Love Keeps Lifting Them Higher

Growing up in Venezuela, future PSM Facility Solutions founder and CEO Ana Blanco did not exactly fit the stereotypical profile of a future entrepreneur. Yes, she was a curious and independent child. But also a little bit introverted. In academics, she gravitated toward math, business, science—anything to do with hands-on problem-solving and team building. Outside of the classroom, her interests ranged from music to art. She imagined herself more as a behind-the-scenes player.  

“I knew I wanted a career that involved helping people and leading teams, but never specifically as an entrepreneur,” Blanco tells AQUA Miami. “I’m basically a very private person—not really an attention seeker. I did notice early on, however, that I liked creating things and thinking of new ideas. Over time, I began to shift toward a goal of building something of my own and having more control over my destiny.” 

One fateful meeting and several years later, she would realize those ambitions in ways that exceeded her wildest dreams. 

A Transformative Love    

At age 18, Blanco departed Venezuela in pursuit of the American dream. “I knew my views, vision, and business inclination would not bode well for me in an oppressive socialist environment,” Blanco says. After what she describes as “a very rocky, uncomfortable, and disappointing start to my American journey,” Blanco encountered her future husband, Bill. “We met in a natural yet unexpected way,” she says. “It wasn’t anything staged or dramatic, but there was an immediate sense of alignment between us. We both were in the middle of difficult times in our lives. Yet, even then, we understood each other from the start.” 

Bill, Ana learned, also came from a humble background. “When my family arrived from Cuba in the early 1960s, we—much like many other Cubans—found ourselves struggling to survive in a Miami that was much more hostile to immigrants at the time,” he says. “I can still remember the for-rent signs reading ‘No Cubans,’ the lines at the Freedom Tower, the day-old bread from dumpsters…” When he met Ana, Bill may have been underemployed and living in his car, but he, too, was determined to make something greater out of his life. “It felt like serendipity,” he says, echoing Ana. “We immediately clicked and found comfort and chemistry with each other…Sometimes, you can’t explain why fate and karma do what they do.” 

At first, the pair bonded over separate dreams of making something of their lives. Slowly, however, those separate dreams began to intertwine, and the relationship became romantic and empowering. Not that it was easy. But that provided its own lesson. “There were days when food was scarce, living conditions were uncomfortable, and finding work was a struggle,” Bill says. “We learned what it was like for many people who could not make ends meet, who went hungry and could not find stable employment…But together we found strength.”  

Ana worked in retail and then accounting. She graduated from the prestigious Goldman Sachs entrepreneur course and gained a new perspective about business and being an entrepreneur. And as she and Bill pursued their own careers, the couple began to play a simultaneous game of "what if?"  

What if they started their own business? 

What if they placed their own hard-won experience and human-centric values at the center of that business? 

What if they could create a company that not only provided value and more consistent service to clients but also better opportunities, conditions, and benefits for employees? 

The Answer 

In 2004, the Blancos intuited a gap in commercial services. “While both of us were working different jobs, we noticed companies were struggling with inconsistent service, quality, detail, customer service, affordable options and lack of accountability,” Ana says. “In speaking to people in business, we heard a lot of complaints about lack of flexibility and poor service; about inability to bundle services for economies of scale and convenience and poor performance. Many businesses were forced to manage multiple vendors without getting reliable results.” 

PSM Facility Solutions was born. The mission: to build a company centered on affordable consistency, quality services, responsiveness, and long-term relationships, as well as one in which employees were respected, paid well and on time, and provided quality benefits. Leveraging industry insight and relationships, the company began offering commercial cleaning services while building resources, knowledge, and capital. PSM Facility Solutions evolved into a one-stop solution in the commercial cleaning, facility maintenance and repair, daily handyman, discounted consumable supplies, remodeling, and construction spaces. Potential clients are provided with an assessment and recommendation, including a detailed scope of services. “We understand one size does not fit all,” Ana says. “Therefore, each of our clients can craft a scope of service and service rotation that meets their needs.”  

The model proved successful and scaled quickly—first locally then regionally and nationally. Referrals abounded. PSM Facility Solutions evolved into a multi-state, full-service company employing over 150 people throughout Florida, Texas, and Georgia. “PSM Facility Solutions’ expansion was driven by client demand and trust,” Ana says proudly. “Today, we retain that ability and get called to solve issues and needs when the needs arise or when other companies fall short. What started with a local vision has grown due to our mix of human talent, organizational capabilities, and customer care.” 

“Our flexibility, scalability, and blending of different service needs all under one roof,” Bill adds. “This provides our clients with greater peace of mind and the ability to focus on their core business while PSM Facility Solutions provides their needed services.” 

