This month marks 47 years of business for United Services Group, and I could not be more proud of our successes and grateful for the opportunities we’ve embraced.
My father, Milan Kroupa Sr., founded United just nine years after arriving in Canada. Driven by a strong work ethic and innovation, he built a thriving company that would become the foundation for a national expansion, leadership in industry training and a digital transformation that is driving collaboration and success.
My father, Milan Kroupa Sr., founded United just nine years after arriving in Canada. Driven by a strong work ethic and innovation, he built a thriving company that would become the foundation for a national expansion, leadership in industry training and a digital transformation that is driving collaboration and success.
Building a Foundation for the Future
From the day Milan Sr. founded United, he was driven to become a leader in the cleaning services industry. With an entrepreneurial spirit, strong work ethic and drive to embrace new ideas, he gained steady success, wisely launching new services, adopting progressive approaches (such as switching from a spray buffing process to propane burnishers in 1985) and welcoming our first computers.
When I joined the company, United was serving 30 Loblaw stores and other clients across the Toronto area. My father had built a strong foundation upon which we had an opportunity to grow in a big way. Starting with opening an office in Quebec in 1998, we expanded across the country, purposefully building our business from coast to coast over the past 30 years.
Supporting People So We All Win
People are the lifeblood of any successful company, and while United has always looked after people, in recent years we’ve approached our culture in an entirely new way.
Our driving force is to support people in being as successful as they want to be. As our company structure shifted over the past few years, many people have eagerly taken on new and greater roles and responsibilities. Ensuring people have opportunities to grow and try new things has invigorated our team, inspired our leaders and made our culture stronger than ever.
Likewise, our Partnerships Department is continually expanding services to support our partners across the country. Our focus on providing industry leading support and resources is centered around streamlining work and improving work-life balance — so partners can enjoy a stable, livable income and also have more time to spend with their family.
Our driving force is to support people in being as successful as they want to be. As our company structure shifted over the past few years, many people have eagerly taken on new and greater roles and responsibilities. Ensuring people have opportunities to grow and try new things has invigorated our team, inspired our leaders and made our culture stronger than ever.
Likewise, our Partnerships Department is continually expanding services to support our partners across the country. Our focus on providing industry leading support and resources is centered around streamlining work and improving work-life balance — so partners can enjoy a stable, livable income and also have more time to spend with their family.
Embracing New Ideas and Innovation for 47 Years
United has always been a company that looks toward what’s next. Just one year after Milan Sr. founded the business, he introduced new services, and we’ve continued to explore opportunities to diversify our business. In recent years, we’ve introduced outside services (snow removal and landscaping), and we’ve moved into serving the fashion retail sector, providing niche services, such as affixing hang tags on clothing items, in addition to cleaning.
Our passion for innovation and industry leadership has also been a driving force in our investments in training. We created a Learning & Development Department to improve training for our employees and partners, allowing them to build and hone skills, and work more efficiently and confidently, resulting in a better overall work experience. We’ve also launched United Campus, an industry-leading educational institution offering introductory and advanced programs that combine theory, in-store practice and a final test. Open to anyone, United Campus is dedicated to elevating our industry.
Moving Into a New Era of Technological Transformation
In 2023, United Services Group embarked on the greatest technological evolution in our company’s history — and it’s only the beginning.
Last year, we launched the Unity app, a complete system management environment that streamlines work, improves our operations and provides real-time data. This custom-developed app is now our primary communications tool connecting customers, employees and partners and providing accountability for all.
Last year, we launched the Unity app, a complete system management environment that streamlines work, improves our operations and provides real-time data. This custom-developed app is now our primary communications tool connecting customers, employees and partners and providing accountability for all.
With the Unity app, our clients benefit from visibility into scheduled work, tasks that have been completed and full reporting, and they can schedule or reschedule periodic cleaning tasks in advance. Our partners, meanwhile, can simplify their workflow and operations, prevent duplication of work and ensure any additional work requested is tracked and compensated.
This is only the beginning for the Unity app. We’re looking at integrating products with sensors to save time on manual monitoring, and we plan to add quoting and billing access for customers. It won’t be long before the app is the fully integrated, self-contained management system we envision.
This is only the beginning for the Unity app. We’re looking at integrating products with sensors to save time on manual monitoring, and we plan to add quoting and billing access for customers. It won’t be long before the app is the fully integrated, self-contained management system we envision.
Collaborating to Bring Success for Us All
As we celebrate United Service Group’s 47th anniversary, I want to acknowledge the importance of our collaboration and thank you, our customers, partners and employees.
To our customers: I am deeply grateful for your business and your trust in us. It’s our pleasure to make your spaces shine, and I look forward to our continued work together.
To our partners: I am continually impressed by your professionalism, loyalty and hard work. You have been instrumental in United’s growth, and I thank you for choosing to align your business with ours.
To our employees: I cannot thank you enough for your dedication and for rising to the
challenge as United launched the largest technological evolution in our history. To do exceptional work and stay true to our company values during a time of great change speaks to your immense integrity, talent and courage. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Together, we have been instrumental in the success of each of our businesses, and I am grateful for the loyalty, respect and professionalism that we bring to our work.
As United enters our 48th year of business this month, I am inspired and energized by how far we’ve come and the incredible opportunities on the horizon.
As United enters our 48th year of business this month, I am inspired and energized by how far we’ve come and the incredible opportunities on the horizon.
Michael Kroupa
CEO and Owner of United Services Group
CEO and Owner of United Services Group