The Business: OneCall Facility Solutions, an operation located at 336 South Jones in Las Vegas. It serves businesses by dispatching help when equipment or facilities need repair.
The Players: Rita Alleyne, a veteran Las Vegas credit union executive, who formed the business in March of 2000.
The Background: The booming construction industry in Las Vegas lured Alleyne and her husband to the area in 1973. Alleyne’s husband found work in construction, and two years later Alleyne decided she also wanted a job. In 1975, she joined IBEW Plus Credit Union, a financial institution that provided services to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. She learned the financial business quickly, and within two years was chief executive officer. Alleyne enjoyed her career with the growing credit union, but became tired of all the audits and red tape required after financial institutions became deregulated in the 1980s. Alleyne, who raised three children as a single mother, had fewer responsibilities after her children were grown. She decided she could take a chance and start her own business.
The Challenge: During her time at the credit union, Alleyne saw the need both at IBEW and at other businesses to deal with problems created when computers, telephones or other office systems stopped working. Businesses also had to deal with air conditioning, heating and plumbing problems in a timely fashion. “If a copier or computer goes down, a lot of businesses go down,” she said. The executives she contacted liked her idea of starting a company they could call when something went wrong. Alleyne discovered that most businesses do not have one person specifically assigned to call the people under contract to repair their equipment, or to find the right plumber or electrician. Alleyne believed she had a great concept, but had to find a way to make her dream a reality. She discovered that business owners were initially confused when she tried to explain what OneCall Facility Solutions could do for them. She benefited from not having competition in her niche, but faced the challenge of persuading businesses to try something new. “This is a brand-new concept and difficult to explain to somebody over the phone in 30 seconds,” she said.
The Solution: Alleyne started in March with a small operation. She had her own capital to finance the operation, and kept expenses down by working out of her house. She met with two of her family members, daughter Jenny Gutierrez and Jenny’s husband, Adam, to develop a workable business plan. Alleyne, who is an outgoing person, had contacts in the business community from her credit union days and aggressively tried to sell her concept to prospective customers. OneCall proved to be resourceful in solving business difficulties. As an example, one of its clients needed help in a hurry to move 2,000 pounds of sensitive electronic equipment. Alleyne contacted Nevada ATM Services, which knew how to handle delicate automated teller machines and was able to take care of the job. Another client had problems with toilets backing up and faced an expensive plumbing bill. OneCall contacted the Department of Sanitation, which took care of a sewer problem that was affecting the plumbing. “I know whom to call to take care of these problems,” she said.
The business grew, added five staff members, and moved to a small office on South Jones in June. “We expect phenomenal growth because no one is doing what we do,” she said. “I am really excited about the business.” Alleyne has already seen ways to diversify. She is starting a branch of the company that uses licensed handymen to take care of repairs for businesses and residences. The residential market is promising, because people are often too busy to take care of minor repairs around the home, she said. Her plans now include a service to help general contractors who are under obligation to provide warranty service to occupants of new office buildings. OneCall would assume the responsibility of contacting the appropriate repair people to make sure the building functions properly. “There are many avenues we can explore,” Alleyne said of her new business. “I’ve been given a chance for another great chapter (in my life), and to do something that helps people.”