What started as a small “Ma and Pa” run business ten years ago, Mr. Rehab is now one of the leaders in the sewer maintenance and rehabilitation industry.  Jim Clark, the president of Mr. Rehab, Inc. started with just the seed of a dream.  His years of experience gave him aspirations to try and run a company of his own one day.  This entrepreneur mentality grew and grew, eventually becoming a reality.  His dedication and determination spawned a company that has prospered and grown exponentially over the past decade.

Mr. Rehab’s story began with an engineering firm’s announcement that they would be selling their sewer maintenance division, where at the time, Jim was working.  The sale opened up the prospect of starting his own company and Jim, along with his wife Margaret, decided that it was time to go for it.  Jim and Margaret sold their home taking the first step in starting Mr. Rehab and investing all they had in the process.   They were taking a risk at success; Jim compared it to jumping out of an airplane, as both the excitement and fear involved were great unknowns.  “Statistics say that only 1 out of 10 new business ventures will be successful in their first year.  That potential of failure made me very nervous.”

Cherishing the memories of Mr. Rehab’s humble beginnings, Jim fondly recollected his original staff, consisting of only himself and Margaret.  Their base of operations, a barn they actually shared with several bovine companions.  In the early days Jim had only one camera with which to work with as well as one Televising truck.  Jim proudly reflected how his wife Margaret stood by his side to help keep the dream alive.  “She kept her full time job in the medical field while still getting down into the manholes and working with me when I needed her help.” 

Mr. Rehab earned its earliest work with contracts with Gannet Fleming.  The first big milestones in Mr. Rehab’s project development were with Hampden and Spring Township.  These jobs got the momentum rolling for Mr. Rehab and began a strong relationship with them and other municipalities that continue today.  Helping Mr. Rehab prosper from the beginning were Jason Smith and Karen Losch, who both joined not long after the company began.  With their added support, Jim was able to take a step back from the field work and focus his time on new business opportunities that would help Mr. Rehab grow as a company.  Others like Jim Deets, Bryan Seeger, and Marcin Walczak brought their expertise and field experience as a part of the Mr. Rehab family soon thereafter.  Many other valuable employees continued to be recruited through the years that made the company what it is today.   

The company did not stay in one place for long in the early years.  As Mr. Rehab continued to grow it moved its headquarters from the barn to a facility in Hershey.  Over time Hershey proved to be too far from the main Harrisburg network and the office moved once again to Colonial Park.  Eventually it was a call from Jim’s friend Steve Bowman, where Steve suggested the merging of Mr. Rehab with his company Jet Vac Services. The successful merger brought the company operations to its current location in Mechanicsburg.

Jim’s creed of taking something good from the little things in day to day life helped him get through the earlier years when work was difficult to obtain.  It also helped him stay humble during the more prosperous years.  Even with the negative winds of the current economic climate, Jim continues to find the positives in every situation.  He knows that like many other businesses out there, “Mr. Rehab has not been exempt from the poor economy”.   To help keep operations running Jim held off on spending, capitalized on opportunities, and is leading the way through the economic downturn.  The efficiency Mr. Rehab employed during this time has helped the company learn valuable lessons.  In Jim’s opinion the economic troubles have made Mr. Rehab a healthier company in the long run, taking the bad situation and making the best of it.

With an iron determination fueled by enthusiasm and positivity, Jim Clark is continuing to fulfill his dream.  Persevering through difficult and humble beginnings, Jim and Margaret now preside over a company that has grown to employ over 30 individuals and a fleet of over 60 vehicles.  Jim is a visionary and continues to have aspirations for the future of Mr. Rehab.  He currently has hopes to expand the company into satellite offices, branch into consultant services, and to move full steam ahead as a leader in the industry.