My Background

Who I Am, How I Got There & Whats Happening Now...

Fast forward to High School - I attended Hutch Tech high school from 1986-1990 where I studied Mechanical Drafting, Engineering, Computer Science, Welding and a host of other electives. I graduated with a diploma in Mechanical Drafting and Engineering. 

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I immediately enrolled in college at Bryant and Stratton Business Institute; the downtown buffalo campus where I studied commercial and advertising arts. I found art fascinating and I was always very good at penmanship, calligraphy, doodling, sketching, etc. but wasn't offered at my high school, so I would practice those skills while in study hall, etc. I excelled in this field and graduated the top 2 in my graduating class with a 3.8 GPA (very proud of that). 

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Bryant and Stratton offered free job placement after graduating and at the time of graduation, I was working as a housekeeper/custodian at Canisius College just down the street. The first job the placement office sent me was to a printing company in Kenmore NY as an entry level silk screen-er. Well, that job didn't satisfy any of my wants or desires in any way whatsoever and I was very glad to have not quit my job at Canisius College. I explained to the placement office, that this job only had me working on an assembly line with no creativity whatsoever and that it was not for me. They placed me at another company on Grand Island and again, this job was more like factory work and did not utilize my art skills in any way whatsoever. After that second job, I decided to keep my art skills as a hobby and stick with my custodian position as it did pay well, had all medical and dental benefits and even a 401k plan which I thought was pretty good for a mere janitorial occupation. 

As time moved on and I began to learn all phases of carpet shampooing, strip and waxing floors, general office cleaning, spray buffing, etc. I decided to try for a supervisor position within the college, however, those positions were granted by seniority and I was a newcomer compared to some of the cleaners that had been working there for more than 20 years. So I put together a small resume and started applying for supervisor positions around the city of buffalo and the suburbs. I went to several interviews and for most part no one wanted to train me on the supervisor role but everyone wanted me to become a cleaner as they knew I had those skills down and my remarkable attendance spoke for itself. I passed up all those offers and finally got a dream job offer working at the Dulski Federal office building downtown supervising a staff of 15 developmentally challenged individuals. This is where I learned real supervising skills, payroll, scheduling, inventory, ordering and a host of other skills such as pricing out jobs by the hour and by the square foot. Within the first year of working this job I had learned enough to start my own business. 

So in 1994 I took the leap of faith and started my own cleaning business. The majority of my work came from a larger company at the time named Walco located on Seneca street in the Larkin building where I was a sub-contractor. Working for Walco gave me a greater ability to price out jobs, and stay competitive in this field. I also learned a great deal more about different chemicals used in the janitorial/cleaning field and became a floor restoration professional. I have performed 1000's of strip and waxing jobs, hardwood restorations all over Buffalo, Rochester and Erie PA. As my business of RJS Janitorial grew and my reputation throughout the Buffalo NY community continued to grow, I seen doors open all over the place. At one point around 2007 I had approximately 20 clients with Walco and nearly 140 of my own RJS janitorial clients. We actually cleaned nearly 80% of the stores in the Walden Galleria Mall, Blvd Mall, fashion outlets mall, etc. I had a staff of approximately 69 employees, including 5 managers as well as several of my own sub-contractors. We cleaned major schools, dental facilities, law offices, churches, non-profits, theaters, restaurants, multi-tenant office buildings, etc.

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In 2009 I took my second leap of faith and opened a small neighborhood bar in the Kasiertown area. I had no clue what I was doing, I never bar-tended a day in my life, I didn't know the business nor the industry but as a kid I always dreamed of owning a bar/tavern/gin mill. This was a truly awesome experience and through the ups and downs I wouldn't have changed a thing! I met so many wonderful people in the bar business and it actually allowed other doors to open in the Janitorial business as well. The old bar was named Tuscan Inn in the 80's thru 2009 when I bought it. It's funny because the Tuscan Inn was one of the first bars I actually hung out in as a young man in my early 20's. I also knew the owners son David who was a great bartender as well as a great person and friend. I used to go there to shoot pool and darts and one of my very best friends had His bachelor party in the back room - who would've known that one day I would own that building? 

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Update 2019 - I have sold both of my businesses: Roy's Place and RJS Janitorial are no longer mine. I feel as though I have made both of these businesses a great success and I look forward to my next adventure where I begin the studies of Detoxification Specialist through the International School of Detoxification and healing arts.

Update 2021 - I have graduated and received 2 degrees in Detoxification. 
- Detoxification Specialist I

- Detoxification Practitioner
I graduated from the International School of Detoxification & Healing Arts.
I completed my studies at home while the 2019 global pandemic took place. I found myself having ample amount of time and have always been interested in the benefits of detoxing. I now apply the principles I have learned through my studies on myself, friends, family and anyone would like to benefit from this amazing science.

Update 2022 - Today I am the General Manager for Buffalo RePear LLC and the Operations Manager for Just Us Janitorial. For both businesses, I process payroll, hire, fire, train new employees, perform all human resources including compliance with city, county, state and federal labor and tax law. I manage finances, employees, office expenses & P&L reports. I perform all job bids, RFPs, meetings with CEOs, Presidents, VPs and other operation managers to ensure quality control.