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Green is here to stay. MMMM will continue to be a leader in this emerging market

The Pathway of Cleaning for Health and the Environment

In early June members of the MMMM management team met with representatives from JohnsonDiversey to discuss their new Healthy High Performance Cleaning (HHPC) Program. Their HHPC Program is a unique, all-inclusive approach to cleaning that begins with environmentally preferable products, extends to a full array of green cleaning procedures, staff training, purchasing guidelines, and occupant education.

The meeting opened with a lengthy discussion of the driving forces behind the fast expanding green movement. It is clear to everyone that it is here to stay. Building builders and owners are interested, building occupants are interested, corporate and owner-occupied facilities, government agencies, and third party experts are interested. For all those reasons MMMM not only needs to be interested but is a leader in this initiative.

There are two main groups that have helped the green movement hit new highs. The first is Green Seal. Green Seal has developed criteria to certify if products are green according to set parameters. It is the first time that there has been a universally accepted standard for green chemicals. Now once a product has its Green Seal certification we can be assured that it is green. The second group is the United States Green Building Council. The USGBC has created a system for certifying green buildings. Their LEED-New Buildings (NB) and LEED – Existing Buildings (EB) have created a rating system that evaluates the environmental impact of a building. It also established recommended cleaning procedures that help maintain a building in an environmental manner. The program was designed to ensure a healthy and safe working environment with reduced impact on the natural environment.

It is clear that MMMM's partnership with their suppliers and the adoption of their Healthy High Performance Cleaning program is an integral part of maintaining and operating green buildings and an effective way to reduce operational costs, increase occupant satisfaction and productivity, limit risk by creating safer healthier indoor environments, and enhance the market value of buildings. The program illustrates how protecting human health and the environment through facility hygiene pays dividends to business tenants, building management and the cleaning staff. It is a way for MMMM to totally meet the needs of our customers who are interested in "greening" their buildings.

MMMM has been on the forefront of the green movement for a number of years, with their early utilization of back pack vacuums that use HEPA filters and have been expanding the use of micro fibers in the facilities they clean, as well as Green Seal certified cleaning products. MMMM is now simply increasing the depth of their focus.

What does all this mean? MMMM now has another improved system that allows them to better help their customers achieve whatever level of green they want. MMMM can simply employ Green Seal certified products with their Healthy High Performance Cleaning Program in their customer's facility or help them achieve LEED certification. MMMM prides itself on being industry leaders and partnering with those that can continue to deliver and provide the latest cutting edge trends, techniques and innovations that their customers can benefit from.

Date: April 4, 2006
Contact: Tim Murch , CBSE (314) 535-2100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "MMMM REPEATS HISTORY ANNOUNCING THE BSCAI CUSTODIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD; PRESENTED TO CHARLES JONES"

TIM M. MURCH, CBSE, PRESIDENT OF MITCH MURCH'S MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, (MMMM) a full service contract cleaning services company specializing in quality cleaning of office buildings, corporate headquarters, educational facilities, manufacturing/industrial facilities, entertainment facilities and providing specialized services, recently announced the presentation of the BSCAI CUSTODIAN OF THE YEAR award to their long time MMMM Team Member, Mr. Charles Jones.

On March 25, 2006 Charles Jones received the highest honor available to custodians in the world at the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) – the Custodian of the Year Award.

At BSCAI's annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee Charles Jones was presented with this award with over 1,000 building service contractors from around the world in attendance. There was an arousing, standing ovation when Charles was presented a $1,000 cash prize, a plaque and medallion. The prize also consisted of airfare and hotel accommodations for the BSCAI convention in Nashville.

The Custodian of the Year Award honors that building service contracting employee whose job performance, civic involvement, and family role best exemplify qualities found in superior custodial employees.

Charles Jones has been an Team Member at Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management Company (MMMM) since 1984. He is a maintenance man at the Lammert Building during the day and fills in and does projects throughout the North County and St. Charles area for MMMM during evening hours. Charles has never called off for illness and has an outstanding attendance record. He exhibits dependability, honesty and integrity in his job performance.

Charles will go out of his way to take over problems and reports suspicious activities in or around the facilities where he works. Over the years, Charles has had hundreds of keys to buildings that MMMM cleans and not once had an incident. He works well with others and employs labor savings shortcuts when he is working in a shorthanded situation. He stays with the job until completed and will repair machines or pick up broken equipment and get it repaired.

His reliability is legendary. For example: There was an ice storm followed by 10 inches of snow, and MMMM had 8 open facilities with no cleaners. Charles not only cleaned 4 of the buildings, he also helped his supervisor finish the other 4 facilities. And, he still made it to his day job.

