Franchise and Business Opportunities Articles

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (June 11, 2009) – ServiceMaster Clean announced today that it will host professional basketball player, Shane Battier, this weekend at the Michigan International Speedway for the Lifelock 400 Sprint Cup Series race. Since 2007, Battier has promoted the company’s commitment to franchise ownership diversity through the Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship, which boasts at least nine winners since the program’s inception.

The purpose of the Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship is to expand the ServiceMaster Clean commercial cleaning ownership base among women and minorities throughout the United States. The program was designed to help individuals overcome some of the obstacles of starting and running their own business by being a part of a franchise organization. The Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship allows individuals interested in starting their own business an opportunity to be awarded their own commercial cleaning franchise license – a $31,900 value.

ServiceMaster Clean has committed $1.3 million over four years in direct grants and private financing to its Shane Battier Franchise Scholarship initiative, as part of its continuing pledge to diversity, business development and community outreach across the United States.

"We recognize that, beyond being good for our business, reaching out to expand ownership opportunities for minorities and for women is a very meaningful way for us to live our faith-based corporate mission. That is why we have committed to diversity in our franchise network," said Michael Isakson, president and chief operating officer, ServiceMaster Clean. "Shane has been an ideal representative since day one and fully embraces our ‘We Serve’ mentality. He is the epitome of class and puts 100 percent into everything he does."

The former college All-American presents a remarkable resume at both the amateur and professional levels. Battier finished his career tied for eighth on Duke’s all-time scoring list and received the Naismith and Wooden Awards as a senior, and was named the National Player of the Year as well. Since entering the NBA in 2001, he has recorded 34 career 20-point games and two 30-point performances. Battier holds 18 career double doubles and has hit five or more three pointers in a game 10 times during his career. After the 2006-2007 campaign, he was presented with the Magic Johnson Award, given annually by the Professional Basketball Writer’s Association to the player who combines excellence on the court and outstanding cooperation with the media.

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"Growing up in Detroit, with my family and friends entrenched in the automotive industry, gave me a keen appreciation for cars," said Battier. "And having lived in the NASCAR belt for the past 12 years - in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas – I thought it was about time to get to a NASCAR race. I am thrilled and honored to be representing ServiceMaster Clean at the Lifelock 400."

Earlier this year, ServiceMaster Clean became the first-ever official sponsor of the caution period during races at all 19 International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) tracks as well as Dover International Speedway. These tracks will feature 33 Sprint Cup, 26 Nationwide and 18 Camping World Truck Series races and other racing events during the season. When there is a problem on the track, the ServiceMaster Clean Yellow Flag waves and the company’s familiar yellow vehicles are dispatched to clean the track.

In racing, a yellow flag means it’s time to clean up the track. Debris removal and track drying must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing. In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team.

About ServiceMaster Clean

With more than 4,500 franchise locations around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide janitorial services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, residential carpet cleaning and upholstery, and disaster restoration services. The company has more than 60 years of history as a market leader.

ServiceMaster Clean is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the world’s largest and most versatile service networks. The company’s brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic, and AmeriSpec. ServiceMaster Clean is committed to its franchise owners. Our ability to offer qualified prospects up to 80 percent financing to start their cleaning business is only one of the benefits of our program. Visit www.ownafranchise.com to learn more about the opportunities available with ServiceMaster Clean.

About Shane Battier

Selected sixth by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Battier was traded to the Houston Rockets in July 2006. Battier won numerous awards throughout his collegiate career at Duke and in 2001 was named the National Player of the Year and received the Naismith and Wooden Awards. Battier joined the Rockets after five seasons in Memphis.