Dennis Donohoe, salesman, LCS Kleen-Aire Inc.

LCS originally started out as Lucky Chimney Sweeps, and that was in 1978. In 1987, it went into air duct cleaning, which is now a major part of the company. At that time owner Michael McGauley changed the name to LCS Kleen-Aire. We have taken that air duct cleaning a little bit further; we provide air filtration and air purification and odor control.

What is your job?

I’ve been working residential, commercial and industrial sales. But that’s going to change. We have hired a residential salesperson, so I’ll be concentrating on commercial and industrial. Our biggest thing on commercial is working with manufacturing facilities – primarily food manufacturers, but we do work at local companies that are not in food, as well. Primarily in the food companies, it’s for sanitary reasons and for air quality overall.

Are the company’s clients more weighted toward commercial or residential customers?

I don’t know where exactly to draw the line there. The (revenue) volume is probably more on the commercial side, but the number of jobs is more on the residential side. During the week we do residential, and on the weekends (or) for a week or two at a time, we go out to do industrial work.

Does the company still clean chimneys?

Absolutely. We not only just clean, but we also do total chimney repair work and whatever needs to be done with the chimney.

Is there more emphasis now on living and working in a clean environment?

When Mike started the company, he went around talking to people about cleaning their air ducts, and they said, ‘What for?’ When I started with the company 10 years ago, they were skeptical and said, ‘Well, you’ll have to prove it to me.’ Now, they’re calling us and saying, ‘I need to have this done.’

Why should someone consider using LCS Kleen-Aire’s services?

We get a lot of calls because of health issues – allergies and respiratory problems – and dust problems. People are concerned about the air they are breathing.

What are some of things that cause problems with the air we breathe at work and at home?

I think there are a lot of different things. Maintenance is always an issue, but our growing use of the automobile and everything else – we’re contaminating our atmosphere, and what’s outside gets inside. Burning fuels for energy, burning them for automobiles creates a problem, but there are a lot of internal things that happen … that cause a lot of problems.

We deal with a lot of people with mold issues. Some of that’s from poor maintenance all the way up to leaky buildings, stuff like that. We’ll clean up the mold within an air handling system, and we work with other people who do testing and mold renovation.

How did you come to work at LCS Kleen-Aire?

I sold advertising, and Michael was one of my customers. I liked him, and I liked what he did, and I saw a future there. When the person left who was doing his sales, I contacted him and … got the job.

What’s your favorite way to spend a free Saturday afternoon?

Motorcycles and canoes – the roadways and the waterways.

Tell us about your family.

My wife is Millie, an attorney with Legal Services of Southern Missouri. She had a practice … but Legal Services asked her to come on board, so she did. We live in eastern Christian County. We have a little farm out there, 21 acres, with pigs, goats, dogs and cats. They’re all pets.