landscaping, snow removal and parking lot maintenance. The established processes, existing technology platforms, and accessibility to local trade professionals and MCS’s own team of service technicians give commercial owners/operators a one-stop-shop for an efficient, tech-forward services program.
“

With Chain Store Maintenance becoming our platform for interior commercial property services, we will elevate our position in the market while adding value for our customers,” said Andrew Nolan, President, Commercial and Residential Rental Services for MCS. “From pricing, sourcing and contracting through project management, work order completion and quality control, this partnership will result in enhanced capabilities across the commercial property services spectrum that we believe will exceed client and vendor expectations.”

About MCS

MCS is a leading property services provider working across Commercial Properties, Single-Family Rentals, and the Property Preservation industry. For over 35 years, MCS has been committed to responsive care, industry-leading service standards, leveraging technology, and end-to-end transparency to protect, preserve and serve communities across the country. Some of the largest and most respected mortgage servicers, real estate owners and operators, and corporations trust MCS to perform property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations, and other property-related services. Learn how MCS is Making Communities Shine at mcs360.com.

About Chain Store Maintenance – an MCS Company

Since 1991, Chain Store Maintenance (CSM) has been a proven and trusted leader in facilities services to the retail, restaurant, financial, health care and hospitality industries throughout the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, working with them directly and through middleware providers. In February 2023, CSM was acquired by MCS to serve as the primary commercial property services platform for interior trades. Learn more at ChainStore.com.

Contacts

Media:
Great Ink Communications
212.741.2977
MCS@greatink.com

Homeless Children of All Ages Treated to an Immersive “Winter Wonderland” & Shopping Spree

NEW YORK CITY – (January 25, 2023) – CS Hudson – a leader in experiential pop-ups, shop-in-shops
marketing campaigns and activations – is pleased to announce the fourth annual installment of the
Pop-Ups for Good Live.Laugh.Love event. Along with sponsors such as Medallion Retail, FASTSIGNS of
Upper Saddle River, Tanger Outlets and Sequel Timex Group, CS Hudson once again delivered a
complete, immersive retail experience for Long Island children, of all ages, in-need this past holiday
season.

Held on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, New York, this most recent Live.
Laugh. Love. See video. Activation upheld CS Hudson’s mission to stay at the forefront of innovative retail, all while
consistently giving back to local communities. 2022 was no exception, as four groups of children from
HELP Suffolk – a homeless housing facility and subsidiary of HELP USA – were bussed in for a truly once-
in-a-lifetime holiday experience. Ranging in ages from 2 ½ to 18 years old, these children were then able
to select their favorite toy and enjoy a day filled with a variety of interactivities and festive fun.

With a Willy Wonka style “golden ticket in hand the children were able to experience a life-sized insta-
gramable snow globe selfie station, a winner take all e-sports gaming tournament, a buy online pick up
in-store experience (BOPIS) and so much more. Smiles beamed on the faces of all those in attendance,
as CS Hudson and it’s partners helped to create an interactive experience where many of these children
were able to “shop” for their very own toys, often for the first time.

“Pop-Ups for Good continues to further support our long-held mission to leverage our retail pop-up
expertise to bring awareness and support to socially charged causes,” said CS Hudson co-founder and
co-CEO, Joseph Scaretta. “Our goal for last year’s, fourth annual Live.Laugh.Love. activation was to
create a whimsical toyshop experience where children of all ages could come to a store built just for
them, leaving their fears or frustrations behind, and experience the freedom to choose – to pick any gift
they wanted, to focus on having fun, and – perhaps most importantly — to have the space to just be a
kid and the event was a resounding success.”

In leveraging CS Hudson’s retail expertise, strategic partnerships and national reach to help support
positive initiatives Live. Laugh. Love. effectively married the firm’s knowledge and experience with the
goal of acting for social good. In fact, through such philanthropic initiatives, CS Hudson is capitalizing on
growing national trends showcasing that modern consumers are evolving in the ways they shop each
and every day – where they are now looking for intimate product experiences to meet in-store
expectations. By pairing pop-ups with this social and community-focused outreach, CS Hudson has once
again helped to elevate the pop-up model– a concept that brands, sellers, charities and individual
consumers alike now naturally gravitate toward and can all benefit from.

Live.Laugh.Love. 2022 was a resounding success, garnering publicity from media including web and
radio outlets. Building on the continued momentum of the Pop-Ups for Good program – which endured
even through the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing of years prior – CS Hudson plans to
continually expand its partnerships and footprint to open pop-up stores throughout the United States ,
benefiting charitable causes along the way. The firm is currently seeking and vetting interested
nonprofits, brands and collaborators to expand the program’s reach in the years to come.

