When you imagine the perfect combination of family, friends, and business, you don’t have to look further than Anago’s Master Franchise operations in Washington, DC. Brothers Michael and Darren Williams, along with childhood friend, Roscoe Hamilton, define this synergy that has proven successful and paved an entrepreneurial pathway for more than two decades.
It all started on the proverbial playground in their hometown in Aiken, South Carolina. Michael and Darren lived within a rock’s-throw away from Roscoe where they would hang out, play, and experience the trials and tribulations of middle school and high school together. After graduation, each would go their separate ways for college and start families and careers in their respective fields. But that would soon change.
At the turn of the millennia, fate would bring the three back together for a new journey and an exciting professional chapter in each of their lives. They decided to go into business together.
Darren and Roscoe had previously dabbled in a commercial cleaning business and Michael would go along on the weekends to help service clients and to work side-by-side with his brother and friend. The dynamic was attractive to all three and they decided to make it official. After researching commercial cleaning franchise brands, the three found Anago Cleaning Systems and reached out to the company’s founder and CEO, David Povlitz.
David was at the helm in the early 2000s when the three chose Anago. Darren flew down to Anago’s headquarters in South Florida to learn more about the company. What he found was something he never expected.
Darren explains that his meeting with David was void of a business pitch, sales deck, balance sheets, margins, and other elements of what a person would expect. Instead, it was a conversation about family, faith, merit, hard work, shared goals, and dreams of being in business for oneself. It was about how the Master Franchise model was a way to encourage and inspire others to take charge of their personal and professional life by betting on themselves, being a professional mentor for others, and being confident in their ability to work hard and be successful.
In many ways, it was a conversation about making dreams come true through hard work and dedication. The beauty of it all was David’s personable and honest approach to how he ran his company. An approach that was sealed with a handshake and the good words of honest men.
Returning to Michael and Roscoe, the deal was sealed, and they chose to build their franchise operations in Washington, DC to experience a new city together, a new adventure. Over twenty years later, it remains a choice they are proud of and thankful for today.
