“That was the best thing I ever did, walking through the (WBC) door. My success began at the Women’s Business Center,” Nathaniel explained emotionally. “This is the first stop to get you where you need to go.”
Like so many, Nathaniel’s journey to being a small business owner has not been linear. Looking back, he admits that he never would have imagined that he would run his own cleaning company, let alone be on the verge of some major potential opportunities.
Nathaniel Harris is originally from Antelope Valley, California, where he grew up with his mother, who cleaned houses, and his father who had a long career in the military. In 2017, after his mother passed away and his father was facing terminal illness, Nathaniel decided he needed to change his situation, and found himself moving North. He stopped off in Spokane, knowing no one. With very few resources, he was staying in Motel 6 trying to decide what to do. An employee there asked if he needed housing and suggested he go to SNAP. It was there he met Rachel, who helped him assess housing options. He was approved for housing, but he ultimately decided that Spokane was too big for him to settle in and he needed a smaller community to ensure that he could thrive.
Nathaniel moved on to Omak where he had some family living and started working at Safeway. He stayed in the area for three years, eventually being transferred back to Spokane to work in the distribution center. An injury forced him to take time off, and he decided to explore starting his own business. Having grown up with his mother cleaning houses, Nathaniel figured this would be a good option for him, so he got a business license and Fantasy Kleaning was born, the logo of which is an elephant, a tribute to his late mother who loved elephants. Having worked with SNAP before, he didn’t realize that services extended into the business development world, but an online search led him back to SNAP and the Women’s Business Center (WBC), where he received support from WBC manager, Nicolle Hansen.
Nathaniel moved on to Omak where he had some family living and started working at Safeway. He stayed in the area for three years, eventually being transferred back to Spokane to work in the distribution center. An injury forced him to take time off, and he decided to explore starting his own business. Having grown up with his mother cleaning houses, Nathaniel figured this would be a good option for him, so he got a business license and Fantasy Kleaning was born, the logo of which is an elephant, a tribute to his late mother who loved elephants. Having worked with SNAP before, he didn’t realize that services extended into the business development world, but an online search led him back to SNAP and the Women’s Business Center (WBC), where he received support from WBC manager, Nicolle Hansen.
Nathaniel recalls his work with the WBC staff with effusive emotion. He recalls telling Nicolle, “Miss Nicolle, I am not an octopus, I can’t do all of this myself. I need a team.” To which she replied, “Nathaniel, we are your team.” Through the WBC, he got help with tweaking his business plan, setting up a website, and getting help with accounting and tax preparation.
From there, the opportunities grew. Nathaniel was able to pick up two contracts for his corporate cleaning services, and he presented at the Carl Maxey Center where he met a representative from the Small Business Administration (SBA). This combined with a lead from a new contact at Apex Accelerator (formerly PTAC) at Greater Spokane, Inc (GSI), led to options to apply for state and government contacts through the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE). At this stage, Nathaniel has the potential to be named the first minority male in Eastern Washington on the contract to be able to conduct his services at the state federal level.
With this potential growth opportunity, Nathaniel recognizes that he will need to expand, including hiring employees. He plans to work with a staffing agency to help with necessary HR work, and his goal is to hire “Second Chancers” and people with special needs. He considers himself a “Second Chancer” and recognizes that he is getting his shot at success thanks in part to people helping him with opportunities when, on paper, he might not be the most likely candidate. Nathaniel is working with a Career Support Specialist at Greater Spokane Incorporated, who is a former corrections officer and thus understands and supports this need to support this population.
While Nathaniel has definitely put in his share of the work to achieve the successes he has thus far, he acknowledges that the support from the WBC and the others he has met along his business journey have been critical. In a colorful metaphor, Nathaniel refers to Nicolle as his “Phil Jackson in his business journey.”
“That was the best thing I ever did, walking through the [WBC] door. My success began at the Women’s Business Center,” Nathaniel explains emotionally. “This is the first stop to get you where you need to go.” Nicolle has that quote saved on her office wall.
So as Nathaniel diligently plots his business trajectory, maintains his role at Safeway, and keeps his head down and focused on his future, he regards his path to here with reverence. SNAP has helped along the way – with the housing options in 2017, with energy assistance when he has needed help with some bills, and ultimately with getting Fantasy Kleaning to the promising point that it is today. “I’m shooting for the Moon,” Nathaniel gushes. After years of obstacles, the work is paying off, and that path looks promising.