Z-Tech to move to new location

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The commercial janitorial firm Z-Tech Companies Inc. will move its offices and warehouse from its current site at 1339 N. Cedarbrook to a new 12,000-square-foot building at 1820 N. Barnes in June.|ret||ret||tab|

The architect for the $360,000 project is Burns & Associates; the general contractor is Interior Construction Concepts. The building is being constructed on a design-build basis, according to the owner of both companies, Larry Burns. The building's owner is Ernie Giddings.|ret||ret||tab|

Z-Tech will begin its new residence with a two-year lease, "but we want to roll it over. We don't plan on moving," said Darrell Nuber, general manager for Z-Tech. He added the structure is capable of expanding by another 3,000 feet to accommodate future growth as needed.|ret||ret||tab|

Z-Tech's move is predicated on significant changes in ownership and focus in recent years.|ret||ret||tab|

First, in 1998, Z-Tech founder Dave Zapatka sold Z-Tech to U.S. Securities Associates Inc., making it a part of Outsource Associates, a nationwide commercial cleaning firm with headquarters in Atlanta. Za-patka is now business unit president for Outsource Associates.|ret||ret||tab|

Also in 2000, Zapatka sold the Z-Tech building to Bob Reynolds of United Machinery & Supply Co. Z-Tech's lease there runs out at the end of April. |ret||ret||tab|

The decision to move Z-Tech is based on space considerations, as well. |ret||ret||tab|

"We're consolidating the operations and the administration into one office. We've got that here now but we're down the hall from each other and we've got wasted space over here," Nuber said. |ret||ret||tab|

Outsource Associates comprises Z-Tech, Superior Building Services of Mansfield, Ohio, and Gotham Building Maintenance in Arlington, Va. |ret||ret||tab|

The three entities perform professional cleaning and maintainence services in locations around the U.S.|ret||ret||tab|

Z-Tech's three branches in Springfield, Joplin and Springdale, Ark. conduct business in Missouri, Arkansas, Okla-homa, Kansas and Kentucky and employ about 600 people, Zapatka said. The remaining 10 branches of Outsource As-sociates, under the Superior and Gotham names, employ about 2,000 more, he added. |ret||ret||tab|

Z-Tech's revenue for 2001 was about $8 million, Zapatka said, while it was about $35 million for Outsource Asso-ciates as a whole.|ret||ret||tab|

The forecast for Z-Tech's growth within the Outsource Associates group is favorable, according to Zapatka. "We've been on a real nice run for a long time," he said. He attributed this to "delivering on our promises."|ret||ret||tab|

"We're always planning on growth," Zapatka said. |ret||ret||tab|

He expects to add another Z-Tech branch in Kansas City by the end of this year because of an increase in business between that city and Topeka. [[In-content Ad]]