Shawn folks grew up in the carpet cleaning and repair business. As the child of parents who had started a small company out of their one-bedroom apartment on College Drive, Folks often accompanied them on visits to job sites.
“I can remember when I was 5 years old going out with my dad to clean carpets at a gym,” he recalls. “I saw how my parents always liked helping people and making things look better.”
Today, Folks is the CEO of Guarantee Restoration Services, the company his parents launched back in 1974. Carpet services are no longer its focus, with the company transforming itself over the years into a regional leader in water and fire damage restoration and mold and asbestos abatement. The company marks its 50th anniversary in March.
AT A GLANCE
Top executives: Shawn Folks, CEO
Phone: 225.753.8682
Address: 16248 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Website: guaranteerestoration.com
“Over the past 10 years, we’ve opened up a new office just about every two years,” Folks says. “We have offices in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Gulfport, Jackson and our newest office in Mobile. We have a growth trajectory plan over the next 20 years to grow to 15 offices along the Gulf Coast. We have a pretty awesome system and product that we’re excited to provide to more clients.”
Guarantee is also planning to open new buildings at its New Orleans and Gulfport locations, which have outgrown their existing facilities due to client demand. The new buildings will be three times the size of the old ones with more parking space and the addition of onsite, climate-controlled storage units where customers can store their belongings while their home or business is being repaired.
When people call on Guarantee for help with a damaged home or business, they’re often stressed out. Guarantee’s professionals work hard to find solutions as quickly as possible. “We have a proven track record of completing projects on time and on budget, and providing the client anything that they want or need,” Folks says. “We don’t tell our clients no. We find a way to make it happen.”
It’s important to offer clients options, not roadblocks, Folks says.
“We work with our clients to be a partner with them and find the most cost-effective way to complete the project,” he says. “If we have a customer who is in a financial situation and can’t afford certain repairs, we will provide that client options rather than turning them away.”
Guarantee has about 150 employees across its six locations. The company’s expansion into new markets has allowed them opportunities for career growth, something Folks is proud of.
“One of the biggest things we promote is internal growth within our company,” he says. “Probably 75% of the people in management positions didn’t start there. They were promoted through the ranks, and our company has supported them with coaching and training along the way.”
Folks says he enjoys supporting his employees so they can have successful careers, which he believes allows them to be better spouses, parents and community members.
And like his parents, Folks enjoys helping customers in their time of need. “When we’re called, it’s the worst time in that person’s life,” Folks says. “Being able to see things come to fruition and help them reopen their business or move back into their home is one of the things that fulfills me.
Shawn Folk
This year, GRS is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and I feel grateful to all who contributed to our success. My father, Chunky Folks, founded this company with the great principle that if you take care of your people, they will take care of everything else. Today, I stand by those words more than ever. Our commitment to our team’s growth and well-being is unwavering. We provide opportunities for personal and professional development through career advancement tracks, ongoing training, and a family-friendly work culture. I am honored to lead such a talented and committed team, and we look forward to the next 50 years.
