| Arnold's Environmental Service |
By Judy Finney
Journal
Journal
For Tammy Oreskovic it’s education and innovation. If you don’t
have them, then success is limited.
That’s Oreskovic’s business theory and it has worked for her since
she and husband, Pat, purchased their business from a friend in 1992.
Arnold’s Environmental Services of Saukville, Wisconsin, a town
about 25 miles north of Milwaukee, was a septic and holding tank
business with 30 rental units when the Oreskovics took over.
Today the Oreskovics own approximately 1,200 units. “We’ve
experienced good, consistent growth,” . said Oreskovic of her
company’s history under the couple’s management Oreskovic gives
credit to
have them, then success is limited.
That’s Oreskovic’s business theory and it has worked for her since
she and husband, Pat, purchased their business from a friend in 1992.
Arnold’s Environmental Services of Saukville, Wisconsin, a town
about 25 miles north of Milwaukee, was a septic and holding tank
business with 30 rental units when the Oreskovics took over.
Today the Oreskovics own approximately 1,200 units. “We’ve
experienced good, consistent growth,” . said Oreskovic of her
company’s history under the couple’s management Oreskovic gives
credit to
the company’s success to a good customer base, great employees, hard work and membership in PSAI. “I can’t emphasize
how much being involved in PSAI has helped us,” she said.
According to Oreskovic, joining PSAI may have not only allowed them to grow as a business but actually saved them.
Oreskovic says that soon after purchasing the company she and Pat attended a convention in Houston, Texas.
“Maybe I’m being a little naïve, but I just couldn’t believe how wonderful people were there,” admitted Oreskovic. “The
people there were so helpful. We visited with the PSAI group and they were willing to talk to us, not just about the
organization, but about how they do their business.”
Orekovic called the people in PSAI “down-to-earth” folks who were smart, intelligent good and willing to actually sit down
with those who may someday be in competition with them and share business knowledge.
“You just don’t see that very often,” Oreskovic said.
Once back in Saukville, the Oreskovics faced the day-to-day trials of operating a sanitation business in Wisconsin.
Oreskovic said that there are some challenges faced by living in the area that business owners may not face living in other
areas of the country.
Wind can tip the units over.
“We don’t face hurricane weather like some of the southern states, I realize that,” she admitted. “But, units don’t stand up
to our winds very well either. They don’t fly away, but they do fall over.”
The mess caused by this problem and customers needing units up and ready to go after, or even while, the winds are
blowing can cause hectic days at Arnold’s Environmental.
It gets cold in Wisconsin. Units freeze.
“We have no heated units,” Oreskovic said. “I hear there are some in use in other areas, but we don’t have any.”
Arnold’s Environmental uses methanol to keep chemicals from freezing.
The best way to handle these problems is to have a staff that is dedicated and competent.
Oreskovic says Arnold’s Environmental is blessed with 25 employees who know what they are doing and work hard to take
care of every customer’s needs. Their professionalism has been a great asset to the Oreskovic’s success.
From the first time a customer sees an Arnold’s employee that customer knows a professional has answered the call. All
equipment arrives at sites clean - trucks, tanks and units. Employees are in clean uniforms and have a smile on their faces.
Employees are prompt, offer helpful advise and know their jobs.
Plus, all equipment is the up-to-date and service technicians are PSAI certified.
“The customer knows they are getting the best available for their dollar,” said Oreskovic. The Oreskovics work in a highly
competitive world, as do all in the sanitation business.
They prefer to work without a contract. “We believe our customers know us by our work,” explained Oreskovic. “If our
service is what is expected, maybe more, which we strive to provide, then not only will our customers return, they won’t
need a contract.”
Oreskovic spoke of educating customers to the costs involved in the business so they understand why they are paying the
amount they are for service whether it be for a unit or septic tank service. But, she believes it’s the quality of her service
that seals the deal, holds her customers to their contracts and keeps them from jumping to another sanitation provider and
brings the customer back.
“Our word is gold,” she said.
There are struggles:
The rising cost of fuel, cost of supplies and capital outlay for trucks and units is always a concern. But because the
Oreskovics have worked so hard to build a business with a reputation of being honest and providing the customer with
prompt, professional service with that touch of honest concern, Arnold’s Environmental has been able to keep up with
costs and keep customers.
“Like most of the nation, our area continues to expand,” Oreskovic said. “It’s a boom time for construction right now. It
seems that it’s a little easier to explain to our septic and tank customers when we have to charge more, but even our unit
customers, if we teach them about costs and have provided them with great service in the past, understand when we have
to charge more.”
She did feel that the sanitary unit area is harder to forecast as far as costs because there are so many factors to deal with,
and it seems that all these factors keep changing. Chemicals, unit, fuel, transportation, human resources and more costs all
keep changing as well as environmental concerns.
Oreskovic said that those who don’t succeed in the business, any business for that matter, often don’t take into account all
the different factors that impact a business. Instead they try to undercut the competition and forget that they have to make
some sort of profit to be successful.
“Those people cause concern, but they usually don’t stay in business long enough to hurt those of us who make sure we
have a good, basic business strategy,” she said.
All these concerns brought Oreskovic back to what she considers the basic business tool for success in the sanitation
industry - the PSAI.
“I can’t see how anyone in this business can hope to really succeed without being a part of the PSA,” she said. “The
organization has so much to offer, so much information to give out through formal and, what I found may be the most
helpful, informal, lines.”
Through her involvement with the people in PSAI, Oreskovic has become not only a member of the organization, but a
board member. She sees the PSAI as a way to meet others in the business, as an exchange of ideas, of experiences – good
and bad – and a way to bring more professionalism into the industry.
