We Are S Grace: Meet Pedro
Pedro G., pictured holding his niece. Family is everything!
If you’ve been reading along, then you know that our employees are really, really important to us. We would be nothing without our Cleaning and Biorisk Technicians, Window Cleaners, Facility Managers, and more certifiably brilliant humans. Just a heap of (admittedly… exceptional) cleaning and disinfecting products, high-tech electrostatic spraying machines, PPE, and other super cool stuff we’d be excited to tell you about.
This whole Cleaning and Disinfecting thing isn’t new to us. Forty-four years ago we began from humble beginnings; now we have the scope and scale to be anywhere you need us in the United States, any time. So too do our employees, from all walks of life, go where you and your employees need our services. From fitness facilities to schools, to government buildings and corporate offices— we’re there when our clients call.
The individuals who work for us make us who we are. They bring strengths to the business that we never could have imagined when S Grace Facilities began. Part of our business strategy is to encourage them to strengthen their gifts-- so we train, we certify, and we support their growth. We believe that in this time, as in all others, the people should come first. In order to tell you our story, we insist on telling you theirs.
Everyone, Meet: Pedro G. Pedro is who makes us S Grace Facilities.
We’re really proud of the work that Pedro has done so far as an S Grace Facilities Cleaning and Disinfecting Technician. Clients are often quick to share positive feedback about the integrity and hard work ethic of all our Technicians.
We first met Pedro one year ago in New York City when we hired him to be a Cleaning and Disinfecting Technician. Pedro tells us that, something he loves about New York City is its diversity, and the hustle of the people— a quality we see reflected in his work.
Many years ago when Pedro’s NYC journey began, his biggest challenge was, “the fear of the unknown,” and of starting out in the city “with no experience in anything.” What he didn’t fear, however, was putting himself out there.
We’ve noticed that Pedro is quite the chameleon. An Actor, to be exact. It’s a hustle he has worked towards since he was a kid.
His art seems to mimic his life in many ways. He tells us, “My very first play was the most memorable. The moment I stepped on stage, I made eye contact with all my family and friends. It threw me off and I almost panicked. Thankfully, I snapped out of it and nailed the role. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where no one ever leaves. I was 21 when I did. I had nothing to my name but decided to come to New York City to experience what life was really about.”
“Working with S Grace Facilities, I’ve learned that you’re just as good as your last job, and so I always give everything 100%.”
Pedro heard about us through word-of-mouth. He says he was “willing to learn from anyone who was willing to teach,” and that’s the kind of fit we look for in our employees. We’re not just in the business of Facility Management, Commercial Cleaning and Disinfection Services; we’re improving well-being, sharing knowledge and awareness, and using best practices to make workplaces feel like home.
After bringing Pedro onboard our team, we invested in his training. “I had training for S Grace Facilities, and training to be certified. I am able to distinguish between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing; because of S Grace I was certified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council,” he says. That’s GBAC, for short.
Before any of our Technicians are sent out to work, they are certified with the GBAC Star Facility Accreditation— a performance-based program designed to help facilities and employees establish a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention. The program teaches proper protocols, correct disinfection techniques, and cleaning best practices for biohazard situations like the novel coronavirus.
Find out more about this important certification on the Global Biorisk Advisory Council website.
“S Grace Facilities has helped me become more professional and knowledgeable. I am more confident because of them, and I have more control over my environment.”
When we asked Pedro what he likes most about his job, he said that S Grace Facilities is “a very family-oriented environment. Everyone wants to see each other win, even those working in higher levels are always willing to help you succeed. S Grace encourages us to give 100%. That’s what this company stands for.”
We ask a lot of those who partner with us, and that’s because our clients require and trust us to handle critical and often hazardous matters. During our hiring process, we seek out high-energy, ambitious self-starters like Pedro, who display extraordinary persistence. They’re the type of people who treat their jobs as both a means to support themselves, and an opportunity to learn.
When Pedro is not on the job, he says he likes to— “strap my helmet on tight, put my riding boots on, and hit the road on my Harley. I love the greenery and the open roads driving west on I-81 towards Pennsylvania. The Harley store in the Poconos too. That’s a great store.” Our employees are different in a very positive way. They’re the type of people who don’t rest until the work is done and some fun is had too.
“I apply the professional lessons I’ve learned at S Grace to my long-term goals, and the lessons I’ve learned from customer service to my everyday life.”
We go above and beyond for each other, and our passion spills over into our work. “During the pandemic, everyone at S Grace looked out for each other and stuck together, and when we arrive at a facility, everyone feels at ease— especially now because of COVID-19,” Pedro tells us. In addition to ensuring that our employees are trained, certified, and well-prepared; we equip them with cleaning and disinfecting products that are proven effective at eliminating coronavirus, according to the EPA’s List N.
Just like Pedro, who has grown throughout his journey in New York City and with S Grace Facilities; the workplaces we touch transform in our care, and we notice that our clients and their employees transform too. Clean windows glimmer, surfaces are safe to touch, the air is easy to breathe, and employees are confident. They feel good, we feel good, and when we all work together, it shows.
To learn more about who makes us S Grace Facilities:
Read all about our Supplier Diversity Program.
Meet Gio, another one of our spectacular employees.
Watch our Cleaning & Biorisk Technicians use electrostatic spray technology to disinfect facilities.
Ask one of our specialists for a quote, and see how our professional cleaning and disinfection services can transform your business.