The year is off to an excellent start for Cesar Valentino. In January, he and his wife, Ani, celebrated their first wedding anniversary. In January, he was named one of only two 2024 Richard Mahdesian Award recipients.
The Richard Mahdeisian Award recognizes employees who embody excellence, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact.
“I was so surprised,” Cesar admits. “Servicon has a lot of employees, and it is open to nominations company-wide. To be recognized with an award that carries the name and legacy of Servicon’s founder is inspiring and deeply meaningful. I had to sit for 45 minutes and recap the last seven years since I started with the company before I could call back and thank anyone. It is the biggest honor of my life.”
Cesar’s family was also impressed with his achievement. “They were so happy and excited for me! I explained to them what an honor the award is. When I got home, Ani had a cake waiting for me, and my mom took us out to dinner.”
Impressive Nominations
Cesar received not one but two nominations. The first was from Jessica Vargas Crespo, a Servicon assistant portfolio manager, who highlighted Cesar’s exceptional leadership, compassion, and support. She also commended Cesar’s unwavering dedication to his team and ability to create an environment where his staff feels empowered to grow.
Jerry Calderon, Servicon’s senior portfolio manager, who Cesar reports to, emphasized Cesar’s proactive attitude, problem-solving skills, and ability to inspire those around him to foster growth and achieve excellence—all while contributing to the success of Servicon’s local and national accounts.
An Exceptional Role Model
Cesar attributes his enviable characteristics to his mother, who, as it happens, also introduced him to the cleaning industry.
“My mom is the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She was a single mom, and I saw how difficult it was for her and how hard she worked. She passed that work ethic on to me. She also taught me to treat people as I would want people to treat her. And she is so compassionate and caring. For example, she could have owned her own business or done anything with her money. Instead, she worked to help bring her brothers and sisters to the United States. She also mentored me. My first job was cleaning alongside her, although I didn’t know it would be my career at the time.”
A Chosen Career
Before joining Servicon, Cesar cleaned residential homes, then moved into retail, working at The Home Depot. Why did he return to the cleaning industry, and how did he end up at Servicon?
“The people,” he says. “The people in the cleaning industry and retail are very different, and people make all the difference. As for Servicon, it’s a funny story. I had just graduated from Cal State LA. I heard about the company through a job posting but had already accepted another job. But after interviewing with Servicon and learning about its people-first culture, I declined the first job offer and accepted a position with Servicon.”
It was a decision he’s never regretted. “Servicon operates by the same values and ethics they talked about when I started. The staff cares. They follow Richard Mahdesian’s values and his legacy; it’s a beacon they follow.”
As for the work itself? “I like leaving things that are dirty clean. But what I like the most is empowering others. I like seeing my team grow and get promoted; I like watching individuals step into leadership roles. Knowing that I played a small part in their success is the most rewarding part of what I do.”
The Importance of Accountability
Of course, not every day on the job has been smooth sailing, especially when he first started. However, Cesar believes challenges are learning opportunities that can have a positive outcome. “It was my first year at Servicon that taught me the importance of accountability,” he says, giving an example. “I made a mistake, a big screw-up with a client. I took full ownership of it. I told the client it was me, not the company who was accountable. The way the client reacted changed things. It became a true partnership, a great relationship. That experience taught me to be accountable and that leaders take responsibility for their actions.”
Cesar also appreciated Servicon’s reaction. “Management reacted as it usually does, which is to be very supportive and kind.”.
From Generation to Generation
Cesar says he and Ani hope to have children one day, and he knows the qualities he hopes to instill in them. “I hope they will be fearless, adventurous, and open to new things. I also want them to be caring and compassionate.” In other words, he is eager for the next generation of Valentinos to follow in his and his mother’s footsteps.