Charles received an Associate's Degree in Mass Communications at Forest Park Community College . He is a very active member in his church of 50 years, Prince of Peace Baptist Church, where he is assistant supervisor of junior ushers, leads the men's ministry, and has driven the church bus every Sunday for 25 years, so senior citizens can attend church services. He has never missed a Sunday. He took care of an elderly church member for 25 years until her death at age 95 in 2004. He is an active member of the NAACP. During his free time, Charles enjoys spending time with his son, granddaughter, and daughter-in-law.

Charles is a national hero receiving 3 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star in the Vietnam War. He does not discuss his courageous duty to his country. That would be out of character for this quiet giant.

Mr. Jones' exceptional accomplishments, honesty, dependability, and hard-working attitude, exemplify the Team Member standards that create success in the industry.

MMMM is incredibly proud to be the only building service contractor to receive the BSCAI Custodian of the Year Award more than two times for a total of five. This exemplifies the type and caliber of dedicated, outstanding team members that MMMM employs.

Date: April 4, 2006
Contact: Tim Murch , CBSE
(314) 535-2100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"MMMM REPEATS AS THE SAFEST CLEANING COMPANY"

TIM M. MURCH, CBSE, PRESIDENT OF MITCH MURCH'S MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, (MMMM) a full service contract cleaning services company specializing in quality cleaning of office buildings, corporate headquarters, schools, manufacturing/industrial facilities, entertainment facilities and providing specialized services, recently announced their unsurpassed recognition for their commitment to safety:

For an unprecedented 12th consecutive year, MMMM has been recognized for its commitment to safety by the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI). The Outstanding Overall Record in Employee Safety and Vehicle Safety Award was presented to Mitchell M Murch, II CBSE at the BSCAI Convention and Trade show in Nashville on March 28th. MMMM was only one of three companies to earn this top industry award out of 2,500 companies worldwide.

MMMM takes an intense approach to the safety of their workers. With over 3,000 Team Members working millions of hours per year this is a great honor to be presented with this award. Janitorial workers rank as the fifth most likely to be injured on the job. MMMM is one of the few industry leaders with their unequally safety record and continues to be committed to cutting edge safety programs, systems and incentives. Tim Murch, CBSE, President, says the company's safety success is due to the constant and focused attention MMMM pays to safety matters. MMMM has a Safety Director and Assistant Safety Director whose sole job responsibilities are to proactively conduct safety inspections and audits, address safety issues and prevent injuries. MMMM opens up its weekly executive management meeting continuing to move their company safety programs further by discussing and identifying safety issues along with new progressive and proactive ideas on how to solve any safety issues or potential safety issues, ensuring the safety of all MMMM Team Members. MMMM's philosophy is that one injury is too many and they will do whatever it takes to prevent injuries. MMMM utilizes safety specific supplies and equipment along with continuous training of their Team Members on the proper use of supplies and equipment on safe cleaning methods and procedures. MMMM Team Members are taught how to properly use the supplies and equipment through extensive customized training for each job position and facility. No other company in the world has come close to winning the BSCAI Safety Awards as many times as MMMM's 12 times in a row. MMMM takes great honor is receiving this award and is committed to continue receiving them for years to come.

April 4, 2006
Contact: Tim Murch , CBSE
(314) 535-2100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"MMMM IS AWARDED THE NEW BUSCH STADIUM CONTRACT"

TIM M. MURCH, CBSE, PRESIDENT OF MITCH MURCH'S MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, (MMMM) a full service contract cleaning services company specializing in quality cleaning of office buildings, corporate headquarters, educational facilities, manufacturing/industrial facilities, entertainment facilities and providing specialized services, announced that MMMM was recently awarded the cleaning contract of the New Busch Stadium. For the past nine years MMMM has been cleaning the old Busch Stadium.

Now that the old Busch Stadium has been torn down to make way for the new Busch Stadium, MMMM will continue to clean the Stadium. MMMM was awarded the new stadium cleaning contract due to their ability to maintain the venue to the highest level of cleanliness that the St. Louis Cardinals have become accustomed to and to keep it the showplace of baseball, which is known and recognized as the cleanest ballpark in the major leagues. Other criteria that were taken into consideration on the award were MMMM's unequalled operations team and facility specific operational plan along with their state of the art quality control program and their cutting edge industry leading systems and procedures.

