Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Snider.
Larry, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up as a hay seed on ranch near The Suwanee River in Live Oak Fla, I had dreams of becoming a manager in the big city. But upon the age of 14 my father received a job in Saudi Arabia with Aramco Services. This made it possible to be able to travel the circumference of the world three times by the age of 18. During these travels, I became fascinated by Historic buildings and beautiful hotels.
After graduating at a boarding school in Sedona, AZ. I landed in Las Vegas NV. Staying with my grandparents. One of my grandfather’s golden rules was to” find the nastiest job I can, Become the best at it and never quit”. I soon found myself doing the glamorous job of striping and waxing floors at K-Mart. Imagine that. A boy who grew up traveling the world striping and waxing floors in the middle of the night.
After a three year stay, married and divorce with a little girl named Sara, I moved back to Florida. And took a job with a large janitorial company at the age of 21. Moving up the ladder quickly, I became the Assistant Branch Manager over central FL. After four years I took a vacation to Houston, TX. I made a phone call from the want ads on a whim and the company offered me 10k more than I was making in Florida and for taking care of one building no less.
Working from company to company and climbing ladders, I eventually became the Branch Manager over South Houston making 6 digits a year. I was miserable and did not like the view from the top of the ladder!! During the recession of 2012 I was released and I took my exiting check from the large company and opened Texas FSS. We have had a Very successful run and now in our fifth year of operations. I like to think that my grandfather’s rule worked and I still stick to it today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! Opening a company has numerous hurdles that are not always out in the open to see. After 28 years in Houston, I already had a customer base. My largest endeavor was keeping up with Taxes. I was creating so much revenue that my sales tax went from yearly to quarterly to monthly in a three month period!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Texas Facility Service Systems, Texas FSS story. Tell us more about the business.
Texas FSS is a Janitorial company first and foremost. We clean buildings ranging from 50,000 square feet up to 200,000 square feet. This is our nightly bread and butter.
But to keep things interesting and O.C.D. under control I find large one time jobs to occupy My Wife Veronica, Son Larry and best friend Caleb. These jobs range from 20,000 square feet Epoxy Jobs to diamond grinding, staining and polishing cement for people such as Hakeem Olajuwon.
Proudest Moment….Jan. 2016…received a phone call on the run and ended up landing the Club Nomad account for The Super Bowl being held in Houston, Venue… Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift, Snoop Dog and many other celebrities. Texas FSS handled all three shifts of the event and even catered to the Green Rooms where the celebrities were residing.
We are set apart because of our expedient service and listening to what the customer is asking.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck good or bad, I believe, comes from preparedness. Business is a chess game, you have to be able to see what the next move is. You have to be able to see your move as well as your competitors. What can you offer?? Throwing money at things is not always the solution. I have found the one thing Texas FSS can offer is to listen and act on what the customer is requesting, and honestly answering if you cannot comply. And Remember, HAVE FUN, Life is to Short!!! Do what you Love and Love what you DO!
Contact Info:
- Address: 7999 Hansen Road
Ste 321
Houston, Texas 77061 - Website: WWW.TEXASFSS.COM
- Phone: 713-944-4151
- Email: Larry@TexasFSS.com
- Facebook: TexasFacilityServiceSystems
Image Credit:
Veronica Snider Norma Marin Caleb Guillory Larry Snider III and Larry Snider II
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