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By Mandy Haggerson

For the Clemmons Courier

Raised in a home of entrepreneurial parents, Doug Slater took copious mental notes of how they developed their businesses.

“I recall many days and nights of them talking about work, and how they could grow it. I knew from a young age that I wanted to create something successful on my own too,” Slater said. “I enjoyed mulling over ideas even as a kid.”

Slater would also have an impactful experience from a young age. His father passed away when he was just 11 years old.

“Because of that, when I was in 8th grade, my mother felt it would be helpful from a discipline and leadership perspective to attend Oak Ridge Military Academy,” Slater said. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was a pivotal experience. It motivated me as well to seek an academic scholarship for college.

“I accepted an academic scholarship to Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, the oldest private military college in the country.”

Initially excited to try a new part of the country, he realized early on he missed home. A huge factor in that was his future wife, Brandi who he had met in high school through mutual friends.

“She had attended West Forsyth High School, and we started dating at 15 years old. After high school, she went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and I decided to transfer there as well to get a degree in business and political science,” Slater said. 

While being a full-time student, Slater began working his sophomore year for a cleaning company.

“It was helpful to observe how the company operated,” Slater said. “Shortly after being hired, I became a part of their commercial sales division. Even as a kid, I saw things that I would have done differently, and wanted to improve. My senior year, I began writing a business plan for the idea of a company named Steam Source. Brandi’s father was also a business owner, and I would bring my ideas and business plan to him, and we would sit down together to discuss it and modify it. He was a tremendous help, and I valued and respected his input. Both of Brandi’s parents have always been very good to me and supportive ever since high school.” 

After Slater graduated, he was ready to put his plan into action.

“I had saved every penny from my job in college and put that towards opening Steam Source and buying our first truck,” Slater said. “Brandi and I were also married in 2003, and I know that everyone says it’s important to marry the right person, but I found that really to be true. From the very beginning, she has been essential to starting and growing the business. She has always been highly intelligent as a businessperson. We will sometimes look at everything a little differently, which is actually nice. I’m more of a risk taker, and Brandi will reel me back in if she thinks I’m talking nonsense. Her work ethic and commitment to anything we’ve tackled is incredible.

“With one truck the first year, and one employee we continuously grew more and more. We will be going on 23 years this February and have the best employees and expanded to have 23 trucks now. Because of that, we have moved into a new facility and upgraded our equipment. When people drop off their area rugs, there is a process of having the dirt removed before they are washed to make sure they really are like new when they are returned. That division has doubled because so many people are forgoing carpet now, and just having rugs because it’s easy to maintain with regular cleanings with us.”

Steam Source’s offerings continue to expand to include upholstery care, pressure washing, duct cleaning, tile cleaning, water damage and window washing to name a few.

“We do have an expansive offering for the residential side and also commercial side,” Slater said. “We now help several universities with their needs, and that continues to grow and expand.” 

Both Doug and Brandi credit the steady growth and becoming the largest cleaning outfit on the east coast to having a reliable team around them.

“I’m always learning from our employees,” Slater said. “I like understanding how they think and getting their perspective. Every morning, we have meetings, and I will talk to them as they head out the door too. They work hard for Steam Source and our clients, and Brandi and I want to show how much we value them by creating a positive work culture. Fifty percent of these employees have graduated from college or have been to college. They share the same values of customer service on each and every job. All of the technicians have been well versed with how to enter someone’s home with shoe covers, meet the customers’ needs with calling before, while there, and following up to make sure they are satisfied. We clean for a lot of families, and our technicians are always respectful of entering their homes or place of business. Brandi and I have felt lucky to be surrounded by a team that really wants to impart top notch customer service. We couldn’t have grown without them. They are the reason we are where we are today.” 

If Brandi and Doug aren’t at the office, speaking to clients or meeting with their employees, they are often found at their children’s events.

“I know all too well how short life is, and I don’t to miss one single game or important moment for them,” Slater said. “Being a parent is the greatest job, and I enjoy sharing in that with Brandi too. If we’re not at work or a kids’ event, we like to take time to walk our neighborhood and it’s a great time to discuss what’s going on too. We’re really lucky where life has taken us.”