This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 180th installment visiting with Zach Godbey, owner of Godbey Clean which is a soft and pressure wash exterior cleaning business that serves residential and commercial needs.
Tell me more about Godbey Clean. I opened this business to turn a new leaf in my life, to be able to own my own business and truly do something that I love. In the 4 years since opening, I have enjoyed each year more and more. I didn’t start this to stay as a one-man business. I wanted to grow and flourish, and that’s exactly what’s happening. We specialize in: Roof Stain Removal; House Washing; Driveway Cleaning, Staining and Sealing; Deck Washing, Staining and Sealing; Gutter Cleaning; New Construction; Mortar Removal.
How did you get started? I started this business to work for myself and do something that I find not only enjoyable, but very rewarding. I left corporate America to live the dream of being an entrepreneur, and I absolutely love what I do.
What is your background? I have always been hands on in everything I do. I would get a lot of enjoyment out of landscaping projects in my yard and doing painting projects on the interior and exterior of my home. When I first started this business, we offered landscaping and pressure washing services. As the business grew, I knew that my focus pointed more toward the exterior cleaning. It is what I enjoy most. I knew I would do best in something I was passionate about and that was exterior cleaning. I’d say some of my skills are also from being in food sales for 15 years. I had to meet and speak to many people on a daily basis, and I also had to travel a good bit. I have people skills from that industry and it also helped me with scheduling and planning.
Who is your mentor? My mentor is a good friend of mine, Art Miller. He started a multimillion dollar business from the ground up. He encouraged me to start my own business and to do it with vigor. There was also a lot of praying and faith that helped me with that push. My faith has kept me strong in the hard times and struggles. There’s no question that my wife, Lindsey, is my biggest supporter. She’s the “glue” and I wouldn’t know what to do without her!
What do you enjoy most about your business? I enjoy everything about it! I’m living the American dream. I love exterior cleaning (it’s therapeutic for me), no two days are the same, I don’t have to sit behind a desk 5 days a week, and I get to meet the nicest, and sometimes most interesting people I’ve ever met. Some of those people have become friends. My job is really rewarding!