The magnitude and complexity of the project at Busch Stadium present many challenges. There are, however, some challenges unique to Busch itself (both the new stadium and the old). One of them is cleaning an open air stadium and the effect weather can have cleaning during all four seasons. The cleaning team works a combined total of more than one thousand hours a day. If it rains or snows, that compounds the already many challenges the MMMM team experiences. Unlike cleaning in other facilities where the MMMM team members can count on starting and leaving at the same time each day, the new Busch Stadium will require cleaning around the clock on all three shifts. Not to mention the tens of thousands of pounds of trash generated that MMMM meticulously cleans up after each game. There are 81 regular season home games played at Busch, and each game produces enough trash to completely fill two 40-yard trash compactors.

MMMM quickly moved from cleaning the old stadium to starting the construction clean up at the new stadium upon the recent award of the contract. The project is headed by Ray Allen, the Busch Stadium Project manager for MMMM. Ray oversees more than one hundred and twenty-five MMMM Team Members (some of whom have been there for more than twenty-five years) who come back year after year working together as a team to keep Busch clean to the highest standards.

There is a great deal of appreciation for all those who help keep Busch Stadium clean and the showplace it is recognized as. The new Busch Stadium will strive to continue to be recognized as the cleanest venue in all of professional sports – the same recognition its predecessor enjoyed for many years. MMMM also appreciates having had the opportunity to keep cleaning such an important piece of baseball history as well as for St. Louis Cardinals fans that are recognized as the best fans in baseball.

In additional to providing nightly supervised cleaning of buildings, MMMM also provides carpet cleaning, power washing/steam cleaning, SaniGlaze tile and grout restoration, construction cleanups, window cleaning, upholstery cleaning and facility contracts management services. MMMM operates throughout the Midwest in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, as well as throughout Florida and has 3,000 Team Members servicing over 350 accounts.

GREEN CLEANING

MMMM moves it green cleaning initiative forward with guest speaker Tom Seitz from JohnsonDiversey and introduces GreenPath™

St. Louis , MO – Mitch Murch 's Maintenance Management Co. (MMMM) has made another step forward remaining at the forefront of green cleaning. In the early 1990s, MMMM recognized the need for a healthier building environment and made an internal commitment to be an innovator and industry leader in healthier cleaning launching its Cleaning for Health program. Since then, MMMM has been making industry leading strides - constantly seeking out the newest and best cleaning practices it can use to benefit its customers, prospects and the environment. MMMM has been evolving its green cleaning program and remains at the front of its industry's foray into the green movement. A recent seminar with JohnsonDiversey's green cleaning expert, Tom Seitz, topped off a string of seminars and MMMM's 2005 green cleaning initiative that was spurred on by its newest green commitment—GreenPath™. GreenPath™ was designed to give MMMM's customers and prospects who want to take their facilities to the next level in green cleaning a plan with specific objectives to get them there. Tom Seitz was invited to speak to a large group of MMMM Team Members from sales, marketing and operations, MMMM customers and prospects about the benefits of green cleaning. It was held at the Alberici Constructors corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Alberici, a long-time customer of MMMM, is recognized as the greenest building in the World. It received 60 of 69 points in its LEED-NC Platinum certification. MMMM was chosen out of other candidate companies to transition the LEED project and remain the janitorial services provider for Alberici due to its ability to keep Alberici sparkling and help them achieve and maintain the highest LEED recognition.

Notable points that Tom made:

• The initiative of many government agencies and private sector corporations to go green
• The fact that 75% of building expenses are wrapped up in operations and energy costs, two things that can be significantly affected by the actions of facilities services providers
• The janitorial provider is responsible for 44% of the points required for LEED certification
  
• The use and implementation of JohnsonDiversey's Healthy High Performance Cleaning (HHPC), which is aligned with the USGBC and LEED certification and a major component of the MMMM GreenPath™ initiative
• The benefits of having a green building, including reduced impact on the environment, improved worker safety and health, reduction in operating costs and brand equity
• Some examples of the savings associated with going green are:

  – A large California building had its waste removal, cleaning supplies, landscaping and electricity cost per square foot reduced from $1.87/foot to $1.16/foot after LEED certification.
  – Alberici Constructors operates 60% more energy efficient and has reduced operating costs by 50%.
  – JohnsonDiversey's global headquarters, a LEED-EB Gold certified building, saves over 4 million gallons of municipal water and $90,000 per year in energy.

