Dave Steely: Maximum Integrity
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Program Reporter
CONCORD — Dave Steely started cleaning carpets right out of high school, but it took him a while to find businesses that shared his personal values and professional integrity. “Back then, the bait-and-switch tactic was very prominent, with fly-by-night companies closing as fast as they were opening,” he recalls. “One time, I showed up to work to find the door padlocked because the IRS had seized the property. Another time, I showed up to an empty building—the company owner had skipped town without paying us. It wasn’t long before I decided this was no way to make a living.”
Fortunately, rather than giving up, Dave started doing some research and found that even though there were less-than-virtuous carpet cleaning companies out there, there were also many legitimate businesses that held a high regard for customer satisfaction. “Once I realized I could actually earn a living doing quality work with a reputable company, I began to see more of a future in the industry,” he says. “I spent some time working for a couple of the major carpet cleaning companies, but eventually I decided I could do even better on my own and started my own business.”
Today, as owner of Maximum Carpet Cleaning, Dave says his favorite part of his job is the instant gratification it provides. “Since carpet cleaning provides immediate results, I get to see my hard work pay off right away. Even better, I get to see my clients’ reactions when they see how I’ve transformed their dirty carpets, so that’s very satisfying.”
Having migrated from San Mateo to Concord in 2005 (where he lives with his wife, Michelle, and their sons, Brandon and Anthony), Dave says he appreciates the area’s comparatively slow-paced character. “We moved to Concord when our boys were young because we wanted to give them more opportunities to be outdoors. Ten years later, we continue to enjoy its quiet, small-town atmosphere.”
Outside of work, Dave likes spending time with his family, especially on outdoor excursions. “We have a motor home, so we like to take road trips and go camping,” he affirms. “Michelle and I enjoy taking short trips to the coast when we get a chance, and the boys and I like going go to campgrounds and areas where we can ride our dirt bikes.”
In his professional career, Dave espouses the importance of designating enough time to ensure customer satisfaction. “One of the best parts of working for myself is I’m able to make my own schedule,” he says. “Since I don’t have that pressure to hurry from one job to the next, I can devote as much time as necessary to ensure a quality job for each client. I understand that time equals money, but in the end, customer satisfaction is the most important thing.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Dave says he’d hit the open road. “The first thing I’d do is pack up the motor home and take off on a cross-country trip with my family. Maybe we’d head north toward the Oregon Coast and just see where we end up.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What are your favorite sports teams?
A: The San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers.
Q: What’s your favorite season?
A: It’s a tie between summer and winter. During the summer, we spend a lot of time at the beach and barbecuing, whereas in the winter, we do more camping and dirt bike riding.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: La Veranda Cafe in Clayton.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
A: A couple of egg whites with half a chicken breast or some ground turkey—lean proteins, mainly.
Q: What was your favorite toy as a child?
A: My bicycle.
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