With a red rag in his pocket, a young Alejandro Saucedo dressed up as a janitor on career day in elementary school. The son of migrant workers, Alejandro spent much of his childhood traveling across the country as his family sought seasonal farm labor. All of that changed after his hardworking grandparents secured janitorial positions at a local school which enabled them to buy a house big enough for his whole family.
“I’ve seen cleaning from a magnificent lens of opportunity,” Alejandro shared. “It was janitorial positions that led us out of the fields.”
As a minority teen looking for acceptance, Alejandro got involved in the wrong circles. During his period of incarceration, he earned a degree, wrote a book, studied business, and mentored others. He earned $15,000 through a reentry program, which was the seed capital used to start his business.
Looking for a fresh start, Alejandro returned to his childhood inspiration. In 2022, he launched Indiana’s Elite Comprehensive Cleaning (IEC), a one-stop comprehensive cleaning company offering a range of services. Unlike traditional cleaning companies that specialize in just one area, IEC was built to be flexible, allowing customers to bundle services tailored to their needs.
His strategy paid off. In just three years, IEC secured contracts with universities, chain restaurants, the City of South Bend, and its biggest win yet: a $300,000 contract with the Indiana Toll Road Project.
That success was made possible through support from A4CB and CDFI Friendly South Bend Region. In 2024, A4CB provided a flexible line of credit that gave Alejandro the cash flow he needed to fulfill that large contract – a contract he prepares to take on again this year.
Today, family remains central to IEC. Alejandro’s mother Juanita joined as COO in 2023, taking charge of company operations. IEC is currently a team of four, and Alejandro is excited to hire more workers as his business grows.
Alejandro is focused on scaling the business and supporting other minority entrepreneurs through his work with the Northern Indiana Minority Business Association.
“The right tools and the right mindset can take people out of the broken paths they once lived,” Alejandro said. “Entrepreneurship is an opportunity for anybody who’s willing to put their best foot forward.”
