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Corvus Thanks Our Veterans

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As we observe Veterans Day this year, Corvus would like to express our wholehearted gratitude and deepest respects to all our Nation’s veterans and their families. The courage, heroism, selflessness, and love of country of those who have served allows all of us to sleep peacefully at night and to wake up every day in a free society.

Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11th in the United States, is a day for reflection, remembrance, and respect. Veterans Day was originally celebrated as Armistice Day on November 11th, 1919, to mark the end of World War I on the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month”, established by the Treaty of Versailles, in 1918. Initially declared by President Woodrow Wilson, the purpose of Armistice Day up until 1945 was to honor the fallen warriors of WWI. Armistice Day was officially made a federal holiday on May 13th, 1938.

In 1945, Raymond Weeks, a veteran of World War II, led a delegation to General Dwight D. Eisenhower proposing expanding Armistice Day to recognize and celebrate all American veterans. He organized the first ever Veterans Day celebration in 1945 and continued to do so until his passing in 1985. Weeks is considered the “Father of Veterans Day” and he was awarded the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 by President Reagan.

Armistice Day officially became Veteran’s Day on May 26, 1954, when now President Eisenhower signed a bill presented by U.S. Representative Ed Rees of Kansas amending the 1938 act by replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans”. 1954 also saw the creation of the National Veterans Award, and the first recipient was Congressman Rees for his efforts to make Veterans Day a federal holiday.

Veterans Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect upon and honor the contributions – past, present, and future – of American Veterans. Their service to our country does not stop when they leave the armed forces. There are approximately 19.5 million veterans in the United States; they are community leaders, business owners, coaches, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters. They bring their sense of honor, duty, and loyalty to the common good with them to civilian society, and we are a better nation because of the veterans in our midst.

A special thanks to:

Ryan Patrick, U.S. Army Cavalry Scout
Regional Director – Corvus of Louisville

Marshall Dickerson Jr, U.S. Marine Corps
Franchise Owner – Corvus of Baton Rouge

Djuanyel Lewis, U.S. Navy
Franchise Owner – Corvus of Chicago

Tommy Lee, U.S. Army Combat Engineer; VA Hospital
Franchise Owner, Corvus of St. Louis

Dan Luna, United States Navy SEAL
Executive Partner, Founder – Team 3LX Consulting

In addition to the above, Corvus extends our humble appreciation today to all our veteran partners, teammates, stakeholders, and their families; it is the highest honor and a great privilege to work alongside you – you personify Corvus’ mission to Make Lives Better.

We would also like to express our appreciation to the International Franchise Association and the IFA Foundation for their support of veterans through their VetFran initiative, which aims to “facilitate the transition of veterans into franchising by encouraging franchisors to offer discounts and incentives to veterans…and to assemble resources, tools and a database of franchising opportunities for veterans”. Corvus is proud to be a VetFran member organization and to offer a 20% discount to all our veterans.

Please take the opportunity today to thank the veterans in your life for their service – they risked their lives for our fundamental freedoms with honor, bravery, and an unwavering commitment to their country. Check out the resources below to learn how you can help support our former service members this Veterans Day.

Resources to Support Our Veterans:

• VetFran – International Franchise Association (IFA)
• Wounded Warrior Project
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• National Veterans Foundation
• Global Special Operations Foundation
• SEAL Future Foundation
• Navy Seal Foundation
• Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)

Franchisee Spotlight – Domonique Spears, Corvus of Nashville

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This month’s Franchisee Spotlight goes to Corvus of Nashville Franchise Owner, Mr. Domonique Spears. The Corvus brand entered the state of Tennessee less than one year ago, and Mr. Spears’ influence on the up-and-coming market has not gone unnoticed.

To keep up with the Franchisee Spotlight Series and all things Corvus, follow us on Instagram! @corvus_janitorial_franchising

Mr. Spears’ cleaning experience goes back to helping his older brother clean the school where he worked. Then, just shortly after graduating high school, Mr. Spears got a job at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he went on to work for five years. In a recent interview with Corvus of Nashville’s Regional Director, Mr. Jonathan Frias, they discuss how this experience primed him to clean at a high level and provide top-notch customer service.

Since the start of his Corvus Franchise, Mr. Spears’ strategy has been to clean Nashville’s smaller accounts. And according to Mr. Frias, this approach has worked out very well. “He listens to the advice we have given him. Dominique is always willing to learn and get better,” he says.

Mr. Spears works another job in addition to his Corvus Franchise, making it challenging to meet up for last-minute changes that arise. But even though his work schedule is demanding, he still manages to make it work. For example, Mr. Spears was more than willing to meet up with Mr. Frias on a Sunday for an initial walkthrough of a new customer account. Talk about an impressive work ethic!

Thank you, Mr. Spears, for all that you do for Corvus! We look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Franchisee Spotlight – Tara Amuimuia, Corvus of Little Rock

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July’s Franchisee Spotlight Series features Corvus of Little Rock Franchise Owner Tara Amuimuia. Read on to learn more about the standout Franchisee who goes above and beyond to Make Lives Better!