MMMM's GreenPath™ has a great many resources at its disposal to maintain the highest standards and practices in green cleaning. GreenPath™ utilizes specific procedures that ensure a greener work place in key areas like:

• Chemical selection
• Dusting
• Entryways/walk-off mat programs
• Mopping and vacuuming
• Floor and carpet care
• Rest rooms
• Recycling
• Waste disposal
• Reducing wasted chemicals, water and energy

MMMM is a privately held cleaning and building services provider that has been servicing office buildings, government facilities, corporate headquarters and campuses, light and heavy industrial facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, educational institutions and large entertainment venues and theme parks throughout the United States since 1978.

MMMM cleans over 50 million square feet nightly and has over 3,000 Team Members. It offers its customers the best value in the industry and provides many services in addition to janitorial that are not limited to: hard floor and carpet care maintenance, light fixture re-lamping, window cleaning programs, power washing, grounds maintenance, construction clean-up, fabric, upholstery and partition cleaning, computer room raised floor cleaning and rest room paper, soap and trash liners resale. For more information on MMMM and its commitment to keeping its customers and the environment greener, visit them at www.4-m.com or at 1-800-535-8285.

Date: March 31, 2004
Contact: Tim Murch
(314) 535-2100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MMMM TEAM MEMBER MAKES HISTORY AS BSCAI CUSTODIAN OF THE YEAR LAS VEGAS

Cleaning professionals from across North America and around the globe filed into the Las Vegas Convention Center Tuesday, March 23rd for the 2004 Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) Convention and Trade Show, which kicked off with Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management Company Team Member Jose Bucio being awarded the BSCAI International Custodian of the Year. The BSCAI has 2,500 member companies from 39 countries and Jose was selected as the best custodian in the world! Motivational speaker Brian Tracy provided the keynote speech, but not until Jose had received a beautiful plaque, a medallion and a $1,000.00 check. Jose works for MMMM as a utility custodian at the Illinois Agriculture Building . "Jose Bucio sets an excellent example for all of the Team Members in our industry," BSCAI immediate past President Ryan Hendley said to the hundreds of meeting attendees. Jose is the fourth MMMM Company Team Member to have won the prestigious award, following Richard (R.C.) Stine of the IAA facility in 1988, Maria Cotton of Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in 1990 and Ollie Spann of the 10829 Building in 2003. No other building services contractor has ever had more than two winners. Jose has worked for MMMM full-time for 8 years and as a custodian for 14 years. He has never called in sick, and his only days off have been vacation. When Jose completes an assigned job, he immediately pages his supervisor to find out what needs to be done. He also has helped train new Hispanic Team Members and interprets when Team Member safety and training meetings are held. Jose always has an excellent attitude and is neat in appearance. He always says "yes" when asked to fill in for another Team Member. Every day he gives his best, whether he is dumping trash, cleaning restrooms, extracting carpet or buffing floors. Jose's attitude does not vary with different assignments. During Jose's many years with MMMM, he has found and returned many items at the customer site, including wedding rings, billfolds, briefcases and purses. As a result, he has received many thanks and compliments from the customer. He has also been the main transportation for several MMMM Team Members. He not only works two jobs, but sees that Team Members have transportation to work or to a doctor. Jose has even opened his home to new Team Members who need a place to stay until they can get their own home. This has been instrumental in keeping his work crew together, with low turnover. Jose's caring attitude, quality of work and excellent attendance make him an important member of the MMMM team. Jose and his wife Leticia also lead a Bible study at their home weekly. Mr. Bucio's exceptional accomplishments, honesty, dependability, and hard-working attitude, exemplify the Team Member standards that create success in the industry. BSCAI and MMMM are very proud to honor Mr. Bucio, and we offer our congratulations for receiving the Custodian of the Year Award.

A Case Study of 25 Years of Good Old Fashioned Values & Success

This article appeared in the November 2003 issue of Services Magazine.

It was 1978. He was 50 years old, and broke. He cashed out his insurance policies and sold his assets. As he considered real estate and other career opportunities, he was at a major turning point in his life. Mitch Murch stumbled into the cleaning industry back in 1953. At the time, there were only six cleaning companies in St. Louis, Missouri. Mitch was a young man in a job selling supplies. One day a customer complained to Mitch about the customer's janitor. Apparently, service was hit or miss and sometimes the janitor simply wouldn't show. Mitch looked at the customer and said he'd like to try cleaning the premises. If the customer would let him, Mitch would come in, clean, see how long it took and then give a price. So that night, Mitch cleaned the building and the next day he gave the customer a price based upon the value of the time that it took him to clean the building. He was hired on the spot and Modern Maintenance, his first company, came into being.

To read the entire article, click here.

