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When I stated in the sweeping business I had no idea there were so many people out there that ran this specific type of business," says Rachel Gornowicz, owner of Vern's Parking Lot Maintenance, Inc. "That's one reason I joined the North American Power Sweeping Association (naPSa). I knew I had a lot to learn and I could learn it through them. I believe joining naPSa has greatly influenced the development of my business."

Gornowicz, who was named the new president of naPSa at the recent National Pavement Expo in Atlanta, says she has learned a lot through her membership in the organization, and hopes to help steer the association as it continues its growth toward 500 members. She laid the ground work for her role in naPSa years ago, working under her father, Vern, who started the business in Grand Forks, ND, as a waste hauler.

"His first garbage truck didn't even have a front windshield, and he started with three rural houses" she says. He built the business up until he eventually had 1,100 rural farmers as his clients.

Gornowicz joined her father's business in 1989, eventually designing, marketing, and implementing a recycling division that offered curbside recycling in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, the local air force base, and eight small nearby communities.

"I didn't know it at the time, but setting up the curbside recycling would prove to be a big help in the development of my sweeping business. I got to learn the towns and the whole region. I surveyed the routes and got to know the communities and many business people in each area," she says.