Mario Francis, co-founder and operating partner of TruWaste Cleaning Solutions, LLC, has always been an entrepreneur and self-starter. When he saw an opportunity to jump into commercial cleaning, an industry more well-known on the residential side, he dove into the opportunity headfirst.

TruWaste Cleaning Solutions, LLC provides top-notch cleaning services to residents and business owners in Tallahassee, Florida. Francis started the company with business partners Curtis Blue Jr. and Ramone Anderson. Established in 2016, the company now employs more than 25 full-time employees and 20-30 part-time employees.

“Our biggest goal with TruWaste Cleaning Solutions is forming established, long-lasting relationships in the Tallahassee community,” said Francis. “A big example is my relationship with Mike Campbell. He still calls me and we keep in touch and that is just one of my favorite parts about completing the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship’s Tallahassee Small Business Executive Program (SBEP).” Campbell is the director of North Florida Operations for the Jim Moran Institute.

Since inception, TruWaste Cleaning Solutions has landed contracts with Deerlake Middle School, Domi Station, Cobb Middle School, Gilchrist Elementary, the Florida Department of Transportation, a six-figure contract with Landmark Properties, Florida A&M University and many more. Francis attributes his company’s growth and success in the local community to his time spent completing the Tallahassee 2019 SBEP Class XI.

“The Tallahassee SBEP program is simply amazing. You are surrounded by like-minded individuals all working towards a common goal, which is running and sustaining your small business,” he said. “It amazed me to see that each company in there, whether it was either a bigger or smaller company than TruWaste, was having the same concerns. That taught me that I am on the right track when it came to growing my business.”

The SBEP helps for-profit business leaders work on their business while accommodating their busy schedule. Participants learn the Business Model Canvas and are given other tools to emerge as stronger leaders ready to capitalize on business opportunities. The Tallahassee SBEP consists of four sessions, with each session taking place one afternoon a month for four hours each. Offered at no cost to participants, the program is funded by The Jim Moran Foundation, Jan Moran and her late husband, Jim Moran.

“One of my main takeaways from this program is to be fearless and just go for it,” Francis said. “I continuously ask myself after completing the program, ‘Why not me?’ or ‘Why not my company?’. So, after completing the SBEP program makes you unafraid because in an essence you realize you have everything you need to be successful.”

In his spare time, Francis is heavily involved in his church, Family Worship & Pray Center, which he began attending in 2011. He is also a member of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and the Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce.

“It is our responsibility to do what we can to help businesses like Mario’s because that is what Jim Moran did for people” said Mike Campbell, Director North Florida Operations. “I applaud Mario for consistently working on his business long after the program.”

For more information about the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship’s North Florida Operations, including other programs and events, contact Campbell at mscampbell@jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu.

About the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship cultivates, trains and inspires entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. Jim Moran was an automotive pioneer and an entrepreneur at heart, who at the age of 7, sold soda pop at sandlot baseball games in Chicago. With a career that spanned more than six decades, he built an amazing chronicle of achievements in the automobile industry. His vision for the Jim Moran Institute was to provide opportunities that would help others become more successful business owners. A 1995 contribution from Jim and Jan Moran and JM Family Enterprises established the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the Florida State University College of Business. Since 2011, further enhancements to the Jim Moran Institute and its outreach have been made possible by Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation.

About the North Florida Operations
The Jim Moran Institute's North Florida Operations serves established entrepreneurs, business owners and nonprofit leaders in the North Florida community through multiple programs designed to take advantage of local resources. Providing executive education and leveraging the resources of the Jim Moran Institute, the North Florida Operations helps its clients' businesses - and the region's economy - grow and prosper. Based in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, the North Florida Operations’ services are provided to for-profit and nonprofit businesses and are geared toward CEOs, entrepreneurs, business owners and presidents of small businesses whose companies have been established for at least three years with five or more employees. Services are provided for little to no cost.