How The Wilburn Company Delivers Extraordinary Customer Experiences
For over 25 years, The Wilburn Company (TWC) has served corporate offices, government facilities, and real estate investment trusts in the mid-Atlantic region with premier commercial cleaning services. Our success is rooted in a simple yet powerful commitment: “Delivering an extraordinary customer experience every day.” This motto represents a shift from viewing clients as mere customers to embracing them as true partners. It’s the difference between showing up to provide a service and showing up to solve problems. Between doing the minimum required and exceeding expectations. Between being a vendor and being a partner. At The Wilburn Company, we choose…
Enhancing Excellence Through Diversity and Inclusion in Commercial Cleaning
Diversity and inclusion have been vital in shaping progress across multiple industries for many years. In simpler terms, diversity and inclusion ideas aren’t new. But their significance endures as a cornerstone of modern business. From traditional industries to contemporary sectors, these ideas unite organizations in pursuing growth and excellence. In the world of commercial cleaning, where order is paramount, the values of diversity and inclusion resonate deeply. In this blog post, you’ll learn that diversity and inclusion aren’t just a strategy. They are a vibrant celebration of what can happen when diverse perspectives come together. Understanding Diversity in the Workplace…
Businesses Are Reinventing the Modern Workplace—This Is How Cleaning Can Help
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the concept of the workplace is being redefined. In April, 16.7% of workspaces in the United States were empty. This is a little more than it was the month before and much more than it was a year ago. Commercial real estate companies are embracing new strategies to overcome leasing challenges and create spaces that resonate with businesses and employees alike. With a focus on attracting and retaining tenants, these companies are going above and beyond, reinventing work environments in remarkable ways. From enticing amenities to cutting-edge design, the modern workplace has become a…
Meet the Wilburn Company: Mark Sherman
Mark Sherman has made a career in cleaning, and his expertise and dedication shine through at The Wilburn Company. With a background rooted in maintaining bustling skating rinks and local sports stadiums, Mark has honed his skills in keeping spaces immaculate while building positive customer relationships. Since joining The Wilburn Company, he has seamlessly transitioned into the role of a valued cleaner, leaving no surface uncleaned and ensuring that each client’s needs are met. A Background in Cleaning Marked started his journey with Wilburn in 2019 when his brother-in-law, working part-time at Wilburn, mentioned some job openings. Freshly settled in…
Cleaning the Future: How AI is Transforming the Cleaning Industry
It’s no secret that technology is changing the game in nearly every industry. The cleaning industry is no exception! Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making waves, and it’s here to stay. That may seem overwhelming. AI is a large concept. How does it apply here? Don’t worry. We’re here to show you how AI, specifically cobots, can revolutionize the cleaning industry while keeping the human touch intact. AI Everywhere Let’s start with the basics. AI refers to machines or robots that are programmed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as problem-solving or decision-making. But here’s the thing…
Relocating to Success: The Wilburn Company Finds a New Office Space
In business, a key element of success is the ability to adapt—to stay up to date with changing trends and technology while still maintaining a focus on quality service. For The Wilburn Company, that means it was time to make a change this past December. We are proud to announce that after two and a half decades at our original location, we relocated our offices to accommodate growing needs! Join us as we reflect upon our beginnings and share details about where the company is going next. Why Make the Move? As one of the go-to service providers for corporate…
Top 10 Things Most Businesses Forget to Clean
Commercial businesses are full of nooks and crannies that can be easy to forget about during the cleaning process. However, these neglected and hard-to-reach places are often the most important places to take care of in commercial cleaning. Why? Business owners know that a clean commercial space is essential for making a good impression on customers and clients. Preventing dirt and dust buildup not only helps keep your building environment a welcoming and pleasant place to work and visit, but it also helps to prolong the life of your furniture and fixtures. In short, don’t forget about the little things…
The Key to Consistently High Services Levels in Commercial Cleaning
Anyone in the commercial cleaning business knows that it’s not as simple as just mopping a break room floor or emptying the recycling bin. There’s an art to consistently delivering high-quality service. And as with any art, it takes practice, dedication, and a whole lot of elbow grease to perfect. Fortunately, achieving consistently high service levels in commercial cleaning is not an impossible feat. In fact, it can be boiled down to two key foundations: effective communication and a stellar performance management program. At The Wilburn Company, we’ve developed simple and actionable steps to take to incorporate these foundations. We’ve seen great success with this…
Why Your Business Needs a Day Porter
Let’s face it – most commercial buildings can get messy fast. We’ve all seen sticky spills, busy lobbies, fast-filling trash bins, messy break rooms, and post-storm debris. These are just a few of a myriad of issues that can occur during the day in any work environment. Keeping up with all the activities can be a challenge, to say the least. That’s where a day porter comes in. From sweeping leaves to mopping up spills, an experienced porter can handle it all. So, if you’re looking for a way to keep up with cleaning problems, a day porter might be…
Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Schedule Spring Cleaning for Your Commercial Building
Spring has sprung! It’s a time for blue skies, April showers, May flowers, and new beginnings. Sometimes a new beginning means cleaning out the old and dirty. In other words, the time for spring cleaning has come. This practice has a long history and continues to be a large part of the spring season for many people. In fact, a recent Bona/Harris Poll survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults found that 93% are planning to spring clean this year. It’s a wise decision for anyone to participate, but it’s especially important for the commercial industry to consider. After all, your…