Busch Stadium Cleans UP

Chris Carver of St. Louis hoses down seats Friday over right field at Busch Stadium. Carver, an Team Member of Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management, was one of dozens of workers preparing the stadium for the Cardinals' home opener Monday. Teak Phillips / Post-Dispatch 3/29/03

READY, SET…STARTUP!

This article appeared in the February 2003 issue of Contracting Profits magazine.

You've just signed and sealed the biggest account your company's ever seen, beating out several other building service contractors in the process. But what you do between now and the first few weeks on the job can make the difference between a mutually beneficial contractor-client relationship and a dissatisfied customer.

The time leading up to and through an account startup is crucial in building trust with a new customer. A smooth transition can set the foundation for a long-term association; conversely, a disorganized, problematic beginning can lead to problems throughout the contract's term.

"A good [startup] is expected and a bad one is never forgotten," says Tim Murch, CBSE, president of Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management (MMMM) in St. Louis.

To read the entire article, click here.

MMMM Team Member Makes History!

CHICAGO – Cleaning professionals from across North America and around the globe filed into the McCormick Place exhibition hall in Chicago Saturday, March 8 for the 2003 Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) Convention and Trade Show, which kicked off with MMMM Team Member Ollie Spann being awarded the BSCAI International Custodian of the Year. The BSCAI has 2,500 member companies from 39 countries and Ollie was selected as the best!

NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary provided the keynote speech, but not until Ollie had received her award from immediate BSCAI Past-President Art Barella, plus a beautiful plaque, a medallion and a $1,000.00 check. Ollie works as a part-time custodian at 10829 Olive, while raising four children. "Ollie Spann sets an excellent example for all of the Team Members in our industry," Barella said to the hundreds of meeting attendees. Ollie is the third MMMM Team Member to have won the prestigious award, following Richard (R.C.) Stine of our IAA account in 1988 and Maria Cotton of Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in 1990. No other building services contractor has ever had three winners.

Ollie is a self-starter. She takes it upon herself to meet the tenants of her building and understand their needs and desires. She does cleaning inspections and makes sure any discrepancies are corrected. Because Ollie is always pro-active, she keeps problems from arising.

While cleaning, Ollie found a ladies wedding ring on the floor. She found out who the ring belonged to and returned it to its owner.

When Ollie found out the building manager she works for had just obtained another building, she campaigned on behalf of her company. Due to the building manager's respect and trust in Ollie, MMMM remained cleaning the original building, and was given the new building to clean.

Ollie is a great example of how to be a top notch custodian. She is always pleasant towards tenants, building management and co-workers. She shows co-workers how to be conscientious and proud of their jobs. When told she was nominated for the "Custodian of the Year" award, she started to cry. She couldn't believe she was being nominated for "just doing her job."

Ollie does her own charity work, by finding needy families who need clothes or food, and collecting needed items. A lady with three children in her neighborhood had a house fire, losing everything. Ollie collected winter coats so the lady and her children could stay warm.

Ollie is a single parent with four school-aged children. She is very active in her church and a pillar in her community. She is well respected by her co-workers and neighbors. She enjoys bowling, skating, singing, and going to church.

Ms. Spann's exceptional accomplishments, honesty, dependability, and hard-working attitude, exemplify the Team Member standards that create success in the industry. BSCAI and MMMM are proud to honor Ollie, and we offer our congratulations for receiving the Custodian of the Year Award.

It takes teamwork to get to the top

Reprint from Contracting Profits Magazine, May 2001

It can be difficult for a small or mid-size cleaning contractor to imagine becoming one of the large building service contractors. Tim Murch, CBSE, President of Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management (MMMM), St. Louis, once felt that way, but he and his management team learned that they could grow as big as their peers and are now competing with companies much larger than they ever imagined. What's even better is Tim, whose regional service company's revenues are about $30 million, is willing to share his methods for success with others who are just as intimidated as he and his father once were.

From rebuilding the family business to partnering with competitors, the Murch family and their Team Members have tackled many of the cleaning industry's biggest challenges, and seem to be reaping equally large benefits. The company, which started in 1978 with a handful of Team Members and a few buildings, now employs more than 2,000 workers across five states and in a variety of services.

To read the entire article, click here.

Finalist – Entrepreneur of the Year

St. Louis Business Journal, June 22-28, 2001

Even in grade school, Tim Murch's talent for business was obvious. As a fifth grader, he sold vegetables on the street corner, and as he grew older he continued to start his own businesses to earn money. Then in his junior year in college, his father approached him with the idea of starting a janitorial service, Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management Co. After his father retired in 1993, Tim Murch took over as president.

"I knew I always wanted to do something on my own and to be in control of my destiny," Murch said.

