Team Clean Founder Donna Allie Honored as One of Philadelphia’s Most Influential African American Leaders by the Philadelphia Tribune
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – September 20, 2010 -- Donna Allie, who started Team Clean, Inc. on her own 25 years ago and has grown it into Philadelphia’s largest minority-owned and woman-owned business, has been named as one of Philadelphia’s Most Influential African American Leaders by the Philadelphia Tribune, the nation’s oldest black newspaper organization.
Allie and other honorees were recognized in the September issue of Tribune Magazine, and also recognized at a black-tie gala reception and program on Wednesday, September 15 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.
The company she founded, Team Clean, has grown into the leading provider of janitorial services in the Greater Philadelphia region. Originally unable to find employment in her chosen field after college graduation, Allie was a single parent determined to find a way to support herself and her child. She had accompanied a friend on a job cleaning a home, and realized that there was an excellent income potential in cleaning houses. She answered newspaper advertisements for “cleaning ladies,” and began cleaning homes throughout Philadelphia’s suburban Main Line.
Team Clean grew when Allie began to respond to those newspaper ads by hiring women herself and sending them off in pairs to clean homes, establishing the burgeoning company’s “team” approach to cleaning. She took her first commercial contract in 1985 with the Upper Main Line YMCA. Today, Team Clean serves a variety of clients in government, education, industry, professional offices, sports and entertainment venues and events, including the landmark National Constitution Center and Cheyney University. Team Clean is certified as a women's business enterprise by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and as a minority enterprise by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Allie remains independent and hard-working, dedicated to building her business, improving the lives of her employees, and enhancing a growing, vibrant company headquartered in the City of Philadelphia. Her singular vision includes the goal of providing meaningful employment for over 3,000 men and women. That vision is powered by her passion for providing a re-entry to the workforce the less fortunate, and comes from her own unique and compelling experiences both as an individual and as a business owner. She has partnered with the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation to bring over 100 new employees to the workforce out of the welfare system. In addition, she has partnered with the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and the City of Philadelphia to bring ex-offenders into the workforce, with exceptional results.
Throughout the history of her company, Allie has remained committed to community service. She is currently a board member of the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, and chairs the ex-offenders task force for the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board. She is also an active board member of a number of non-profit organizations, including the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, and the Universal Charter School.
In addition to her recognition by the Philadelphia Tribune, Allie’s company was recently selected to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
The Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America recently honored Allie for her contributions to the local community with the 2009 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award. The award recognized her for the wide influence in the business and professional community and noted Allie as a “commendable role model for all young people.”
Among her other notable achievements, in 2009 Allie was honored as one of the inaugural Minority Business Leaders by the Philadelphia Business Journal. In 2008, she was named one of the Philadelphia region’s Women of Distinction by the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Philadelphia Business Journal. In April 2007, she was honored by the Philadelphia Phillies with the inaugural Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner during ceremonies on Jackie Robinson Day at Citizens Bank Park.
In 1994, the African American Chamber of Commerce honored Allie with their Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, and in 1995 she received the Business Acumen Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women. In 1996, Team Clean was selected as one of Philadelphia’s 100 Fastest Growing Small Businesses by the Wharton Small Business Development Center and the Philadelphia Business Journal, and in 1997 Allie was named one of Pennsylvania’s 50 Best Women in Business. Also in 1997, Allie and Team Clean received the Special Recognition Award for Excellence of Service from the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
In 2001, she was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the "District Minority Small Business Person of the Year." The Business Center at New Covenant Campus honored Allie in 2006 with their Harriet Tubman Trailblazer Award. In addition, Allie has received the 62nd National Freedom Day Community Service Award, the City of Philadelphia’s Supply, Service and Equipment Award, and the Main Line Martin Luther King Jr. Association’s Business Leadership Award.
A graduate of Wilberforce University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Vocational Rehabilitation, Allie has attended the Loyola Advanced Minority Business Executive Program as well as several courses at The Wharton Small Business Development Center.
About Team Clean:
Allie and other honorees were recognized in the September issue of Tribune Magazine, and also recognized at a black-tie gala reception and program on Wednesday, September 15 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.