4 Tangible Benefits of Performance Management
It’s hard to improve in something if you don’t have data on the quality of your performance. Without data, we can’t identify our strengths and weaknesses, and that means we may not know how to work to get better. This is why schools have tests – they reveal what students need to work on. It’s part of why sports leagues track stats – so athletes can focus on the skills they need help with. It’s why businesses conduct performance reviews – so employees can understand where they should continue to grow. Commercial cleaning is no different. To do it effectively,…
What to Expect from the Fall Cleaning Season
The past couple of years have been a roller coaster ride. We’re not here to recap everything that’s happened. That would probably require a book, and besides, it’s been attempted in plenty of other places. We’re just here to offer thoughts on where things are going, especially where commercial cleaning services are concerned. Because the unfortunate reality is that the rollercoaster is making another circuit around the track; this fall, we’re facing pandemic-related challenges yet again. The good news is that the fundamentals of the course haven’t changed. Commercial cleaning this fall will still bring challenges and opportunities. Here’s what to…
How Performance Management Helps Cleaning Services Continually Improve
“I remember the first time I did a building inspection with one of our project managers and a client,” recalls Chad Conrad, Director of Performance Management at The Wilburn Company. “We went over things and I called out what needed to be cleaned more thoroughly. The project manager was a little surprised – like, ‘Why are you calling out all of these improvement areas so bluntly in front of our client?’” “But the reality is that the client is going to see what needs to be improved. We want to see it clearly, too, so that we can take care of…
3 Tips to Finish Up Spring Cleaning for Offices in 2021
As we move through the end of spring and get ready to head into summer, it’s a great time to double-check your spring-cleaning list. Winter and early spring lead to a lot of time indoors, which can lead to the accumulation of dirt in buildings. Unfortunately, a dirty office isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it can hurt occupants’ health. A clean office, on the other hand, can keep people safe and benefit your building’s reputation with employees and customers. With that in mind, as the weather warms up, here are three quick tips to help you finish up spring cleaning…
4 Tips to Disinfect the Dirtiest Shared Spaces in Your Office
The break room. The common room. The kitchen. Whatever your company calls it, the purpose is usually the same: to provide a shared space for employees to relax, eat, and unwind from the stresses of a day on the job. Break rooms are some of the most commonly used spaces in a workplace. They’re also some of the dirtiest. One room continuously cohabited by a large volume of people guarantees the presence of germs – and lots of them. During cold and flu season especially, you can be sure that a microbiological zoo of bugs is thriving on the handle…
What’s New with Green Cleaning Services in 2021
Three years ago, The Wilburn Company officially became GS-42 certified by Green Seal. This notable distinction signaled that our company met green cleaning service requirements, including: Reducing chemical waste through the efficient use of chemicals Reducing solid waste Optimizing cleaning frequencies Providing continuing training to staff Ensuring transparent communication with clients and employees But the journey didn’t end there. While earning our GS-42 certification took commitment, keeping it requires ongoing effort, as well. Green Seal, the nonprofit organization responsible for confirming green cleaning services, is continually updating their standards, and maintaining the certification rightfully requires persistence in compliance. Continuing to…
The Wilburn Company Introduces its First Management Trainer, James D. Graham
James “Darryl” Graham is an encourager. “Everywhere I go, I tell people to have a blessed day,” he says. “I say it so much that people just say it right back to me.” That line – have a blessed day – comes from a strong Christian faith and represents what is a central theme in Darryl’s life. “I’m blessed,” explains Darryl. “God has blessed me, and I believe, 100%, that I’m called to live like it.” That calling translates into a passion for hard work and for building other people up, both traits that have led Darryl into his current role at…
Top 6 Commercial Cleaning Companies in Maryland
Looking for a commercial cleaning company in Maryland? We’ve put together a list of six top options based on our 20+ years of experience serving the Maryland area. There’s a strong chance one of these cleaning companies will be well suited to meet your needs. 1. The Wilburn Company Yes, we’re biased – but we’re also proud of our work. At The Wilburn Company, we provide commercial cleaning for corporate offices, high-security government facilities, and real estate investment trusts across Maryland and the DC area. What sets us apart: Our people are awesome. That’s not just fluff. Check out featured articles on…
How We’re Upgrading the Status Quo of Commercial Cleaning
As we open 2021, we’re getting ready to begin cleaning several new buildings. We’re grateful for that. We know that many service organizations have been hard pressed to make it through the past year at all. While 2020 was a whirlwind for us, we’re fortunate to have weathered the storm – and even to have continued on a steady growth trajectory throughout it. With that said, as we move forward with new engagements this year, we have an interesting perspective. From one point of view, our plans for this coming year are simply to maintain the status quo of quality work…
What Happened in 2020: The Year in Review
For each of the last several years at The Wilburn Company, we’ve taken a moment in December to reflect on the year in review. As you might expect, this year, that reflection feels a little bit different. What a crazy 12 months it’s been. Coming into 2020, our expectations for where we’d be at this moment were entirely different. And yet, it’s encouraging to realize that many of the initiatives we’d planned seem almost prescient in retrospect – useful in any year, and maybe even more useful in the midst of a pandemic. As we’ve written before: A lot has changed,…