Universal Environmental Consulting | 11
has including making some operational
changes. At the height of the recession with
retailers closing stores throughout the coun-
try, Universal experienced a decline in their
business. That forced the company to offer
new services which now include handling
construction debris and waste from job sites,
where the company also provides temporary
fencing, port-a-potty and storage container
resources.
The company has also shifted frommerely
focusing on service to national retailers, but
now is working with developers of shopping
malls and condominium complex develop-
ers to consolidate their waste removal needs,
services that Papa anticipates will increas-
ingly expand over the coming soon. He says
Universal is also exploring opportunities to
provide residential waste removal too. Papa
is generally enthusiastic, saying he is encour-
aged by opportunities for Universal to fur-
ther grow with a confidence that he admits
was not so keen a little over two years ago.
When economic decline was at its worst
and so many stores closed, Universal’s loss of
revenue prompted him and his partner to
look within their own organization. They
considered moving to smaller, less-costly
office accommodations. They considered
laying-off or terminating staff, which was
tough because most had worked there for
more than 15 years, or were second-genera-
tion family of former staff. In the end, those
relationships were more important than his,
or his partner’s, own salary. “We took the
hit out of our own pockets, but were able to
keep everyone working and keep our clients
happy too. I may not have saved any money
for myself, but the company kept fighting.
We added new services and took on new
accounts and successfully got through it to
where we are today.”
Papa says the waste removal industry re-
lies on the same thing that drives so many
businesses – relationships. Through its com-
mitment to serving customer relationships,
maintaining relationships within its corpo-
rate staff and network of haulers throughout
America, and adhering to standards of envi-
ronmental quality and professional account-
ability, Universal Environmental Consulting
may work with the things that people throw
away, but will continue to represent a rela-
tion well worth the keeping.
