Detroit Resident Awarded Franchise From ServiceMaster Clean and Shane Battier

ServiceMaster Clean and professional basketball player Shane Battier have named, Monica Ross-Williams, as the fifth awardee of a commercial Cleaning franchise from The Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship.  Mrs. Ross-Williams, a resident of Ypsilanti Township, and a Master’s degree candidate in Human Resources Administration at Central Michigan University, has had an extensive career in customer-service fields and community service through her Neighborhood Association.

As a wife to husband Carter and mother to teenagers Deonte and Ashlei, Monica sets a great example for how family life and entrepreneurship can work together.  Raised in a loving home which fostered her love for education, Monica never let adversity keep her from “climbing up to the top of the mountain”.  Said Ross-Williams, a graduate of Cleary University, “My father taught me that education is something that no one can ever take away from me.”  Memories of family sustain Ross-Williams, who was inspired to apply for the Shane Battier franchise Scholarship after her father, an automotive industry worker who had just recently retired, passed away in 2007. She grew wistful recalling seeing her dad’s face at her college graduation, and wondered how proud he would be of her now, seeing her accomplish the dream of business ownership.

With her educational background in Human Resources Administration, Monica is ready for the task of hiring and mentoring great workers. When asked about advice for other “aspiring bosses” she said, “You have to be fair and consistent with every worker. Show it in what you say and in what you do.” She continued, “Set expectations from day one.” “I want success,” said Mrs. Ross-Williams, “And I want my employees to be successful, too.” She also had advice for her future employees, “Show me I made a good investment in you.” If success was built on pure determination, then we know The Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship program has made a good investment in Monica Ross-Williams as its newest awardee.

Undaunted by the economic hardships facing her home state of Michigan, Ross-Williams understands the tough market she is facing as a new business. Leaning on a foundation of faith, education and business skills, Monica emphasized that she will succeed, “despite the foreclosures, layoffs and business cutbacks” because, she continued, “I feel blessed by this awesome opportunity. I consider God in all I do.” When asked what success looks like to her, she answered without hesitation, “I want to have a business, be successful, work hard and enjoy my life!” 
 
The Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship Program, which launched in March 2007, aims to award commercial cleaning franchises, with hopes of helping women and minorities overcome the obstacles that can be associated with building a new business. Previous winners of The Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship include Jeff Kent of Austin, TX, Michael Powell of Houston, TX, Jesus Martinez of Miami, FL and John Davis, Jr. of Cleveland, OH. Battier has great expectations for all of the recent winners, “[They] will make everyone proud, and they will be great business owners.” Additional Franchises will be awarded in 2008.

About ServiceMaster Clean
ServiceMaster Clean is a member of the ServiceMaster Family of Brands.  ServiceMaster currently serves residential and commercial customers through a network of over 4,500 company-owned locations and franchised licenses. The Company’s brands include TruGreen®, TruGreen LandCare®, Terminix®, American Home Shield®, ServiceMaster Clean®, Merry Maids®, Furniture Medic®, and AmeriSpec®. The core services of the Company include lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home warranties, cleaning and disaster restoration, house cleaning, furniture repair, and home inspection.

About Shane Battier
Selected sixth by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft Battier was traded to the Houston Rockets in July 2006.  Battier won numerous awards throughout his collegiate career at Duke and in 2001 was named the National Player of the Year and received the Naismith and Wooden Awards.  Battier joined the Rockets after five seasons in Memphis and is a new father to son Zeke.