Tammy and Pat Oreskovic have three children, a son 23 who lives in North Carolina and is pondering entering the
sanitation business, a daughter nine and another son six. Besides their business they are very active in their community,
supporting many local activities through their business and their private lives.
Tammy is a marathon runner:
“It’s like business,” she laughed. “It’s all about staying in it for the long haul. If you start out too fast you’ll hit the wall and
not finish.”
Arnold’s Environmental is ready to expand this year. Tammy and Pat Oreskovic say that if they don’t grow they stagnant,
and that definitely is a no-no in the sanitation business..
how much being involved in PSAI has helped us,” she said.
According to Oreskovic, joining PSAI may have not only allowed them to grow as a business but actually saved them.
Oreskovic says that soon after purchasing the company she and Pat attended a convention in Houston, Texas.
“Maybe I’m being a little naïve, but I just couldn’t believe how wonderful people were there,” admitted Oreskovic. “The
people there were so helpful. We visited with the PSAI group and they were willing to talk to us, not just about the
organization, but about how they do their business.”
Orekovic called the people in PSAI “down-to-earth” folks who were smart, intelligent good and willing to actually sit down
with those who may someday be in competition with them and share business knowledge.
“You just don’t see that very often,” Oreskovic said.
Once back in Saukville, the Oreskovics faced the day-to-day trials of operating a sanitation business in Wisconsin.
Oreskovic said that there are some challenges faced by living in the area that business owners may not face living in other
areas of the country.
Wind can tip the units over.
“We don’t face hurricane weather like some of the southern states, I realize that,” she admitted. “But, units don’t stand up
to our winds very well either. They don’t fly away, but they do fall over.”
The mess caused by this problem and customers needing units up and ready to go after, or even while, the winds are
blowing can cause hectic days at Arnold’s Environmental.
It gets cold in Wisconsin. Units freeze.
“We have no heated units,” Oreskovic said. “I hear there are some in use in other areas, but we don’t have any.”
Arnold’s Environmental uses methanol to keep chemicals from freezing.
The best way to handle these problems is to have a staff that is dedicated and competent.
Oreskovic says Arnold’s Environmental is blessed with 25 employees who know what they are doing and work hard to take
care of every customer’s needs. Their professionalism has been a great asset to the Oreskovic’s success.
From the first time a customer sees an Arnold’s employee that customer knows a professional has answered the call. All
equipment arrives at sites clean - trucks, tanks and units. Employees are in clean uniforms and have a smile on their faces.
Employees are prompt, offer helpful advise and know their jobs.
Plus, all equipment is the up-to-date and service technicians are PSAI certified.
“The customer knows they are getting the best available for their dollar,” said Oreskovic. The Oreskovics work in a highly
competitive world, as do all in the sanitation business.
They prefer to work without a contract. “We believe our customers know us by our work,” explained Oreskovic. “If our
service is what is expected, maybe more, which we strive to provide, then not only will our customers return, they won’t
need a contract.”
Oreskovic spoke of educating customers to the costs involved in the business so they understand why they are paying the
amount they are for service whether it be for a unit or septic tank service. But, she believes it’s the quality of her service
that seals the deal, holds her customers to their contracts and keeps them from jumping to another sanitation provider and
brings the customer back.
“Our word is gold,” she said.
There are struggles:
The rising cost of fuel, cost of supplies and capital outlay for trucks and units is always a concern. But because the
Oreskovics have worked so hard to build a business with a reputation of being honest and providing the customer with
prompt, professional service with that touch of honest concern, Arnold’s Environmental has been able to keep up with
costs and keep customers.
“Like most of the nation, our area continues to expand,” Oreskovic said. “It’s a boom time for construction right now. It
seems that it’s a little easier to explain to our septic and tank customers when we have to charge more, but even our unit
customers, if we teach them about costs and have provided them with great service in the past, understand when we have
to charge more.”
She did feel that the sanitary unit area is harder to forecast as far as costs because there are so many factors to deal with,
and it seems that all these factors keep changing. Chemicals, unit, fuel, transportation, human resources and more costs all
keep changing as well as environmental concerns.
Oreskovic said that those who don’t succeed in the business, any business for that matter, often don’t take into account all
the different factors that impact a business. Instead they try to undercut the competition and forget that they have to make
some sort of profit to be successful.
“Those people cause concern, but they usually don’t stay in business long enough to hurt those of us who make sure we
have a good, basic business strategy,” she said.
All these concerns brought Oreskovic back to what she considers the basic business tool for success in the sanitation
industry - the PSAI.
“I can’t see how anyone in this business can hope to really succeed without being a part of the PSA,” she said. “The
organization has so much to offer, so much information to give out through formal and, what I found may be the most
helpful, informal, lines.”
Through her involvement with the people in PSAI, Oreskovic has become not only a member of the organization, but a
board member. She sees the PSAI as a way to meet others in the business, as an exchange of ideas, of experiences – good
and bad – and a way to bring more professionalism into the industry.
Tammy and Pat Oreskovic have three children, a son 23 who lives in North Carolina and is pondering entering the
sanitation business, a daughter nine and another son six. Besides their business they are very active in their community,
supporting many local activities through their business and their private lives.
Tammy is a marathon runner:
“It’s like business,” she laughed. “It’s all about staying in it for the long haul. If you start out too fast you’ll hit the wall and
not finish.”
Arnold’s Environmental is ready to expand this year. Tammy and Pat Oreskovic say that if they don’t grow they stagnant,
and that definitely is a no-no in the sanitation business..
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