This is an inspiring story of resilience, vision, and relentless determination. It begins with a young couple who had nothing but a dream and a power washer. In 2000, Albert and Janee Rodriguez launched what may have been one of the smallest business startups ever, operating out of their garage with a single machine. But from the very beginning, their commitment to excellence made an outsized impression on the commercial property industry.
Property managers quickly took notice. The quality of their work and level of service gave the impression that Albert was running a much larger company. Impressed by their reliability and results, clients began asking them to take on additional services, so they started expanding beyond power washing to parking lot sweeping and a full range of commercial property maintenance solutions.
Even in those early days, Albert recognized the need for long-term scalability. He invested in equipment, brought on employees to meet growing demand, and strategically partnered with subcontractors for specialized projects. What started as a small home-based power washing business soon evolved into a diversified commercial maintenance service provider. And with fearless leadership, methodical growth strategies, and a deep commitment to operational excellence, City Wide Property Services grew to become a dominant force across the Western U.S. service sector.
Today, Albert Rodriguez is recognized as an industry leader, not only in commercial property maintenance but also in business innovation. His pioneering approach to service operations technology has positioned City Wide as a model for efficiency and excellence, setting a new standard for the industry.
We had the opportunity to talk with Albert Rodriguez about City Wide’s journey and the innovative strides that continue to shape its future:
Building the City Wide Company from Zero
The foundation of our company’s growth has always been listening to our clients, understanding their needs, learning new skills, and making necessary changes to support them.Our expansion was organic, driven by the brand’s growing reputation for exceptional service.
In the early years, my wife, Janee, was working in the healthcare industry while I was out pounding the pavement, building relationships, selling our services, and expanding our client base. After six years of steady growth, it became clear that I needed administrative support to scale the business effectively. So, Janee stepped in to help.
What truly fueled our growth was the trust we built with our clients. Those who initially hired us for power washing or smaller jobs quickly recognized the quality of our work and, rather than sourcing multiple vendors, they relied on us to meet their expanding needs. Over time, we evolved into a full-service property maintenance company, offering everything necessary for the upkeep, safety, and appearance of commercial properties.
What started as a small operation has grown into a company that offers a comprehensive, solutions-driven approach to commercial property maintenance. We don’t just provide services; we anticipate clients’ needs, improve efficiency, and help property owners protect and enhance their assets. This philosophy continues to drive us forward, shaping the way we do business and strengthening the partnerships that have been the key to our success.
City Wide Sweeping 2025
While a significant portion of our service business is handled in-house, we also have long-standing partnerships with loyal subcontractors, many of whom have been with us for over 20 years. As we’ve grown, so have they, building successful businesses alongside us. We continue to seek high-caliber subcontractors who share our commitment to delivering exceptional service and upholding the standards our customers expect.
Parking lot sweeping remains a core pillar of our operations, accounting for roughly 45% of our business, with the remainder divided between landscaping and the full range of facility services. Our team includes approximately 375 direct employees, supported by a strong network of independent contractors. In the sweeping division alone, we collaborate with around 40 independent contractors, each operating their own trucks.
Our fleet consists of approximately 80 sweeper trucks, including Tymco, Nitehawk, and other leading brands. It features a mix of broom and regenerative air sweepers, which ensures we can meet the needs of a variety of commercial properties. Operating in California, where environmental regulations are strict, requires us to prioritize top-quality, emissions-compliant equipment. To maintain efficiency across our service region, we’ve also deployed sweepers to our offices in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.
Behind the scenes, our fleet management team plays the crucial role of ensuring meticulous maintenance of every truck and piece of equipment to keep everything in peak condition. They proactively manage against issues to extend the life of our equipment and maximize its performance and reliability. Our entire staff understands the value of these assets and treats them with the care and respect they deserve. That makes all the difference in operational excellence.
Unique IT Platform Designed by Albert Rodriguez and Team
At City Wide, we’ve built more than just a service company, we’ve developed a technology-driven enterprise that is redefining how property maintenance is managed. Our in-house marketing and sales development team drives our growth, focusing on digital lead generation, strategic sales systems, and branding, all of which are managed internally. However, what truly sets us apart in the industry is the depth of our technological infrastructure.
Unlike most competitors, we don’t rely on third-party software to run our operations. We have an entire IT development team dedicated to designing and maintaining a proprietary business operations platform that integrates every aspect of our company from Field Management and Scheduling to HR, Accounting, Sales, Vendor, and Client Portals. These systems are built from the ground up, uniquely tailored to our needs and continuously refined to stay ahead of industry demands.
My background in technology and business operations was key in shaping this vision. After briefly studying tech in college, I pivoted to launching our power washing company in Sacramento. But about a decade ago, I returned to technology, not just as a tool but as a foundational element of how we scale and operate. Since then, we’ve pioneered the fusion of advanced technology with our service-based business model, allowing us to lead where the industry is going rather than follow where it has been.
Our full-scope, integrated business operations platform is now in itseighth iteration, offering a highly sophisticated digital infrastructure that manages everything from fleet logistics and performance tracking to service delivery metrics and real-time property status updates. Both clients and vendors interact with the system through custom-built interfaces, providing an unprecedented level of transparency, efficiency, and data-driven insights. The result is a dramatically enhanced client experience and a smarter, more agile service operation.
As for the future, given the power and efficiency of our platform, we are now considering offering it as a standalone technology solution for the market. City Wide has used it to drive our own success, and it has the potential toredefine industry standards beyond our company, even paving the way for a new era in property maintenance and pavement sweeping technology.
