Cleaning His Way to the Top
Mekel Bennett has always been an entrepreneur. As a little boy, he sold lemonade, iced tea, and Kool-Aid at a stand. In college, a street vendor told him, “There’s nothing like owning your own business.” He took those words to heart, purchased $200 worth of miscellaneous goods, and sold them on the sidewalk—tripling the money he spent in one day. Now, Mr. Bennett is the CEO and Owner of BK Cleaning Services, Inc. and a NYCHA vendor, providing his specialized services to more than 20 developments.
“I came from poverty but I will not let it hinder me or stop my progression in life,” Mr. Bennett said. “I know being an entrepreneur is the way to go. If you have integrity, flexibility, and tenacity, you can be an entrepreneur, be a CEO, be an owner of any business of your choosing.”
Mr. Bennett, who now lives in Queens, is a former resident of both Williamsburg and Grant Houses. His uncle, Joseph “Joe-Boy” Crumpty, who passed away last year, was instrumental in helping him start his business. Before his uncle died, he told Mr. Bennett, “Mekel, tell me that you can do it and that you’re going to do it.” He did it—starting BK Cleaning Services, Inc. in 2015.
“You’ll See the Difference” is the slogan of BK Cleaning Services. NYCHA staff at the various developments his business has serviced—including Melrose, Jefferson, and Tilden Houses—have seen the difference. He specializes in a number of cleaning services, including stripping ceilings, waxing floors, basement cleaning, sewage backup cleaning, janitorial services, power washing, and more.
It’s important for Mr. Bennett to give back to NYCHA residents. “I hire staff from NYCHA. I go to various developments and I give a couple of guys a chance to work,” Mr. Bennett said. “I once was in their shoes so I take the initiative to hire my employees from the developments. I’m in Melrose Houses right now, and I put on about 15 workers from various NYCHA developments in Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. That’s me giving back to NYCHA for the beautiful chance they gave me to excel. It’s only right that I give back to the residents of NYCHA.”
His advice to residents who want to become their own bosses: “If you are very serious about it, don’t let your dream be forgotten, stick with it and fight through all the adversity. Don’t let anything discourage you because at the end there’s a pot of gold, because the rainbow always has a pot of gold at the end of it—that pot of gold will be the reward you receive for starting your own business and excelling.”