In September 2016, BRS acquired the Jerus Company, a 40-year-old janitorial and paper products company based in Silverton, OH. BRS is a facility solutions distribution company that provides an array of products to a diverse portfolio of businesses, including:

• Janitorial service companies
• Commercial and industrial buildings
• Government buildings and retail establishments, including restaurants and childcare operations.

The products fall into five areas:

• Jan/San
• Foodservice
• Batteries
• Safety
• Restroom Accessories

“We help our customers save money, time, and improve their financial performance and increase their productivity.”  

Why are you passionate about the Workforce Council and our work?

I’m passionate about the Workforce Council because it gives me an opportunity to assist and give back to the community, and hopefully, improve the lives of the citizenry. As a former economic development professional, creating jobs was one of our areas of focus; therefore, this provides me with the opportunity to continue to do such.

What was your first job?

As a summer job, I worked for a park service, doing odds and ends things. Honestly, I didn’t like it too much because I grew up in Alabama, and it was too hot outside all day, but I endured.

What advice have you received that has stuck with you throughout your career?

One thing I learned many years ago was “it’s not who you know, but who knows you,” and I added another piece to that, “in a positive way.”

One of my favorite quotes, by Henry David Thoreau, is: “…the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and most go to their graves having never fulfilled their dreams.”

Another quote I try to live by is: “Only those who risk going too far will ever know how far they can go” (unknown).