Future Plans for City Wide Property Services
As we continue to expand, our focus remains on strategic growth across Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and California, with additional operations already established in Utah, Oregon and Washington. Our presence in these markets represents our commitment to delivering excellence in property maintenance across the Western U.S.
This past December marked two major milestones — my 50th birthday and City Wide’s 25-year anniversary. Reaching this point has been an incredible journey, filled with lessons, challenges, and growth. Many times, I’ve had the opportunity to sell the company and walk away, but that was never the vision. I firmly believe that our first 25 years were just the beginning.
Looking ahead, the next 25 years will be about pioneering at a level the industry has yet to see. We’ve built a foundation of operational excellence, cutting-edge technology, and a reputation for service that sets us apart. Now, it’s about taking that to an entirely new level — expanding our impact, refining our innovations, and continuing to lead where the industry is going. I’m energized for what’s to come and excited to drive our next chapter of success.
On a personal note, family and leadership development are deeply embedded in our company culture. Janee and I have four young adult children, two of whom have already stepped into the company. They started where any other employee would, working as day porters and power washers, earning their place, learning the business from the ground up, and applying for positions as they developed their skills. Their interest in leadership reflects the values we’ve always instilled — hard work, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.Our journey is far from over. The best is yet to come.
The Rodriguez Growth Strategy
The approach we’ve taken to grow City Wide into the organization it is today has been built on a foundation of client relationships, continuous self-improvement, and strategic planning. From the very beginning, my focus has been on spending time face-to-face with clients, understanding their evolving needs, and determining how we could better serve them. This has meant constantly evaluating our resources, capabilities, and service offerings, always asking what more we can do to help our clients succeed?
As our clients grew, we grew. What started as a small operation serving about 10 clients in our first few years and has evolved into a highly diversified service enterprise. Over time, I’ve recognized the importance of mitigating risk and ensuring long-term financial sustainabilityby diversifying our client base across multiple industries, property types, and market segments.
Today, City Wide serves a broad range of clients, from small businesses to national property owners and asset managers, ensuring that no single market shift or economic downturn can significantly impact our trajectory. This strategic diversification has been one of our greatest strengths, allowing us to continue growing while maintaining stability, regardless of changes in the commercial landscape.
At its core, City Wide’s success is about more than just delivering services — it’s about building partnerships, staying adaptable, and always striving to be better. That philosophy has driven our expansion and will continue to shape our future.
Major Obstacles Overcome at City Wide Property Services
City Wide’s evolution has been shaped by the challenges we’ve faced and overcome. Each test of our business, whether internal or external, has strengthened our ability to operate as a lean, agile, and highly competitive organization. When others in the national market faced downsizing or closures, we not only sustained financial stability but continued to achieve steady growth.
What started as a small power washing business in a garage rapidly expanded during a time of booming commercial development in California and the broader Western U.S. However, our success wasn’t just a product of favorable market conditions, it was built on resilience and strategic decision-making in the face of adversity.
Even during the national economic shutdown caused by COVID-19, when a significant portion of our recurring service orders were paused and new work requests declined, we remained stable. Many companies struggled, but our diversification of services allowed us to weather the downturn without sacrificing our workforce. Not one employee faced pay cuts or reduced hours, and not a single team member was laid off.
We carried that responsibility for three years, ensuring that our employees and clients had the consistency they needed. Despite the challenges, we continued growing in both revenue and size, proving that City Wide’s progress is not dictated by external pressures but by our ability to adapt, lead, and keep pushing forward.
Today, that same resilient mindset continues to drive our success. Through every economic shift and industry challenge, City Wide remains committed to expanding, innovating, and leading the future of commercial property maintenance.
Perceived Potential Future Challenges
Being headquartered in California presents unique challenges that require us to be highly strategic in planning the next phase of our company’s development. The dynamic regulatory landscape and evolving economic conditions necessitate agility and foresight. While we remain focused on outperforming industry competitors, navigating the complexities of operating in California is a key factor in our long-term strategy.
This is where our strategic growth initiatives will make a significant impact. With the lion’s share of our business rooted here, we have the opportunity to sharpen our operations, strengthen our market position, and leverage our expertise to drive continued success. I’ve observed many second-generation businesses struggling to match the success of their predecessors, often due to a lack of clear strategic direction. We are deeply intentional about our approach, and we’re extremely confident in our ability not only to sustain but to accelerate our growth.
Advice for Industry Newcomers from Albert Rodriguez
With the industry continuing to evolve to meet growing customer needs, each step forward presents a new opportunity to deliver first-class service. My advice to newcomers is to focus on maximizing critical thinking and strategic planning skills. Learning the trade is only half the battle. Success comes from developing the ability to think strategically, solve complex challenges, and scale operations while maintaining quality.
As for our own business, we appreciate the continued support and interest in our journey, and I look forward to driving City Wide into its next era of success.
NAS On City Wide Property Services, Inc. Leadership
The business has sustained a remarkable growth rate through its 25 years in operation. Albert Rodriguez bolted out of the garage to become a dominant force in the commercial property maintenance services industry throughout the western United States in just a couple of decades. Further, the integrated service business operations network platform he has developed offers promising applicability across the national service market.
Looking ahead, City Wide Property Services, under the direction of Albert Rodriguez, will be one of the country’s most exciting businesses to follow, as the team remains focused on operational excellence, innovation, and continued expansion.
For more information about City Wide Property Services and our cutting-edge property maintenance solutions, contact 916-714-5929 or visit www.citywideps.com.