How I Got Started with Tammy Gnau

Tammy Gnau is president of McCann Janitorial Services Inc. in Perry Hall.


What is it? As a one-stop cleaning company we provide custodial maintenance, carpet cleaning, tile refinishing, window washing and product sales. Our specialty is in banking and financial institutions.

How was it launched? In 1989 in high school I started cleaning work so I could take flight training during the day. I learned how to fly and worked my way up to airline transport pilot, the highest rating that a pilot can hold, and I found myself offered a jet job flying captain on a private jet. At the same time I landed my first commercial cleaning contract with Tower Federal Credit Union. Then I had to hire help, because I was traveling. For all of that, for any new equipment, I took it all out of my own pocket: Credit cards and self-financing.

Why stay with cleaning, not flying? Kids. My ex-husband is a corporate pilot and we both couldn’t be out of town. But in all honesty, the janitorial work is my life right now. Maybe the flying will come back once the kids are grown. But I enjoy what I do.

How did banks become your niche? Because I started out there, I became very familiar with their issues, especially security. You are putting people into a bank after hours, so you have to hire great people, people you can trust. We do the interview, we do background criminal checks. And a lot of it is personality, just feeling that you can have that level of trust. It takes time to find the right person.

What did the recession teach you? We’ve learned to operate lean. We’ve downsized office space, we cut expenses. So for instance we are using chemicals you can dilute, we are using rags and mops that last longer. All those things have made a difference.

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