Growing up, he watched his father struggle with the operation of two businesses, a janitorial company and an ice rink. When his father asked Murch to go into a new business with him, Murch saw that he could make this work because they'd be working together. That was more than 22 years ago.

To read the entire article, click here.

Mitch Murch Powers Up Cleaning, Consulting Co.

St. Louis Business Journal, June 1-7, 1999

Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management Company known in many circles as MMMM is branching out into other areas.

Founded in 1978 by Mitch Murch, the firm, now headed by Murch's son, Tim, has grown to be one of the largest maintenance companies in the area with more than 1,800 Team Members and $22 million in revenue.

MMMM recently expanded with the debut of Network Specialists, a consulting company consisting of the firm's management and MIS managers. "MIS is something we have been very good at," Tim Murch said, "to the point that I was getting requests from contractors around the country who had needs in this area."

Network Specialists provides consulting and implementation services to companies that need to establish or expand voice and data networks. A team of engineers conducts needs assessments with clients, make recommendations for changes or additions to existing infrastructure and offers the services required to carry out the recommendations.

The company targets the building maintenance and security guard industries, but is expanding to include corporations that need network solutions, either locally or over a wide area.

Meanwhile, the window cleaning operations of MMMM merged with SuperClean Inc. Window Cleaning Service.

The new corporation for window cleaning, named MMMM-SuperClean Window Cleaning Co., has become the largest window cleaning company in St. Louis. The merger was effective April 1.

Jerry Barklage, Chris Lang, Steve Allen and Tim Murch are owners. Barklage and Lang, who has owned SuperClean, will run the day-to-day operations, and Allen and Murch will oversee administrative functions.

Among the company's window accounts are Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. world headquarters, NationsBank are Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. world headquarters, NationsBank Tower, the Equitable Building, Railway Exchange, Mercantile Tower, St. Louis Place and A.G. Edwards world headquarters.

In addition to the latest ventures, MMMM has instituted one of the newest methods used in cleaning, known as CO2 Blasting Technology. It replaces cleaning processes such as grit blasting, steam cleaning, solvents or manual scrubbing.

The technology is being widely used in industries such as food processing, nuclear power, automotive, aircraft maintenance, aerospace, electronics, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, steel, foundries, plastics/rubber and printing.

CLEANING UP MMMM Shines In The Dirty World of Contract Building Maintenance

St. Louis Post Dispatch, May 19, 1997

Picture the mess at Busch Stadium after a game: sticky concrete stairs from spilled Bud Lights, abandoned nacho trays crusted with cheese, and peanut shells – pile of 'em. Now, widen those eyes and say "MMMM…"

This reaction may not be unfounded. MMMM stands for Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management Co., which contracted last month to clean Busch Stadium. This is yet another sweep ahead for MMMM, which claims to be the metro area's largest and most successful contract building maintenance company.

The contract generated some controversy in the St. Louis area last month. Cardinal's management fired 55 union workers after they refused to accept lower wages. Then management hired MMMM.

The workers ended up settling for lower wages negotiated by the union and the Cardinals and MMMM agreed to hire them. The company's Team Members are union members, MMMM said, and the set wages are above average for downtown maintenance Team Members. "Nobody was misplaced," said Tim Murch, president and chief executive of MMMM, 2827 Clark Avenue.

"Nobody lost their job. We always like to hire the good people, the people the customers like, who have been in St. Louis for a long time, providing good service."

MMMM itself has been in St. Louis for a long time, providing cleaning service to office buildings, school districts, manufacturing and industrial facilities, and even the St. Louis Arena until it closed. Murch's father, Mitch Murch, founded the company in 1978 after conducting an "imaginary" experiment in a customer's office. The elder Murch, who sold janitorial supplies at the time, had listened to the customer's complaint about the quality of maintenance workers. The customer asked if Murch could help.

"So my father went into an office after the Team Member had cleaned in the middle of the night," explained Tim Murch, "and cleaned what had already been cleaned. He wiped out an ashtray that had already been wiped, emptied a trash can that was already emptied, and vacuumed a carpet that had already been vacuumed, so he could figure out how long it would take. He ended up getting the account."

From there, said Mitch Murch, "I grew the company, and my wife grew the kids," Though Murch's three daughters pursued other careers, sons Tim Murch and Mitch Jr., director of sales, work at the company.

MMMM had sales of more than $20 million last year, Tim Murch said.

MMMM employs more than 2,000 people, and has contracts to clean more than 20 million square feet of space. "That's a lot of trash cans, a lot of dusting, a lot of toilet paper rolls, a lot of situations we have to make sure are all right on an everyday basis," Tim Murch said. "And we can't go around checking overnight."