The Human Factor 

“As CEO, I look to drive the company’s vision,” Ana says. “However, I think one of my key responsibilities is to be hands-on and work across key areas in operations, customer care, accounting, sales, and problem-solving. My focus is to ensure efficiency, maintain high-quality standards, motivate our human talent, and deliver a positive experience to our clients.”  

Strong emphasis on human. That means a thorough onboarding process in which talent is recruited, screened, and oriented to expectations then provided tools and workflows to ensure their readiness and success. “I like to emphasize continuous learning and quality improvement, mentoring, and feedback from employees and clients,” Ana says. “This lends to our ability to respond, act and improve our service to customers.” It also allows the Blancos and company to not jump on a certain technological bandwagon currently sweeping the nation. “We do not rely on AI to make initial or follow-up contact,” she says. “Our clients and prospects speak with a human PSM Facility Solutions employee, empowered to respond, set an appointment, and dispatch whatever is needed.”  

Key to this success is the nurturing of an environment where employees feel supported and motivated. “That includes setting clear goals, recognizing achievements, and providing opportunities for growth,” Ana says. “By combining clear guidance with continuous development, employees are better equipped to perform confidently and contribute to the overall success of the company and service to our clients.” 

On occasion, the Blancos will be asked why they sacrifice profits to ensure better pay and benefits to their human talent.  

“The answer is simple,” Ana says. “We do it to provide better service, more consistency, less turnover, greater client satisfaction, and more overall success. That in turn provides us with a living structure and ability to reinvest in better equipment, supplies, and training, maximizing our clients’ satisfaction and experience.” 

The value of PSM Facility Solutions isn’t limited to providing “tailored solutions” in a world where too-often the default is “cookie-cutter.” The company—with its robust insurance and workers’ compensation coverage as well as state-of-the-art employee and vendor screening and verification processes—substantially reduces risk for companies in need of talent. (One example: potential clients are presented with an OSHA-compliant list of all the cleaning agents to be used in a given contract, along with the respective, mandated Safety Data Sheets.) 

“Florida has been consistently classified as one of the most active states for insurance claims—many of them frivolous yet still causing expensive litigation for clients,” Bill explains. “It is important that companies understand the risks associated with hiring uninsured or underinsured companies, or companies that don’t understand the insurance industry’s classification of employees and their roles, exclusions, and determinations for insurance coverage and rates. We save clients money by insulating them from claims unrelated to their business.” 

Life Lessons 

Aside from providing a livelihood and a slice of the American dream, Ana and Bill both stress they’ve taken away profound, philosophical lessons from their time establishing and running PSM Facility Solutions. “I’ve learned that both business and life are really about listening, adapting—about being patient,” Ana says. “In business, it’s tempting to chase the quote-unquote ‘perfect strategy,’ or the next big idea, but most of the lessons come from the small interactions understanding what people need, responding thoughtfully, and learning from mistakes without overreacting. Life mirrors that. You realize that growth rarely comes from bold leaps alone; it’s the steady curiosity, the willingness to ask questions, and the patience to let things unfold that make the biggest difference. I’ve also noticed that truly trying to understand someone else’s perspective makes both work and personal connections richer and more meaningful…When you take the time to communicate well, to think carefully before acting, you not only solve problems more effectively but also feel more grounded in the process. And honestly, it reminded me to find joy in the learning itself, not just the outcome.” 

“I have learned the power of faith, love, companionship, partnership, dedication, hard work makes anything possible,” Bill says. “I have learned that there are rewards for dedication, work and doing the right thing. I have learned that opportunity and second chances is everyone’s right. Everyone makes mistakes in life; it is how we atone for and overcome them that makes someone better. I have learned that faith, determination, hard work, caring for others, being considerate, and passionate makes for a more balanced and meaningful work and life journey.” 

Ana’s work has not gone unheralded. She was, for example, recently recognized with a Hispanic Leadership Award. “It’s very meaningful to me,” she says. “While personal recognition is not my thing or primary goal, awards like this validate that the initiatives I’m passionate about mentoring, advocating, or creating opportunities are having an impact. It also inspires me to continue striving for excellence and to serve as a role model for others in the Hispanic community who aspire to leadership roles.” 

This brings us back to the Blanco love story, which underlies all PSM Facility Solutions’ innovation and success. 

“I think what makes us such a strong team is that we balance each other,” Ana says. “Whereas I’m more methodical and patient, he’s more detail-oriented and effervescent. Those differences create a really solid foundation. There’s a lot of trust between us. We’re able to be honest, challenge each other, and still move forward with the same shared vision. At the end of the day, it’s not just about building something successful—it’s about building it with someone who genuinely supports you, keeps you grounded, and celebrates every win with you. That’s what makes it all work.” 

For more information, visit psmsmartbiz.com.