Heath Schuman started Schuman’s Cleaning Service in 1985 as a boat detailing service during his high school summers. He kept it going through college to pay for school, though he thought he’d take a different direction following his graduation from what was then Salisbury State University, in 1992. Almost 40 years later, he’s welcoming his daughter and fellow Salisbury alum, Danielle Schuman ’24, to the growing company.

“SSU was close to home, and I worked on my business every weekend,” Heath said.

He employed all his roommates and several friends through those years, which he admits was not the best HR decision. Even though he only intended his business to last through school, he used his time at Salisbury to build business plans for his company with the help of his entrepreneurship and marketing professors and his advisors.

Honestly, it was just easier to use my company when asked to choose a business for class projects, but, along the way, I developed a comprehensive business plan for my capstone project,” Heath said. “I still have it in my desk and am amazed at how far we have exceeded my original goals.”

When his graduation came in the middle of a recession and limited job opportunities, he had a decision to make. Leaving Salisbury, equipped with a bachelor’s degree in management, a newfound knowledge of networking and more of the skills essential to running a business, he decided to give Schuman one solid year of focused attention. Looking back, he’s thankful for that decision and for all that he learned in and out of classrooms during his college career.

The company started with boat-detailing services, but Heath knew he could not depend on only seasonal income with a growing family. The week Danielle was born, he launched the commercial and residential cleaning divisions and Schuman’s became a full-service cleaning company, growing to over 115 employees. It continues to grow, even decades later.

“COVID really propelled us since we were already uniquely positioned in health care, schools, government and other essential businesses. Expert cleaning suddenly became very sought after,” Heath said.

Heath was on the University’s weightlifting team, which he said taught him preparedness and hard work. Through his coursework, he also learned to overcome the challenges that came with running a business.

SU HAS GREAT BUSINESS PROFESSORS, AND I KNEW SHE WOULD COME OUT WITH A GREAT BUSINESS BASE. I HAD A LOT OF FUN [THERE] AND I KNEW SHE WOULD AS WELL.”

Heath Schuman

“One of my biggest challenges in school was financial management.” Heath said. “SSU had options with tutors to help with the understanding of the core principles of this.”

Aware of the role his schooling has played in his success, Heath encouraged Danielle to apply wherever she believed to be the right fit for her own goals but steered her toward his Alma Mater. Heath was ecstatic to learn of Danielle’s decision to follow in his footsteps and enroll at Salisbury University.

“SU has great business professors, and I knew she would come out with a great business base.” Heath said. “I had a lot of fun [there] and I knew she would as well.”

Danielle graduated in May 2024, also with a bachelor’s degree in management and a minor in entrepreneurship. On July 1, Danielle joined the Schuman’s Cleaning Service team as office administrator with plans for her to continue to take on more of both her parents’ responsibilities.

During her time at SU, Danielle took several business management classes where she learned scenarios she might face and programs that offices use. She even got to interact with real clients. These realistic situations and applicable skills are now things she calls on daily at Schuman.

“My classes at Salisbury taught me how to act in a professional way toward colleagues and clients and how to excel in a company,” Danielle said.

Through the Perdue School of Business Applied Business Learning Experience (ABLE) program, she secured an internship at Enterprise Holdings as a management trainee to build her expertise the summer of her junior year. Danielle was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society that accepts only the top 10% of undergraduate business students.

As the family business reaches its 40th anniversary, Heath and Danielle said they’re excited for the next 40 years and credit where they are and where they’re going to the foundations that Salisbury University provided them.