What MMMM does is provide the right training and reward Team Members whenever possible. Since 1991, the company has paid out nearly $300,000 in safety and incentive programs.

MMMM Team Members receive a Safety Bingo game card in their paychecks, and can call a hotline for the day's bingo number – and a safety message. If bingo winners can repeat the messages, they can double their winnings. One worker won $8,000 for covering all her spaces and repeating the safety messages.

"What we want to do is find people doing things right and really recognize that and promote it," said Tim Murch. "Every compliment that we get, I write a handwritten note of appreciation, and that is presented to the Team Member and their crew and I get the customer involved. We want to promote as many positives as possible."

Murch also showed off a typical Team Member newsletter, filled with "Service Worker of the Month" listings, and Team Member birthdays. "Who doesn't like to see their name in print?" he asked.

The good treatment pays off, the Murches believe. Last year, said Tim Murch, the company gave out 308 perfect attendance certificates. "And that doesn't include any gray area at all, like if they had car trouble or baby sitter problems. They were either here or they weren't." The company's turnover rate, Murch said, is half the industry average of 300 percent.

MMMM provides on-site job training, and prides itself on the use of "green," or ecologically safe, cleaning chemicals. The company also uses a new Back Pack, four-filter vacuuming system, which, the Murches said, actually cleans the air. "We were the first people in St. Louis to implement the use of the back pack vacuums," said Tim Murch, "and it does a fantastic job. It's an extremely effective tool, and it's versatile. It's much more productive than an upright, which translates into cost-effectiveness."

The company recently bought a turbo-charged, chemically injected, five gallons-a-minute blasting power washing truck, which can be used for entry plazas, dumpster areas, poultry houses, or anything else that needs a shot of shine.

If MMMM has so many eager Team Members and the latest cleaning technology at their disposal, one question remains: How clean do the Murches keep their own homesteads?

"Mine can always be cleaner," Tim Murch said sheepishly. His brother gave an all-knowing, raised-brow look. "Immaculate!" he exclaimed.

SUCKING UP SALES Murch cleans up

St. Louis Business Journal, October 30 – November 5, 1995

Business Activity: Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management is a full-service company that has grown into one of the largest cleaning contracting firms in the St. Louis area. With more than 200 accounts, MMMM services include janitorial, window, carpet, drapery, upholstery, fabric, light fixture, concrete and awning cleaning as well as high-power washing, emergency cleanups for fires and floods and temporary or permanent personnel services.

Executives: Tim Murch, 37, is president and runs the daily business of the company. Tim is a member of the board of directors of the Building Service Contractors Association and has served on the board of directors of the Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA.) Mitch Murch, 68, Tim's father, is chairman of the board and the founder of the company. A native of St. Louis, he was one of the founders of the Building Service Contractors. Steve Allen is vice president and general manager and was the first Team Member hired by Mitch Murch.

Company History: Mitch Murch had two failed business ventures before launching the present company in 1978. In 1953, Mitch Murch established a contract cleaning company in the city. Murch sold stock in the company, which plummeted from $24 to just over $2 a share. After his first attempt at contract cleaning, Murch built an ice rink in Columbia, MO. This turned out to be his second mistake as agreements with the three schools in Columbia – the University of Missouri, Stephens College and Columbia College – fell through when the economy turned sour and the colleges pulled out of their agreements to use the ice rink.

Mitch Murch returned to St. Louis and established Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management in October 1978. It started in the Pierre Laclede building in Clayton and moved to the city of St. Louis 10 years ago.

Two cleaning contracting companies have been bought by Murch's Maintenance – one in Central Illinois and one in Columbia, Mo. Tim's brother, Mitchell, 27, runs the Columbia operation.

Two years ago, the logo for the company was redesigned to MMMM and all trucks and vans were redesigned to reflect the change.

Revenue: 1995 revenue is expected to be about $18.5 million, up from $15 million in 1994. Tim Murch said his business is affected by the real estate market and was hurt by the downturn in the market in the late '80s. With leasing of real estate improved, MMMM's business has improved although Murch said there is a lag from the time the real estate market gets healthy until the maintenance business shows improvement.

Team Members: MMMM has 1,500 Team Members, about 75% of whom are part time. The company has a six-person human resources department and two recruiters. Tim Murch said there is a real shortage of people today, primarily due to the low unemployment rate. He said the shortage is especially acute in the suburban area. His company must compete with fast food restaurants and retail stores for unskilled workers. In order to compete, Tim Murch said workers are paid well above minimum wage and are provided a variety of benefits – some monetary and some recognition awards for safety and performance. MMMM has $15 million in insurance coverage and $250,000 per Team Member in bonding coverage.

