1969 - After much consideration about what type of business to launch, Baxter Lee III decides to start a janitorial service company. He chose this industry because little up front capital was required and clean facilities are required regardless of the economic climate. Baxter's company, focused primarily on cleaning office space, was called Commercial Maintenance, Inc. He was the only employee with one set of cleaning equipment working out of a VW bug. His first customer earns him $75 per month.

1972 - Baxter's company has continued to grow and he pays himself salary for the first time. It is $12,000 annually.

1980 - The company sees continued growth through the acquisition of several regional companies across the Southeastern US.

1982 - Always an industry innovator, Baxter and the Southeast Service team develop and implement a management training program designed to provide contract managers with the necessary training and tools to provide excellent customer service.

Another industry innovation, the company begins to create divisions that specialize in one type of cleaning. The first division created is to serve the unique needs of the shopping center industry in 1982. The process to divisionalize each facet of the business is completed in 1994 when separate divisions are created to serve K-12 Schools and College & Universities.

January 1985 - Commercial Maintenance, Inc. changes its name to Southeast Service Corporation to reflect the move from being a Knoxville company to having a more Regional presence.

1987 - Baxter Lee is named the Knoxville Entrepreneur of the Year.

1989 - Baxter's dream of creating an employee owned company begins with the purchase of $25,000 in private stock to be offered as part of an Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP). Over the years, stock is continually purchased on behalf of the employees. Upon Baxter's death in 1998, over 25% of the company stock was dedicated to SSC's ESOP. Today, over 51% of the company stock belongs to the employees.

1997 - Southeast Service Corporation changes it's name once again to SSC Service Solutions to reflect a move from a regional company to one that services accounts nationally.

August 18, 1998 - Baxter Lee died suddenly at age 54. His widow, Sherri Parker Lee assumes Baxter's position on the SSC Service Solutions Board of Directors. Don Williams, a 22 year company veteran, takes over the helm as CEO and President.

1999 - Baxter Lee is posthumously inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in East Tennessee.

May 2005 - SSC Service Solutions relocates its corporate headquarters to a new 44,000 square foot office building in northwest Knoxville.

2006 - SSC Service Solutions is a facility management industry leader serving over 1,000 customers in 25 states across the US. We employ over 6,500 people and specialize in K-12 Schools, Colleges and Universities, Shopping Centers and Industrial Facilities. SSC’s annual revenue tops $130 million in sales.

2010 - On June 7, 2010, SSC Service Solutions was acquired by Compass Group North America. SSC will continue to operate with our current operating structure and management in place. For more information, please read the full press release.