Though he’s currently working in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor, Navy and Army veteran Roy Birdwell last week launched his junk removal franchise operation in southwest Missouri.
JDog Junk Removal opened Sept. 6 to serve in a 35-mile radius of Springfield. The national franchise, based in Pennsylvania, exclusively offers franchise rights to military veterans, active duty personnel and their immediate family members.
“I was drawn to this business when I learned I would be able to establish a career that would be waiting for me when I return home,” Birdwell said in a news release.
Birdwell hired Springfieldian and fellow Army veteran Drew Biernacki to run the business. The two met while contracted in Bagram, Afghanistan.
“Based on the time we worked together overseas, I knew I could trust Drew to manage operations, the way customers will trust us in their homes and with their belongings,” Birdwell added, noting he plans to open a second JDog Junk Removal operation in his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Founded in 2011 by Army veteran Jerry Flanagan, who began selling franchise rights the next year, JDog Junk Removal sorts, hauls, recycles and discards trash from residential and commercial sites.
Biernacki said pick-up fees are $350 for a full trailer and $175 for half, with military, EMS and fire discounts offered.
Biernacki returned from Afghanistan in September and enrolled in Drury University’s law enforcement academy. He graduated in May.
“Once I got the offer, it was a great opportunity to do something for veterans, so I jumped at it,” he said. “(Birdwell) was my deputy program manager, basically my boss there. He’s a great guy to work for.”
The company donates and recycles as much of the collected junk as possible, working with local and national nonprofits. For instance, JDog crews make drop-offs at Goodwill, donate doors and windows to Habitat for Humanity, and turn over books to area charities, churches and hospitals. JDog Junk Removal also donates 10 percent of annual revenue to military causes selected by franchisees.
“Everyone in this business has served our country,” JDog CEO Flanagan said in the release. “Now, we’re serving and helping our local communities.”[[In-content Ad]]
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