March 31, 2025
March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the invaluable contributions women have made throughout history. Despite historical barriers, women have made social, economic, cultural, and political achievements that have transformed society and advanced equality for all. The Port of Seattle is led by many strong women and has been shaped by the great work of these women. One of those people is Darci Henderson, owner of Alltrus Clean and contractor on Port projects. The Diversity in Contracting team had the pleasure of learning about her journey to owning her own business and we are excited to share her wisdom with other women-owned, diverse, and small businesses looking to work with the Port.
Background
Tell us a little about your professional background and what inspired you to start Alltrus Clean?
I worked in the corporate world for 20 years, but I always had the heart of an entrepreneur. I’ve owned a very small basket business, a wedding planning business, and was a business coach at the end of my time in the corporate space. However, those endeavors didn’t satisfy me. One day a Tabor 100 board member I work with encouraged me to get into cleaning. After looking into it, I knew I could do it. I reached out to a business partner and on February 20, 2020, we started Alltrus Clean! When we began, we wanted to get our name out there. We attended networking events constantly and began building connections. Our goal was to do janitorial cleaning at offices, health centers, churches, and small buildings. However, just a month later COVID-19 put a pause to everything, and we had to pivot. A colleague of ours suggested we try construction cleaning and honestly, we didn’t know that was a thing. We changed direction and started sending emails to our connections. One of the people I emailed was Dave Flynn, president of Cornerstone Construction. We were awarded our first contract with Cornerstone in 2020!
Can you tell us more about your company, and products/services you provide?
We specialize in construction cleaning and ensure buildings are spotless and move-in ready. There are three phases:
- Rough or pre-clean: This prepares the building for proper airflow. Before the HVAC system turns on, all dust and debris must be removed.
- Final clean: This consists of doublechecking corners, frames, windows, cabinets, drawers, and ducts to get the space move-in ready. We then perform a very detailed clean with our polishes and cleaning solutions. We “Alltrusize” the project.
- Touch up: After the final clean the architect walks the property and creates a document, called a punch list, that outlines minor incomplete tasks or issues that need to be addressed before the project is marked fully complete. If tradespeople return to make final adjustments, additional cleaning is often required.
We also offer daily or biweekly janitorial cleaning services for those commercial buildings such as schools, offices, and health centers that we originally began our business with.
Port Opportunities
What projects have you worked on at the Port? What did it take to secure those projects?
Our first project was a construction clean on the Main Terminal Low Voltage System Upgrade at SEA Airport as a subcontractor to Mortensen Construction. We just wrapped that up after being there since late 2023. Since then, we have also worked on the Restroom Renovations Phase 5 project as a subcontractor to Bayley Construction and we’ve been on that project since 2023. We aren’t at that site consistently but show up after a specific area needs a construction clean. Most recently, we’ve worked at the C Concourse Expansion project with Turner Construction, and we are on-site about five days a week. We also have performed janitorial cleaning for concessions and restaurants at the airport.
To get that first contract with Mortensen, I constantly reminded their team that I was looking to partner. I wanted to ensure that if they didn’t know me that they would get to know me. I kept that same energy to obtain each of my contracts. When I created my business, I wanted the business name to start with the letter “A” because I wanted to be visible. I also did the cleaning myself because if I was going to go in front of business owners, I wanted to ensure I could speak to everything needed to get the job done.
What was your experience participating in the Business Accelerator Mentorship Program 2023 cohort? What was it like having a mentor and how has it impacted your business?
After getting my hands dirty for the first couple years of my company, in 2022 I decided it was going to be more important for me to not just work in the business but to work on it. I started looking for ways to grow my business and the Business Accelerator came right on time. When the program first started, it was held at Tabor 100 where I’m a board member. Ollie Garrett, president of Tabor 100, is a mentor of mine and she always encouraged me to continue seeking out resources that would help me as a business owner. So, when I saw the Business Accelerator opportunity, I jumped at it. I believe that knowledge is power and I’m all about educating myself, getting in front of people, and networking with primes and other companies, so the program was the right fit. When I was accepted in the program, I was surrounded by peers who were also trying to do things to grow. Hearing other program members’ experiences maneuvering obstacles gave me ideas that I’ve kept in my back pocket. But learning about estimating, marketing, and growth strategies were all necessities for my business to succeed.
One of the greatest aspects of the program was having Tamaka Thornton and Turner Construction as my mentors. I look at them as forever mentors. They were always checking in on me and providing guidance, connections, insight, and a roadmap for success. They never guaranteed me a contract but my main objective was to understand what I needed help on most so they could assist me and what I could be doing to assist them. I believe mentorship can be a two-way street and I wanted to make sure they knew I was willing to carry the load for them as well. What I needed most from them was their connections. Through our relationship I met Patrick McQueen from PCL Construction and who has become another mentor. While I haven't secured contracts directly from PCL, the knowledge and mentorship have positioned me for long-term success and makes me confident one day I will. We landed the Turner Construction contract after multiple failed attempts in bidding on their projects, but I stayed the course. The Business Accelerator Mentorship Program doesn’t guarantee contracts. It equips you with knowledge and skills to earn them.
