In the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, Ron Redfern and his team at City Wide Facility Solutions focus on keeping workplaces clean, safe and running without interruption. Providing more than 20 different facility services – including daily janitorial programs, floor care, window washing, pressure washing, handyman repairs, parking lot services and more – Redfern and his partners, Casey Mynatt and Daniel Loveday, ensure clients have a single point of contact for all their building solution needs and a customized cleaning approach for every facility and budget. By Jessica Petrucelli
In the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, Ron Redfern and his team at City Wide Facility Solutions focus on keeping workplaces clean, safe and running without interruption. Providing more than 20 different facility services – including daily janitorial programs, floor care, window washing, pressure washing, handyman repairs, parking lot services and more – Redfern and his partners, Casey Mynatt and Daniel Loveday, ensure clients have a single point of contact for all their building solution needs and a customized cleaning approach for every facility and budget.
Today, Redfern, president and owner of City Wide Facility Solutions’ East Tennessee territory, is expanding to a second market and bringing his family members on board with the franchise that he says has changed his life.
“City Wide has been a perfect fit from the start,” Redfern said. “I started with the brand because it filled a significant need in the marketplace. But as I became more involved, I really grew to appreciate the franchise’s principles of integrity, hard work and exceptional customer service.”
Redfern, who previously worked in the auto industry, found City Wide Facility Solutions with the help of a franchise consultant. After learning about the brand’s unique concept, he signed on almost immediately.
“I wanted to own my own company, but I didn’t know how to start,” he said. “I found the City Wide model to be so unique because the franchisor encourages each of its franchisees to work together and help each other out. The culture is so supportive, and I think that’s what I loved from the start.”
The brand has more than 100 franchisees who operate as general managers and oversee independent contractors in a wide variety of services, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, window cleaning, floor care, handyman tasks, parking lot maintenance and more. A stringent vetting process ensures only the best local contractors are selected, and a comprehensive management system takes the hassle out of scheduling and oversight. Additionally, there is minimal overhead, multiple recurring revenue streams and extensive training.
Even though he launched his franchise in 2020, right at the start
of the COVID-19 pandemic, Redfern was able to pivot with the company’s direction and had a strong start.
“Of course, there were challenges,” he said. “But City Wide directed us and we focused on disinfecting. The business grew because of it, and we were able to turn a negative into a positive.”
Redfern is now expanding and opening another territory about an hour from his current location. He and his wife, Janet, will be supported in operations by their children, Josh and Haley, and their son-in-law, Matt Schonta.
“We never intended to make this a family-owned operation, but the business model is just that good,” Redfern said. “My son has joined us as a facility solutions manager, and my son-in-law does a lot of our facility management maintenance. When this adjacent location opened up, we decided it was time to expand.”
For Redfern, City Wide Facility Solutions has been a “great blessing,” and he sees “unlimited growth potential” with the company.
“There will always be buildings in need of maintenance,” he concluded. “We hope to increase our market share and continue to provide great service to the businesses here in East Tennessee.”
Jessica Petrucelli