ABOUT US

WE ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE

about us

HES is a premier national provider of facilities management services focused 100% on educational institutions.

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, we pride ourselves on building best-in-class programs for custodial, maintenance, grounds, and landscaping services.

With hundreds of years of combined facilities experience, our leadership team is comprised of results-oriented, hands-on executives and facilities experts who give your facilities our full attention.

Whether for a grounds and landscaping program, custodial services, or maintenance solutions, HES will change the way you look at facilities management.

our team

The HES team has decades of experience in the facilities management industry, and we firmly believe that well-maintained schools, grounds, and facilities help support students, retain talented staff, and build a reputation of excellence within the community.

leadership team operations team sales team

One of the reasons HES is so successful is due to our qualified, experienced leadership. With several decades of combined experience managing large-scale businesses and a variety of educational backgrounds, we’re confident that HES is led by one of the most competent leadership teams in the industry.

Learn more about the members of our leadership team.

MEET THE TEAM

In order for HES to properly function and carry out its mission of delivering unmatched custodial and facilities management services, our operations staff is filled with the most qualified, knowledgeable business professionals.

Find out more about our operations team.

meet the team

The HES business development team has many years of experience in facilities management. Their extensive background in this industry allows them to develop specific, customized solutions to your facilities management needs.

Learn more about our highly-qualified business development team.

meet the team

our vision

Our vision is to provide the educational institutions we serve with clean, attractive, safe learning environments that create tangible, long-term benefits for our clients, employees, and investors.

To achieve that, we:

  • Serve customers in such a way as to earn their ongoing respect, trust, and confidence
  • Treat customers, suppliers, peers, and employees with integrity and fairness
  • As good corporate citizens, contribute to the social and economic well-being of each community in which we operate
  • Aspire to be the most respected company in our industry

our mission

HES was founded on the principle of building the best facilities management provider in America.

Our mission is to create safe environments that enrich lives and facilitate success.


our values

Our guiding values contribute to the personal investment and responsibility team members feel in building and maintaining successful client relationships.


History

1960

Jim Fiala and Marty Flannery, two recent University of Missouri graduates, start cleaning a small office building at night.

1974

Witt, Fiala, Flannery and Associates (WFF) is founded. The organization becomes an important chapter in the HES Facilities story.

1976

Buddy Helton, founding chairman of HES Facilities, begins providing custodial services to the Knoxville, Tennessee, K-12 school system.

1981

Loyola University – New Orleans hires WFF. It remains our longest-standing partnership to date.

1986

Buddy Helton and Charlie Spencer begin working together for the first time. It is the start of a dynamic, decades-long business relationship.

1997

Brothers Buddy and David Helton launch Southern Building Service and begin a commercial cleaning service with a focus on K-12 education clients. 

2000

Charlie joins the SBS team as a partner and they land their first K-12 client in Dickson County, Tennessee.

2004

With a growing base of K-12 education clients at SBS, private equity was introduced and GCA Education Services was formed. This was the beginning of a nationwide leader in education facility services and the assembly of much of today’s HES leadership team.

2008

As demand grows for its higher education services, WFF moves to a new location: Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis. 

2010

Jonathan Campbell is named president of WFF. His vision and energy solidify WFF’s standing as a long-term, mission-driven facilities management partner.

2014

WFF earns CIMS and CIMS Green Building certifications, each with honors, from ISSA.

2017

SMS Facility Services is acquired by Adam Miles, Dean Helton, and Josh Helton. Over the course of three years, they energize the business and grow the SMS footprint to 11 school districts, increasing its reach several times over.

2020

HES Facilities Management is launched, with Buddy Helton and Charlie Spencer at the helm. Based in Knoxville, the collective leadership team brings more than a century of expertise to the organization.

2020

HES Facilities Management acquires both SMS and WFF in a single year, to create a powerhouse, premier facilities management provider for educational institutions.

associations

We’re proud members of these associations, which represent the highest quality, service, and commitment in educational facilities.

The leadership and continuous learning offered by these organizations help us to maintain our rigorous professional standards.

APPA – LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
ISSA – INTERNATIONAL SANITARY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION
GBAC – GLOBAL BIORISK ADVISORY COUNCIL
US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
NACUBO – NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUSINESS OFFICERS
ABACC – ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATORS OF CHRISTIAN COLLEGES
CACUBO – CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUSINESS OFFICERS

Let’s talk

how can we help you build a better educational experience?

Contact us