What do you wish you would have known before you began government work?
Ask a lot more questions! Some time ago, we were awarded a federally funded job and at the time I didn’t think our work would be any different. I found out that the job had Davis-Bacon requirements, which meant I had to pay my laborers at least prevailing wage and fringe benefits. Because I wasn’t aware of that, I had to go back and pay restitution to my employees. As a business owner, I prioritize being ethical and transparent with my employees and I’m grateful we resolved the issue.
Also, make sure your subcontractor is in compliance with whatever governing body you’re working under. This includes making sure they have worker’s compensation and that they’re registered with the union if it’s a union job. You also need to understand the full extent of a project labor agreement and how that will impact your company, and doing certified payroll is key! There was a time when we were behind on payroll, and I’ve since hired an accountant to make sure we’re on top of things.
Government jobs are highly regulated, and not every contract is the right fit. These contracts can drain your cash reserves and can cause a lot of stress. For example, we once took on a project that should have been completed in 10 days but delays in the process pushed us back, holding up payments for our laborers who were ready to work. Also, government contracts can be sizeable and when one piece of the project is stopped or delayed it stops everything else. There was a time I had to hire a union worker, and the worker we got from the hall failed their drug test at the Port, causing further delays in getting someone on-site.
Advice for Business Owners
What advice do you have for other WMBE/small businesses when it comes to finding opportunities and bidding for Port projects?
It starts with relationships. Sometimes, my connections will let me know about a project that would be a good fit. It’s also a huge benefit to be affiliated with reputable programs and organizations. My affiliation with Tabor 100 keeps me aware of what is happening at the Port because the Port is a partner. A Port representative always attends the Tabor monthly meeting to share the Port’s newest solicitations which are included in Tabor’s weekly email blast. I also am on the Diversity in Contracting mailing list so I’m always up to date on Port solicitations and events. At the end of the day, if you’re out of sight, you’ll be out of mind. But if you stay engaged and keep in touch with your connections, they’ll remember you and mention your name even when you aren’t in the room. I also encourage people to consistently check out other resources like the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) and local government agencies.
What advice do you have for other WMBE/small businesses who have just secured their first Port project and are about to begin work?
I was ecstatic when I got my first Port contract because it was my first contract with Mortensen Construction, and I always wanted to work at the airport. However, I couldn’t just sit in my excitement. I had to get prepared. That meant securing my intents from Mortensen, building a relationship with the union to find workers, and staying on top of rate changes and other key details. A contract comes with many moving parts, so clear communication is essential.
Don’t lose your tenacity. My grandmother always said, “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” One contract wasn’t going to sustain my business, so I attended outreach events, networking events, and even walkthroughs for contracts I wasn’t bidding on. Also, it’s important to keep expanding your business knowledge. I’ve participated in these programs to help grow my business and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to do the same:
- University of Washington Ascend Program
- Clark Construction Strategic Partnership Program
- Business Accelerator Mentorship Program
- Emerald Cities E-Contractor Academy
- Skanska Construction Management Building Blocks
- Turner School of Construction Management
- University of Washington Foster School of Business Minority Business Executive Program
Women's History Month
What advice would you give to a woman entrepreneur looking to run a business?
Technical elements like understanding the prime contractors’ construction language and reading blueprint drawings can be challenging. But being a woman in a male-dominated industry can have its own set of hurdles. We often have to raise our voices to be heard, but if we’re too loud, we risk being perceived negatively. Assertiveness can be helpful, but it only gets you so far. I would encourage any woman to use their superpower ─ being a woman. Women bring unique perspectives, intuition, and attention to detail and not showing up as ourselves only diminishes those strengths. We tend to see the things others miss and have giftings because of the identity we hold. When I show up to a job site, I wear what I would wear in any professional setting and maintain my authenticity because my authenticity has gotten me this far. Who I am has led me to a successful life because I not only come with my authenticity, but I come with all my qualifications and my track record of getting the job done. I don’t try to blend in, and no woman should try to either.
Who I am has led me to a successful life because I not only come with my authenticity, but I come with all my qualifications and my track record of getting the job done. I don’t try to blend in, and no woman should try to either.
How did you celebrate Women’s History Month?
I spent the month uplifting women. We are the backbone of society. We are highly educated and as a Black woman myself, I’m proud to be a part of the most educated demographic in the United States. We are strong, conquerors, and do whatever it takes to get better and get the job done. Our experience of being overlooked reminds us to not overlook each other and others. The obstacles we’ve faced encourages us to share our insights or support the next business owner. I’ve mentored other business owners, including people who are and will become my competition. I do my own bids and my own proposals, so my greatest competition is myself and there is more than enough work for all of us. We want to see all people elevated and are willing to help in any way we can.
Darci’s journey is one of resilience, boldness, and persistence. It’s always amazing seeing a full circle moment where a Business Accelerator graduate gets a contract with the Port. We are thankful for Darci and all the women that have built and lead the Port. For more information on history of Women’s History Month, check out this article from the National Women’s History Month Museum and read up on 35 Interesting Women's History Month Facts.
