As you go about your day, you may start seeing more Daigle Cleaning Systems trucks in Glens Falls… Daigle Cleaning Systems is starting to expand their business into the Saratoga and Glens Falls area, after their recent stint working in town on the Glens Falls National Bank project.

President and CEO Derek Foster and Vice President Michelle Daigle have owned and operated Daigle Cleaning Systems in New York’s Capital region since 2011. The company was named in honor of Michelle’s father and Derek’s Grandfather Wilfred Daigle – Wilfred was a successful entrepreneur and contractor, who sadly passed away in 2016.

Daigle Cleaning Systems is a multifaceted commercial cleaning company, that is certified Green with Honors by the International Sanitary Supply Association and Cleaning Industry Management Standard (ISSA / CIMS). This comprehensive assessment is given by an independent accredited assessor, and accreditation means that the company demonstrates a commitment to the delivery of environmentally preferable services, designed to meet customers’ needs and expectations.

Derek is proud of this certification, and recognizes that this industry-leading certification helps demonstrate to their prospective clients that they have been vetted, and are legitimate. “We do everything from basic janitorial tasks to complex commercial move-in and post-construction cleaning operations. We offer multiple specialty services, including electrostatic disinfection, multi-surface floor care, window cleaning, and storefront cleaning services. You name it, we can do it. There is no building too big and no job too small for Daigle Cleaning Systems. We consider ourselves problem solvers in the world of cleaning, so we like to listen to the problems and challenges that our clients are facing, and work towards mutually beneficial solutions that solve those problems,” Derek said.

Derek is an RPI graduate, and has a background in construction management. After graduation, he wanted to start his own company… The opportunity for post-construction cleanups came along, and Derek realized that this type of work was a niche market in the world of construction – these services were often needed at the last minute! To make his dream a reality, he worked construction during the day, and worked with Michelle on the business at night. Things progressed quickly, and in only a short time, Derek and Michelle were able to make the jump and be fully committed to their own business. 

Team Daigle currently manages over 210 client accounts, and is growing rapidly across multiple regions in New York State. They currently has 130 employees in the Capital Region: “We have three offices, two in Albany and one in Clifton Park. Our Clifton Park office strategically enables us logistically to push north,” Derek said.

He is excited for the opportunities in Glens Falls: “There are larger companies that are up in the Glens Falls area. There are pockets of industrial parks. From a marketing perspective, we haven’t put ourselves out there and pursued business…  Now, we are looking to get our name and our brand up there and help more people. There are a lot of opportunities and incentives in the Glens Falls area – the local economy is booming, everybody is busy. This is going to continue, and lines up well with our expansion and growth vision,” Derek said. 

Daigle works with a lot of real estate developers and property managers: “What we are looking for and targeting are buildings that are 20,000 to 30,000 square feet. That’s our target client… We currently manage facilities that are over 500,000 square feet as well. We love the challenge of organizing and replicating our processes and procedures at any scalable level. We have been operating for 12 years… Michelle and I own the business and take a lot of pride in what we do… In Glens Falls, there are a lot of opportunities, a lot of new buildings and (old) buildings being restored. We are proven experts in our current operations, and want to continue to provide these services in other geographical areas,” Derek said.

Derek is also excited about the employment market in the Glens Falls area: “There is a lot of talent in Glens Falls. We can tap into the labor market. We can train people and train them well. We put our employees through our Official Daigle Cleaning Academy, and get them started on a solid and secure career path. We take pride in bringing in new people and watching them grow in the industry.”

The Daigle Cleaning Academy teaches employees the cleaning processes, standard operating procedure, and all of the basics of the company. The employee spends a full week in the Daigle Cleaning Academy before going into the field.  

As well as his dedication to his company and his passion for the industry, Derek is also interested in the future of the trades. He wants to see more young people choosing trades for their careers: “We have seen the labor market pick back up and be closer to what it used to be,” he said.

Derek credits his management team with the success that they have had, and anticipates their involvement as Daigle pushes to the next level: “Our company core values are communication, integrity, and teamwork. We live those values day in and day out, and they guide every decision we make and every interaction we have. We have a talented and experienced management team, and we’ve taken our time to put the team together… We are finally at the point where we have a solid leadership team and that is who is going to help push us forward to the next level. Internally, we have high expectations, just like our clients do externally,” Derek said.

With their eyes on the Saratoga and Glens Falls area, Daigle Cleaning Systems is excited to continue their growth.