Max Construction LLC

In 2017, Gary Pittman's chicken contract was cancelled when the processing plant he supplied shut down. He was 48. His farm was $280,000 in debt.

He had 90 days to figure something out.

His son showed him a YouTube video about specialty mushroom farming. Gary watched it once.

"That's what we're doing," he said.

His wife thought he'd lost his mind. His neighbor laughed openly.

Gary converted two chicken houses into climate-controlled mushroom grow rooms. He grew oyster, shiitake, and lion's mane varieties.

Year one: modest profit. Year two: a restaurant wholesale account. Year three: a regional grocery distribution deal.

Year four: $5.1 million in revenue and a waiting list for his product.

His neighbor placed an order last year. Gary filled it.

"I didn't pivot," Gary says. "I just found something that grows faster than problems." 🇺🇸

Rosa and Miguel arrived in Miami from Bogotá in 2002.

They had $300. One suitcase. A cousin's phone number.

Miguel got a cleaning job at an office building. Rosa cleaned houses during the day while their son was in school.

After 2 years, Rosa had a thought: "We're doing this for other people's companies. Why not for ourselves?"

$300 in starting supplies. Business cards from the library printer.

First contract: a 3-floor office building for $400/month.

They reinvested everything. Hired 2 people. Then 10. Then 50.

Today, Executive Clean Services contracts with hospitals, schools, and corporations across 6 states.

800 employees. $40M annual revenue. 95% of their workforce is immigrant.

"America gave us the floor," Miguel says. "We just cleaned it better than anyone expected." 🧹💰🇺🇸