To keep up with the Franchisee Spotlight Series and all things Corvus, follow us on Instagram! @corvus_janitorial_franchising

Corvus of Little Rock Franchise Owner Tara Amuimuia opened her Corvus Franchise in September 2019. After hearing about Corvus through a Franchise Owner who cleaned the criminal justice facility she was working at during the time, Mrs. Amuimuia inquired about franchising opportunities herself. In just six months, the standout Franchisee left this job to operate her Corvus Franchise full-time.

Mrs. Amuimuia’s friendly personality and strong communication skills certainly contribute to her quick success. Every month, she emails her customers to check-in and see if they are satisfied with their cleaning services. “Her main goal is to do a great job and please the customer,” says Director of Operations Shayna Hula.

An example of a time Mrs. Amuimuia went above and beyond to ensure her customers were happy occurred after making a mistake. She received a complaint from a customer, and after going back to the account to check her work, she realized that she had been distracted and missed some things. Mrs. Amuimuia cleaned more than she was required to and left a hand-written note apologizing to the customer to make up for this. With a positive attitude and work ethic like this, it is no wonder why customers speak so highly of her!

When Mrs. Amuimuia is not busy running her cleaning franchise, you will likely find her cooking Italian and Asian fusion, hanging out at the beach, or spending time with her two sons.

Thank you, Mrs. Amuimuia, for being such an outstanding partner to Corvus. We are so grateful for all that you do and look forward to watching your continued success!

Franchisee Spotlight – Oscar Patterson, Corvus of St. Louis

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May’s Franchisee Spotlight goes to Corvus of St. Louis Franchise Owner, Mr. Oscar Patterson. Read on to learn more about the standout Franchisee who goes above and beyond to Make Lives Better!

To keep up with the Franchisee Spotlight Series and all things Corvus, follow us on Instagram! @corvus_janitorial_franchising

Meet Mr. Oscar Patterson, Corvus Franchise Owner extraordinaire! Since opening the doors to his Franchise in 2012, Mr. Patterson has continuously proven himself as a valuable partner to the St. Louis market and Corvus Community.

Mr. Patterson is a good cleaner, no doubt, but his charismatic personality is what sets him apart. As any person reading this can tell from the picture below, his smile alone can make anyone’s day! “His ability to charm the clients he services is a massive strength,” says Corvus of St. Louis Operations Manager, Mr. Louis Kline. From meeting new customers at an initial walkthrough to rectifying concerns with existing accounts, Mr. Patterson has a special way of making his customers feel valued.

Franchise Owner smiling

Ever heard the expression “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”? Mr. Patterson approaches his business with a hustler’s mentality, and his actions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic proved just that. His Corvus Franchise took a major hit after losing one of its largest accounts due to business shutdowns. But Mr. Patterson demonstrated resilience, and through the hard times, he persevered. The standout Franchisee supplemented lost income by taking on an incredible amount of one-time, electrostatic spraying jobs for various customer accounts throughout the St. Louis area. And as it turns out, he is now earning more than he was before.

Mr. Patterson stands out as a fantastic father as much as he does as a business owner. When he is not busy running a successful franchise, you will likely find him spending time with his children. The great pride Mr. Patterson has for his kids shows what an engaged, supportive, and loving dad he is.

On behalf of everyone at Corvus, thank you, Mr. Patterson, for all that you do! We are all so grateful for your partnership and look forward to watching your continued success.

Franchisee Spotlight – Shedrice Banks, Corvus of Denver

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In this month’s Franchisee Spotlight Series, we are featuring Corvus of Denver Franchise Owner Mr. Shedrice Banks. Read on to learn more about the standout Franchisee who goes above and beyond to Make Lives Better!

To keep up with the Franchisee Spotlight Series and all things Corvus, follow us on Instagram! @corvus_janitorial_franchising

Mr. Shedrice Banks became Corvus of Denver’s very first Franchise Owner when the market opened its doors in 2009. The standout Franchisee and his wife, Mrs. Shaquana Banks, played an integral role in getting the Denver market up and running, and they continue to be treasured members of the Corvus community.

While Mr. Banks boasts many excellent qualities, it is his ambition that elevates him. The first few years following Denver’s opening consisted of many late nights and early mornings, but Mr. Banks always rose to the occasion. He could be depended upon to show up with a positive attitude and ready to work hard. This determination enabled Mr. Banks and Mrs. Banks to turn their commercial cleaning franchise into a full-time, scalable business. In 2010 Mr. Banks left his other job to partner with Corvus full time, and he has not looked back since.

The vast experience and industry knowledge Mr. Banks has derived from working in the commercial cleaning business for over a decade sets him apart. “He knows how to clean efficiently and in the rare occurrence that one of his customers has a complaint, it is fixed immediately. He does not lose business. He communicates well and just does everything right” says Corvus of Denver Regional Director, Mr. Michael Kerby. This is why he regularly refers to Mr. Banks as an exemplary Franchisee when speaking with potential Franchise Owners.

Over the last several years, Mr. Banks has proved to be just as good a friend to Corvus as he is a business partner. He cares deeply about his Corvus Franchise, which in turn, translates into caring about everyone around him. Mr. Banks has fostered both personal and professional relationships with many Corvus employees throughout his partnership. He texts back and forth with Corvus employees about basketball- one of his greatest passions- and never misses the opportunity to wish them a happy birthday.

Thank you, Mr. Shedrice Banks, for all that you do for Corvus! We are so grateful for your partnership and look forward to watching your continued success.