Brooklyn's Progress
August/September 2006

BY JANE GOGERMAN

It’s easy to see how Dev Murjani of Greg’s Express Rubbish Removal has successfully grown his business over the years.  He is full of energy and enthusiasm for what he is doing.

“It took a lot of hard work to get to where I am, but I never gave up,” said Mr. Murjani.   “Ten years ago I was just a guy with a truck, I had no job, and my mom just died.  What was I to do?”

After his mother passed, Mr. Murjani invested the $100,000 left to him by his mother to renovate the Park Slope brownstone she had called home.  All throughout the gut renovation, neighbors kept asking, “Hey, Greg, can you take my stuff, too?”   He began to see that this was a service that was needed and thus, the seeds for his business were sown.

Fifteen years later, Mr. Murjani’s trash removal business has expanded to 11 trucks and 25 good, hardworking men.  “I have all my trucks out, and we’re booked everyday,” added Mr. Murjani.

The Chamber Connection
With a background in construction work as well as maintenance through his previous employment with Long Island College Hospital, Mr. Murjani began his business by placing an ad in a local newspaper for home moving services.  He soon received a phone call from Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  Initially, Mr. Adams just needed help moving items in his home.  Impressed with Mr. Murjani’s work and friendly service, he later asked him to come to his office to move out some furniture.

“Ken took a liking to me and asked if I wanted to join the Chamber,” explained Mr. Murjani.  “I was just a Brooklyn boy – I didn’t know there was such a thing as the Brooklyn Chamber, or that it even existed.”

In 1997, Mr. Murjani joined the Chamber.  He immediately became involved with the annual charitable work of the Chamber at Thanksgiving by picking up and transporting donated turkeys from local supermarkets to those less fortunate.  For five years Mr. Murjani enjoyed participating in this effort, often riding with Mr. Adams, his Executive Assistant Klara Carames and former Vice President of Membership Darryl Hollon, when he served as an on-loan executive at the Chamber.  Mr. Murjani also attends Chamber events when time permits; he and his wife particularly enjoy the annual Brooklyn Eats tasting event.

Through the relationships he developed at the Chamber, Mr. Murjani was successful in securing a contract with the Brooklyn Public Library and still is called on to handle jobs for Ms. Carames, who is also his neighbor in his Boerum Hill community.

“Ken and Klara have done wonders for me,” said Mr. Murjani. Becoming a Member was the best move I made. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the Brooklyn Chamber.”

Building the Business
Mr. Murjani grew his business by diversifying the services he provides.  The company works with homeowners and businesses; at offices and at construction worksites.  The business often works with real estate companies preparing properties for sale.  They provide cleaning and demolition services and will haul away almost any type of trash and rubble, including what the Sanitation Department will not handle.

During holidays such as the 4th of July, Easter or Christmas, Greg’s Express Rubbish Removal will work with customers to clean their homes or backyards and get them ready for their guests. The company also gets calls for “Spring Cleaning” jobs.  Whether it’s moving out furniture, cleaning a home, getting someone’s backyard ready for a party, or cleaning up after a block party – this business does it all.

“The only way I knew my business was going to thrive, was if I told a customer I was going to be there at nine a.m., I made it my job to be there,” explained Mr. Murjani.

Mr. Murjani never imagined this is what he’d be doing – from starting his business as a one-man brigade with just his truck and a container to seeing his business grow, there’s nowhere else he’d rather be than Brooklyn.

“I love working with the people here in Brooklyn. My clients are who I am,” said Mr. Murjani.

Greg’s Express Rubbish Removal services all five boroughs and is open six days a week from Monday through Saturday.  To find out more, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.gregsexpress.com/, or call 888-TRASH-10.