In 1938, Morris Lazaroff came to St. Louis, MO from Detroit, MI in search of a “clean” start. Today, over 70 years later, this family business has grown into one of the largest independent industrial launderers in the nation. What began as Clean Coverall Supply Co., a local operation offering industrial laundry services, has expanded into CLEAN, a flourishing regional company that employs over 400 people at eleven locations throughout the Midwest.
After laying a solid groundwork, Morris Lazaroff turned over the day-to-day operations to his sons Gary and Neil in 1969. Gary graduated in 1962 from Washington University, and Neil graduated from the University of Missouri in 1966, both with degrees in Business. Together they led CLEAN through a strong period of expansion, and established the company as one of the most innovative industrial launderers in the country.
Today the third generation of Lazaroffs have transitioned to managing CLEAN’s operations. This includes Gary’s son Jay and Neil’s sons Jeff and David. Jay came to the company after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from Columbia College in Columbia, MO. Jeff graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Sociology, and David graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in American Studies and a focus in Business Foundations. Together the three (along with Senior Vice Presidents Mark Ojile, Wanda Cozort and Richard Franklin) make up CLEAN’s Steering Committee. As a committee, they meet weekly to ensure the company is maintaining its strategic focus and providing team members with the tools necessary for success. Their goal is to keep CLEAN focused and grounded in the lessons learned from their predecessors, while at the same time staying on the cutting edge and making the necessary adjustments to lead the company into the future.
Morris Lazaroff passed away in 2004 at the age of 91, and although he is very much missed, CLEAN continues to be guided by the original principles upon which he founded the company. Treat your employees well, be a good corporate citizen in your community and “Make The Customer Love You!”