Team Members are given pre-employment drug tests and automatically tested for drugs if there is an accident. There is also a workers' compensation background check. MMMM will provide full-time temporary/permanent Team Members for corporations with the Team Members on the MMMM payroll.

Clients: MMMM says it cleans more than 20 million square feet nightly, including offices, schools, retail and industrial facilities. The Pierre Laclede Center and headquarters buildings for Ralston-Purina, Anheuser-Busch, May Department Stores, Mallinckrodt Medical and Monsanto are some of the larger offices served by MMMM. Contracts are usually one to three years and renewed annually. Tim Murch said with about 200 cleaning contractors in the area, it is a constant challenge to compete and bid on projects.

Professional services: Boatmen's is the company's banker; Asledge and Kieffer is the accountant, and two law firms handle work for MMMM: McMahon, Berger, Hanna, Linihan, Cody & McCarthy and King Koster King & Hellmich.

Many publications, such as Services magazine, Contracting Profits, Commerce magazine, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, have run articles or stories featuring MMMM. Recently, we were featured in European Cleaning Journal, in an article entitled "Don't Slip Up" which chronicled a few of the world's successful safety programs among building service contractors. Following is an excerpt from the European Cleaning Journal:

MMMM Makes European Cleaning Journal
Don't Slip Up

Reprinted from the European Cleaning Journal

As European Week for Safety and Health, running from October 19 - 25, approaches, European Cleaning Journal examines the best ways of avoiding common accidents. Many companies undertake health and safety programs purely as a means of complying with legislation, but a proactive program could also result in substantial financial rewards.

The World Health Organization estimates that between one third and one half of all workers are exposed to hazardous physical, chemical or biological agents, or are overloaded with heavy physical work or ergonomic factors which may have detrimental effects on their health or working capacity. Over 120 million accidents are estimated to occur every year in the worldwide workplace, with 6,000 deaths in the EU alone. A good safety program will not only prevent accidents but by doing so will also save you money. All companies need to give the highest priority to health and safety simply because it makes good business sense.

Safety Bingo

Having recognized the importance of safety and the need to communicate that importance to Team Members, one American company implemented a highly effective method of accident prevention. Team Members at Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management (MMMM) benefit from cash incentives for performing safely. The numerous incentives the company runs include the Safety Advocate Program, where Team Members make a pledge in writing that they will do their jobs in the safest possible manner. Provided they make good their pledge they are eligible for quarterly raffles where they can win $100. The most popular program at MMMM is Safety Bingo. Each Team Member gets a Safety Bingo card with their paychecks. Played like normal bingo, Safety Bingo features a new number being drawn every work day. Team Members call a hotline number, said Mitch Murch II. They get a recorded safety message as well as the new number. If someone wins a row, either vertical, horizontal or diagonal, they receive $75. If they can repeat the safety messages they double their money.

The game continues until someone has covered a whole card, which can take several months. One MMMM Team Member, Maria Cotton, won $8,000 through this game and total pay out (since 1991) exceeds $69,000. Overall, the company has around 2,000 Team Members who worked 2,094,943 hours in 1997 with only 17 recordable accidents. In the past several years our loss claims and accidents have gone down dramatically. It makes our company a place where people want to work. We are attracting better people who are staying around for longer, Mitch Murch II told European Cleaning Journal.

In addition to programs like this other safety initiatives at MMMM include recognizing the need for active communication with all Team Members. For example every new Team Member is given a safety orientation, and there is also a safety slogan contest. In Europe, Article 11 of directive 89/391/EEC stresses that employers must consult workers and/or their representatives and allow them to take part in all questions relating to safety and health at work. Ron Dellbringge, Safety Director at MMMM said that many contract cleaning companies have a difficulty in communicating with their Team Members. They may have job sites all over the metropolitan area and Team Members seldom come to the main office. We use things like the safety hotline to reinforce all the safety incentives we provide, he said.

One of the main things that all companies need to do to ensure safety is take a pro-active stance rather than reacting to accidents once they have happened. This involves identifying key safety concerns, initiating training programs, communicating directly with Team Members, partnering with suppliers to ensure products and equipment are safe, ensuring it is clear who is responsible for what, conducting regular safety meetings and recognizing the efforts of Team Members formally through awards and education programs. If you implement an effective, positive safety program you might find that, as at Mitch Murch's Maintenance Management, safety pays.