Community Highlights: Meet Sean Milavec of Quali-Dry Waterproofing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Milavec

Hi Sean, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My father ran Quali-Dry since I was a kid. My younger brother Cameron and I, worked as a laborer every summer throughout high school (Grosse Pointe South) and college (Michigan State University 2016). Basement waterproofing is a very labor intensive and strenuous occupation, but extremely valuable to homeowners, given how devastating a leaking basement could turn out to be, with toxic mold and mycotoxins, etc. Not to mention the loss of personal belongings and unusable square footage..

I watched my dad and his crew work long and hard my whole life and told myself I would get through college so I didn’t have to work this grueling job anymore, it was my motivation at the time. I was the first person in my family to attend/graduate college and was proud of that. Since I’ve graduated (2016) I’ve worked in the automotive industry for a very successful local businessman, specializing in turn-key paint finishing systems/contracting. It was here I learned the ins and outs of the construction/contracting industry through a sales and business development role.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and knew I wanted to run something of my own that I could grow and be proud of. 8 years into my professional career, I started to realize i could take everything I learned from my contracting background and apply this to my fathers business. The business I was so motivated to leave, suddenly spoke to me later in life. While my father had been in business since 1992, he had never grown from working IN the business to ON the business. This was something that I was motivated to accomplish.

Lately, there has been a home-services boom that many people are getting behind. And I am a firm believer that if you feel an opportunity is available to you, jump on it and give it your all. I never want to wonder “what if”. The internet and social media is full of people with great ideas, mindset hacks, etc but the amount of people that actually act on their ideas, is what sets them apart.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am currently still working my 9-5 job that Ive been in for 8 years. So the road is not smooth, and lots of time and energy is being put into wanting to build a company of my own, that I can be proud of.

Some of the struggles we are faced with is the new generation of employees that have a lack of work ethic. Lots of people feel they are above getting their hands dirty. I believe social media “fairytales” blurs the reality of life in a negative way. There are great blue collar careers that are available out there, you can make a lot of money in this industry.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a turn-key residential basement waterproofing and foundation repair contractor. When your basement inevitably leaks (from hydrostatic pressure or a failed drain system) and water intrudes, we come in and install a water routing system that prevents water from entering your foundation, preventing a toxic mold breeding ground.

Home owners need to understand the effects of Inhalation of mycotoxins from molds in the environment, most commonly water-damaged homes/buildings, is a primary source of exposure.
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Foods containing mold can also be a common source of mycotoxin exposure.
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Mycotoxins are invisible, tasteless and odorless and can penetrate deep inside food and pass through walls.
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In some cases, even after mold has been removed, mycotoxins can persist.

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds naturally produced by certain types of molds. Mycotoxins are harmful to human health and can cause a long list of adverse symptoms. Mycotoxins can be inhaled, ingested and absorbed through air, food and contact. Mycotoxins of concern produced by various mold species include:
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Patulin
Citrinin
Enniatin
Gliotoxin
Aflatoxin
Nivalenol
Fumonisins
Zearalenone
Ochratoxin A
Trichothecenes
Chaetoglobosin
Sterigmatocystin
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Symptoms are wide and varied with multiple systems often impacted simultaneously.There is no single symptom that sets diagnosis apart, rather, it is typically a constellation of symptoms occurring together that distinguishes mycotoxins as a potential root cause. Some general categories that commonly present with mycotoxins include:
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Allergies
Chronic pain
Chronic fatigue
Sleep problems
Mood imbalances
Thyroid imbalances
Urogenital disorders
Digestive symptoms
Immunosuppression
Hormone imbalances
Cardiovascular issues
Respiratory symptoms
Cognitive impairments
Musculoskeletal issues
Reproductive disorders
Dermatological symptoms
Liver impairment or cancer
Kidney impairment or cancer
Nervous system dysregulation
Eyes, ears, nose and throat symptoms
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Exposure to mycotoxins can occur with the presence of certain types of molds, including:
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Mucor
Fusarium
Penicillium
Aspergillus
Trichoderma
Stachybotrys

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mentor is the owner of the company I have worked for, for 8 years. The most important thing Ive learned from him was to form transparent business relationships built on trust.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.qualidry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qualidrywaterproofing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qualidry