The company she founded, Team Clean, has grown into the leading provider of janitorial services in the Greater Philadelphia region. Originally unable to find employment in her chosen field after college graduation, Allie was a single parent determined to find a way to support herself and her child. She had accompanied a friend on a job cleaning a home, and realized that there was an excellent income potential in cleaning houses. She answered newspaper advertisements for “cleaning ladies,” and began cleaning homes throughout Philadelphia’s suburban Main Line.
Team Clean grew when Allie began to respond to those newspaper ads by hiring women herself and sending them off in pairs to clean homes, establishing the burgeoning company’s “team” approach to cleaning. She took her first commercial contract in 1985 with the Upper Main Line YMCA. Today, Team Clean serves a variety of clients in government, education, industry, professional offices, sports and entertainment venues and events, including the landmark National Constitution Center and Cheyney University. Team Clean is certified as a women's business enterprise by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and as a minority enterprise by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Allie remains independent and hard-working, dedicated to building her business, improving the lives of her employees, and enhancing a growing, vibrant company headquartered in the City of Philadelphia. Her singular vision includes the goal of providing meaningful employment for over 3,000 men and women. That vision is powered by her passion for providing a re-entry to the workforce the less fortunate, and comes from her own unique and compelling experiences both as an individual and as a business owner. She has partnered with the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation to bring over 100 new employees to the workforce out of the welfare system. In addition, she has partnered with the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and the City of Philadelphia to bring ex-offenders into the workforce, with exceptional results.
Throughout the history of her company, Allie has remained committed to community service. She is currently a board member of the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, and chairs the ex-offenders task force for the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board. She is also an active board member of a number of non-profit organizations, including the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, and the Universal Charter School.
In addition to her recognition by the Philadelphia Tribune, Allie’s company was recently selected to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
The Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America recently honored Allie for her contributions to the local community with the 2009 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award. The award recognized her for the wide influence in the business and professional community and noted Allie as a “commendable role model for all young people.”
Among her other notable achievements, in 2009 Allie was honored as one of the inaugural Minority Business Leaders by the Philadelphia Business Journal. In 2008, she was named one of the Philadelphia region’s Women of Distinction by the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Philadelphia Business Journal. In April 2007, she was honored by the Philadelphia Phillies with the inaugural Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner during ceremonies on Jackie Robinson Day at Citizens Bank Park.
In 1994, the African American Chamber of Commerce honored Allie with their Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, and in 1995 she received the Business Acumen Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women. In 1996, Team Clean was selected as one of Philadelphia’s 100 Fastest Growing Small Businesses by the Wharton Small Business Development Center and the Philadelphia Business Journal, and in 1997 Allie was named one of Pennsylvania’s 50 Best Women in Business. Also in 1997, Allie and Team Clean received the Special Recognition Award for Excellence of Service from the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
In 2001, she was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the "District Minority Small Business Person of the Year." The Business Center at New Covenant Campus honored Allie in 2006 with their Harriet Tubman Trailblazer Award. In addition, Allie has received the 62nd National Freedom Day Community Service Award, the City of Philadelphia’s Supply, Service and Equipment Award, and the Main Line Martin Luther King Jr. Association’s Business Leadership Award.
A graduate of Wilberforce University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Vocational Rehabilitation, Allie has attended the Loyola Advanced Minority Business Executive Program as well as several courses at The Wharton Small Business Development Center.
About Team Clean:
Team Clean is a leading provider of janitorial services in the Philadelphia region. The company serves a variety of clients in government, education, industry, professional offices, sports and entertainment venues and events. Active in the Philadelphia community with a variety of social and economic programs, Team Clean is recognized as the Philadelphia region’s largest minority-owned and woman-owned business, and was recently selected to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest growing companies. Additional information is available at http://www.team-clean.com.
Media Contact:
Jim DeLorenzo on behalf of Team Clean
Telephone: 215-564-1122
Cell phone: 215-266-5943
E-mail: jim@jhdenterprises.com
Media Contact:
Jim DeLorenzo on behalf of Team Clean
Telephone: 215-564-1122
Cell phone: 215-266-5943
E-mail: jim@jhdenterprises.com