Meet The Team: Russ Jr.

Russ Zakariasen Jr. cst shirt, desk

Russ Zakariasen Jr. –  President

Carpet cleaning can be frustrating, but it can also be the easiest thing in the world.  Getting to know who you will be working with can help ease the stress of deciding who to choose for your carpet cleaning needs.  Who better to get to know than the president of the company?

Russell Hamline Zakariasen III, or Russ Jr. as we call him, was born in Quincy Callifornia and raised in Burnsville Minnesota.  Athletic by nature he was the captain of the golf team for the Burnsville Braves, later changed to the Burnsville Blaze.  He attended business school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.  Now of course he is president of Commercial Steam Team working with his dad and brother.

Russ Jr. can often be spotted at Kaposia Park in South St. Paul playing disc golf with his brother Ryan or at Northfield Golf Club playing golf with his Dad.  His greatest passion has been coaching his sons basketball and football teams in the Rosemount Athletic club.

I sat down with Russ Jr. and asked him a little Q&A to help you get to know him better.

Q.  How did you get into the professional carpet cleaning industry?

A.  Like most kids I needed a summer job in High School.  I started telemarketing for a carpet cleaning company in Bloomington Minnesota.  I worked at that company through my last two years at Burnsville High School and through my four years at the University of Minnesota.

Q.  What do you like about the carpet cleaning industry?

A.  I love the daily interaction with our customers.  We have built such a loyal customer base over the years with wonderful people. They really show appreciation for the way we do business.  That positive reinforcement means a lot.

Q.  What was most important to you when starting this company?

A.  We wanted to create an environment where we found nothing but the very best employees, then treated them with appreciation, respect, and paid them well, so they would stay with our company long term, and treat our customers the way we need them to.  This really worked well!!

Q.  What is it like working with your family?

A.  I truly enjoy working with my family, working toward a common goal together.  We also are so lucky to have employees who feel like a part of our extended family.