SYNERGY - Juneteenth 2022

Reginald Keith

Story By: Heaven Taylor-Wynn

Reginald Keith’s mornings are full of fives. He rises at 5 am. Before his feet hit the floor, he says a five minute prayer. Then, he and his wife take a five mile walk.

Despite a near death experience as a result of contracting COVID-19 and perseverance through challenges that arise from running a business, Keith remains ambitious and excited about his future business endeavors.

Keith owns Carpet Systems Plus, a company offering carpet cleaning, after-hours janitorial services and commercial construction site cleaning. He started his business nearly 15 years ago cleaning a 500 sq. ft. space. A lot has changed since then.

Keith founded his business in 2008 to create an opportunity for himself and his family. At the time he worked in outside sales for Frito Lay in Pompano Beach. “I knew if I kept working I wouldn’t be able to make the money that I was trying to make,” he said.

Between conversations with the owner of the company who cleaned the building at his then deadend job and his high school classmate who also owned a cleaning business, he stepped out on faith to launch his own business.

The business initially focused solely on carpet cleaning. However, that changed when Keith happened upon an issue of Black Enterprise magazine. He read an article about a woman who had a thriving construction cleaning business in the early 2000’s. This inspired him to try it himself.

He and his wife relocated to launch in Gainesville. Although he said it’s a great place to raise a family, he expressed some challenges that come with being a business owner in the town. Hiring and retention continue to be obstacles business owners have had to overcome particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout his entire journey by his side has been his wife Deidre Keith. “My wife, she just inspires me to be great,” he said. “She challenges me to be the best man I can be.”

Keith is no stranger to going against the grain and launching something new for his family. He intends to continue securing his desired life which includes international travel to places like Paris, golfing in his leisure and being an active soccer dad for his daughter Kimora.