Mark Starr

“I always had a keen eye for detail when it came to cleaning—I would always tell my mom don't forget to vacuum the edges of the carpet,” said Mark Starr. It’s a trait his mother may not have been too thrilled with, but it has served him well.

As the owner of Super Starr Cleaning Services Ltd. in Invermere, Starr has grown the company from modest beginnings to service a diverse group of both residential and commercial cleaning contracts.

Here’s what Starr had to tell us:

How did you come to choose this line of work?

My first job when I was 19 years old was detailing vehicles; I then moved into deep-cleaning airplanes for American and Continental airlines, Canada 3000 and Roots Air. I moved out West from Mississauga, Ontario, to Panorama Resort where I started as an entry-level houseman doing guest deliveries and cleaning the common areas of the hotels—it wasn't long until I became houseman supervisor.

What is it about your work that has you excited to get out of bed in the morning?

What gets me excited about getting out of bed each morning is that the work we do has a positive impact on the overall guest experience and daily interaction with the guests we serve, either in a residential cleaning or a commercial property.

What’s your focus for 2016?

My focus for 2016 is to continue to provide our residential and commercial clients with a high-quality cleaning service at a competitive price.

Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur in the Kootenays?

I chose to become a entrepreneur in the Kootenays after I was released from my position of houseman supervisor in late 2004 due to operational restructuring. My friend suggested that I put a bid in for the cleaning at the restaurant he managed at the time—well, low and behold, I got the cleaning contract and ever since we have seen a steady increase in sales each year.