A Milwaukee-area company is getting national recognition. The Department of Defense says AdvantaClean is going the extra mile to help veterans.
Matthew Mitchell served six years in the Marine Corps. In 2008, he ended up unemployed. He used his military benefits to go back to school for heating and air training. He now works for AdvantaClean.
"My whole point was to get employed in a job where job security was number one," says Matthew Mitchell, customer service rep.
The company focuses on enviromental clean up of things like mold and air ducts. It is run entirely by veterans.
"They are very dependable, very mission oriented. I wanted to hire guys that had leadership experience," says Barry Hintz, owner of AdvantaCare.
Hintz knew he could find that in vets because he was also one. The former army officer had served in the first Gulf War. Until three years ago he was working in sales when he decided to buy AdvantaClean.
"I'm a veteran and I wanted to help out my fellow brothers and sisters in arms," Hintz says.
The Department of Defense noticed what Hintz was doing. Two weeks ago, the Office of the Secretary of Defense presented him the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Sward.
One of the workers from AdvantaCare heads to the Middle East to serve for the Army in January, but the company already has a former Marine lined up to add to the staff just to make sure they stay 100-percent veteran run. Of course, the Army reservist's job will be waiting for him when he returns.