To learn more about the program or partnership opportunities available, please contact cs4good@cs-hudson.com. For more information, visit www.cs-hudson.com/cs4good.

About CS Hudson: CS Hudson is a leading facility, project and program management firm headquartered
in Hauppauge, New York. CS Hudson serves nationwide facilities, capital projects, and immersive
activations for the retail, restaurant, healthcare, industrial, and commercial sectors. CS Hudson partners
with companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500s throughout the U.S. to provide a tailored
approach – not only meeting but exceeding the needs of its clients – with unique concepts, brands,
budgets, challenges and goals process. Industry-renowned experts at CS Hudson design customer-
centric, value-engineered service and solution programs driven by a deep understanding of the brands
the company serves. In addition to the company’s core services, CS Hudson experts provide project
development, implementation and management programs that streamline processes, reduce expense
and mitigate risk through a commitment to understanding individual client needs. With deep roots in
retail, facilities and construction, CS Hudson has a passion for giving back to the community, which has
made CS Hudson a trusted advisor and partner to some of the world’s most successful enterprises. For
more information, please visit www.cs-hudson.com.

Media Contact:
Daniela Idarraga
DIdarraga@CS-Hudson.com
Direct: 631.406.5574

Award-winning CEO and entrepreneur Michael Kurland writes about what it takes to be a successful leader in his new book Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership (Scribe Media; July 19, 2022). It’s part business book, part memoir written to motivate and inspire readers to take positive action and become the purpose-driven leaders they desire to be.

 

“Back in the early 2000s, I lacked any sense of purpose. I basically had hit rock bottom in both my personal life and career, and if I didn’t do something about it,” writes Kurland about his early years, “I knew I would never be happy with myself.”

 

So began a journey that led Kurland to a period of self-examination, laying the groundwork for a new vision for his life and guiding him to both professional and personal triumphs.

 

In Broken to Better Michael details how he made informed decisions that would bring about the changes he wanted. He quit his job, adopted a healthier lifestyle and moved from NY to Calif. to launch his business, which would eventually become the award-winning facilities management company, Branded Group.

 

“I had to get out of my old ways of thinking,” Kurland says about these initial actions. “It was definitely a risk to pack up everything and head to the West Coast, but if I wanted to change the trajectory of my life, I knew the changes needed to be radical. I needed to challenge the status quo, get out of my comfort zone and start with a clean slate.”

 

It was during this time that Kurland’s 13 principles for being a successful leader in an evolving business climate began to take shape. Some of these principles include consistently expanding your network of contacts, making a difference through innovative social impact programs and developing a culture of inclusiveness and empathy. These principles would influence every interaction he had with others and every decision he made in his business and personal life.

 

Kurland writes, “One of my biggest realizations at the start of the journey was that I couldn’t separate my personal and professional worlds. When you seek improvement, it’s important to #BeBetter in all aspects of your life—to be a better CEO, manager, employee, friend, coworker, or whatever shoes you fill.”

 

“This is not a book about white-knuckling your way to the top,” he says. “Rather it’s a book about taking a critical look at how you can become the best version of yourself so that you can do good for others. If this book can help someone else rise above their challenges and #BeBetter, then I’ve achieved my goal.”

 

Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership is available at Amazon and BN.com.

National Facility Management Company Ranks #345 in Third Annual Survey

Anaheim, CA. (April 06, 2022) – Branded Group CEO Michael Kurland recently announced that his company has been ranked #345 in the 2022 Fastest Growing Companies in America by The Financial Times and Statista. Recipients include businesses from twenty countries in north, central and South America who have experienced strong revenue growth.

“Branded Group is honored to be among these outstanding organizations who have persevered through challenging times,” Kurland said. “We will continue to focus on delivering our BeBetter experience to our valued clients as well as providing an outstanding workplace for our team.”

The FT Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies 2022 is a list of the 500 companies in the Americas that have the highest growth in publicly disclosed revenues between 2017 and 2020. Companies who are eligible for the award must have had annual revenues of at least $100,000 in the prior year. Complete results of the 2022 FT’s Fastest Growing Companies in America, including an interactive listing with links to company websites can be found at https://www.ft.com/americas-fastest-growing-companies-2021.

For more information about Branded Group, contact Michael Kurland at mkurland@branded-group.com.

About Branded Group

Branded Group is an award-winning facility maintenance and construction management company servicing multi-site commercial properties. Through its “Be Better” experience, Branded Group provides clients with peace of mind and preserves their brand standards. Services include on-demand facility maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation for retail locations, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, among other industry verticals. The company is a certified Great Place to Work® and been ranked on the Inc. 5000 for multiple consecutive years. For more information visit https://www.branded-group.com