Reilly Brothers Plan for Greater Future
Sweeping firms join together to make nationwide impact
The three brothers behind Reilly Sweeping, Inc. (RSI) are more than willing to get their hands dirty, scrubbing and sweeping for the company their father started in Morrisville, Pa., more than 46 years ago.
It all began in 1971, when a customer of Gerald Reilly’s small-equipment rental business came in to rent an outdoor vacuum, but needed to have it delivered. As Gerald dropped it off, the customer asked if Gerald could just go ahead and clean the parking lot. As Gerald used the equipment, an idea for a sweeping business was born. Gerald established contracts, then began Morrisville Sweeping with three sweepers.
In the mid-’90s, when Gerald retired, his three sons, Patrick (Pat), Sean and Michael stepped into leadership roles. The three got to work and have built the business exponentially, now owning a fleet of 100 machines and offering complete interior and exterior sweeping, scrubbing and maintenance services. Plenty of managers and top leaders in other businesses may turn their noses up at such dirty work, but not at RSI. It’s their can-do attitude and team approach that has earned the Reillys the respect and loyalty of company employees.
The Reilly brothers pride themselves on being onsite owners, which means if employees are working 12 hours a day, the brothers are working 12-hour days, too.
Employees are Priority: A Case in Point
“There is nothing that’s beneath the owners,” says Tim Estel, Operations Manager for RSI. “We can be out there scrubbing trucks and they’ll just grab a brush and join us.”
Tim should know. He’s been with the company almost since the beginning. He started out working for founder Gerald Reilly, as a part-time employee when he was in the 11th grade. He has gone on to work in nearly every part of the business, from garage work and driving a truck to dispatch and eventually management.
While he started out working for Gerald, he was also teaching others the trade. “Tim taught me mechanical skills when I was a kid,” Pat remembers.
Tim went on to report to Sean and now works for Pat. He explains that he knows first-hand that all three brothers embrace a team approach in their management styles.
“It’s a family-owned business, and it’s truly a family when you’re there,” says Tim. “Lots of people hate going to work, but I’ve always enjoyed it.”
His long-time tenure—37 years and counting—would make him stand out in most companies; but at RSI, he is just one of many employees with a long record of service. In fact, Pat estimates that the management team has an average of 22 years at RSI.
Long-time employees like Tim have “done a great job for the company and the company has provided a good job for them,” says Pat.
Mushrooming Growth
From small beginnings, this family company grew to serve commercial sites, municipalities, industrial plants and infrastructure projects in five states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware as well as Washington, D.C.
The company sweeps all types of asphalt and concrete surfaces, inside and outside.
Another reason for RSI’s success is the brothers’ commitment to put money back into the company, especially through state-of-the-art equipment. Tim explains that having updated equipment provides for employee safety and enhanced performance on job sites, which include city streets, shopping center parking lots, construction areas and airport runways. RSI works when it’s convenient for the customers. The work takes place any hour of the day, any day of the week. That scheduling flexibility is but one way that the Reilly brothers strive to build upon their father’s legacy to provide reliable, dependable and dedicated service.
Success Recognized & Rewarded
The firm’s success has not gone unnoticed. In early August 2017, the owners shared good news: Sweeping Corp. of America (SCA) acquired RSI. This combination forms the largest self-performing power sweeping company in the United States. With this acquisition, SCA now operates a fleet of 350 units through 21 locations in the eastern half of the United States. The Reilly brothers became shareholders in SCA and will continue in senior leadership roles.
SCA’s President and CEO, Christopher Valerian says, “RSI is one of the most respected companies in our industry. With a majority of its operations contiguous to our existing locations, RSI solidifies our leading position in these markets and further expands our platform for additional growth opportunities.”
The sweeping business is consolidating. When SCA approached RSI about joining its team, the decision didn’t come easily for the Reillys. There were lots of long talks and long hours discussing if this was a good decision for the family business and its employees.
After long deliberation, the brothers decided that joining SCA was a good growth opportunity for the company as well as its employees. The entire RSI team is excited about joining the SCA organization.
The Reillys confirm that they will still make customer service and satisfaction a priority. Now, though, they will do so with increased vendor purchasing power, improved resources to add best practices for running a business, and will receive assistance with human resources and sales.
Back to the Beginning
As the Reilly brothers look to the future, they inevitably must also look back. “We thank our father for everything we have and everything he taught us,” says Pat. “We are just trying to do what he taught us: to work hard and treat people fairly.”