Ozarks Profile: Mike McGauley

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What is your job?|ret||ret||tab|

Mike McGauley is owner, president and chief executive officer of LCS Kleen-Aire, 3210 S. Scenic. He oversees daily operations, handles problem-solving, estimates jobs and generally provides the direction for the company. He also does consulting on indoor air quality and solid fuel heating and how to use it, including stove and chimney repair.|ret||ret||tab|

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Please tell us about your company.|ret||ret||tab|

LCS Kleen-Aire started in November, 1978, and currently employs 12 people full-time and 20 part time. "We have evolved into a full-service air quality firm with allergy products pillow and bedding casings, carpet and upholstery treatments, products for people who are allergic to animals, pet dander and so forth, air cleaners, and odor control," McGauley said. The company also focuses on mold remediation, which "can involve treating the house, removing everything. We send people out of state; we have several large clients," McGauley said. |ret||ret||tab|

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What prepared you for your profession?|ret||ret||tab|

McGauley in 1976 moved to Missouri from San Diego, Calif., where he worked for a mason. "I got started in the chimney-sweeping business in 1978," he said. "That's still a big division of what we do," he said. "It's my baby." McGauley said that the indoor air quality side of his business, being a relatively new industry, takes a lot of continual education. "We try to stay on the cutting edge with information."|ret||ret||tab|

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Are you seeing more awareness of air quality in your business?|ret||ret||tab|

"There are a lot more companies being sued for poor air quality these days," he said. Right now the big thing is schools, with all the mold problems and kids being sick. It's going through the whole country basically. You've really got to know what you're doing, or you can spread contamination from one room to another." |ret||ret||tab|

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What's the best part of your job?|ret||ret||tab|

"Seeing, hearing what a great job you and your staff are doing for customers or comrades, other business people," said McGauley. "And when I walk into a meeting and see technicians stand up with a big smile and be proud of what they've done, particularly if they were confronted by a real difficult situation and were able to resolve it." |ret||ret||tab|

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Can you tell us something about your personal life and family?|ret||ret||tab|

McGauley has been married 19 years to his wife Linda. "We have two wonderful children," he said, "Lauran, 10, and Tyler, 16. I'm pretty much involved with my family." |ret||ret||tab|

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How do you like to spend your leisure time?|ret||ret||tab|

McGauley said he and the family do a lot of traveling. "We like taking cruises, or just jumpin' in the truck and headin' out," he said. "We even took a train ride to San Diego last year, rented a car and went up north to San Simeon and that area. My uncle put the phone system in San Simeon. We're into motocross. My son races. He does real well. I like to fish. I love flying. I'm really big into aviation. I like boating we mainly go to Table Rock. My wife is very involved with the children and their activities. My daughter's an avid basketball and softball player." [[In-content Ad]]