In 1987, Harry Meekma was looking for new business oppportunities to tackle. With a background in packaging materials research and development and sales, he went to work as a business development manager for a local drycleaning company in the San Francisco Bay Area.
While exploring avenues of business outside the retail environment, Harry came across the restoration industry. He quickly found a need for clothing restoration after fires and flooding. At that time, it was normal for clothing to be discarded after a fire since the technology and services required for restoration were in their infancy.
In short order Harry originated the means and methods for an efficient and effective drycleaning restoration program. Harry sought to expand his knowledge and enlarge his contributions to the restoration industry, so he joined a pioneering contents restoration company as Marketing Manager. Within a year, Harry had the knowledge and experience he needed to establish his own company.
He approached his employer and asked him to be the first customer of Fabric Restoration Service Team - Custom Commercial. A new business, a new approach to fabric restoration, and a new level of loss savings was born. Harry retired long after that beginning as his children and their family members took up the reins of the business and continued to improve upon the model. Harry continues to look on with pride of accomplishment and faith in the future.
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| Courtney Nicholas |
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| Jim Nicholas |
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| Ryan Meekma |
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| Holly Carhart |
While working with Harry on weekends, vacations and when home from Cal Poly, SLO, his daughter, Courtney, developed the same enthusiasm for the business, starting what was to become a family trend. With an MBA from Cal State Hayward, she came to work full time, putting her business degree to practical use. Courtney’s husband, Jim Nicholas, joined the company full time after he graduated from UC Davis in 1991. Ryan Meekma, Harry’s son, also joined the family business after his graduation in 1992 from Cal State Hayward. Holly Carhart, joined the business in 1995.
The second generation of the family business took the energy and original ideas initiated by Harry Meekma and carried them forward in new directions and with a new focus. In 1992, Fabric Restoration Service Team opened an office in Sacramento, CA. In 1993, the Seattle, WA office was opened. Since 1993, offices have opened in Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Los Angeles, and Idaho.
Today, FRSTeam - Custom Commercial remains a family-owned and operated company. Courtney and Jim Nicholas work out of the California corporate offices; Ryan Meekma works out of the Washington office; and Holly Carhart works out of the Colorado office. The company has grown beyond the dreams of its founder, but has managed to remain true to the standards of service, quality, and integrity which Harry Meekma instilled over 15 years earlier.
