A Century of Serving.

Our family company was founded in 1924 by Harry Carlson, a man who believed that honest work, done right, with a solid faith, was the foundation of any lasting business. Starting small, Harry, with Selma by his side, built a reputation in the community for showing up on time, doing the job thoroughly, and treating every client as family.

That philosophy took root. The word spread. What began with Harry and Selma grew steadily into a trusted local institution, all without ever losing the personal touch Harry insisted upon from day one. 

Our History

1863–1923

The Venholm story begins in 1863, with the birth of August Gustav Carlson in Sweden. In 1884, August and Charlotta were married in Denmark. March 6, 1893, marks the arrival of the Carlson family in America. For the next thirty-one years of his life in America, August worked as a craftsman at the Rockford Superior Furniture Company. Harry F. Carlson was born on February 7, 1903. The ninth child of ten siblings, he was soon busy with school and household chores. At the age of 16, Harry became an apprentice at the Haddorff Piano Company. 

The Company Begins…

1924–1933 

In 1924, Harry began Harry Carlson’s Service Company, providing cleaning off hours for business customers. ​Harry F. Carlson met Selma Nyquist in 1925 and married May 21, 1927. In the mid 1920s, Harry began working for the Emerson Brantingham Company (which became JI Case Company), building large steam engine tractors. Harry and Selma continued their service company, cleaning and painting off hours for the extra income needed to provide for their growing family. 

1934–1943

In the 1930s, massive layoffs were the order of the day at the Case Company. Harry was laid off during several periods during the Great Depression. Toward the end of the 1930s, the Case Company began hiring people back to work permanently, and Harry was one of the first. By 1940, he was a receiving clerk. Harry F. Carlson was a man who devoted himself to his God and his family. He was by all accounts an exceptional service provider, contracting his services in cleaning, painting, and handyman work at an early age. Furthermore, he was a man of faith who was very involved in sharing his belief in Jesus Christ. This heartfelt belief led him to speak to individuals and groups at any opportunity about his Savior. 

1944–1953

The end of World War II brought many changes and new opportunities. The boys were growing up. By 1947, Rodney, the oldest, had left home to attend college. In 1948, Harry went into farming with his three teenage sons as another part of the business. Marvin, at the age of 16, was the main operator of the farm business. 

1954–1963

In 1954, Harry at Case Company was promoted to manager of General Stores. Marvin, who's future bride wanted nothing to do with the farm, wanted out of the farming partnership as well. Harry decided his farming days were done and sold the farm, dividing the funds among his boys. 

In 1957, Gerald—Harry’s youngest son—and Harry decided to merge the service company into a new start-up called Rockford Sani-Clean, a commercial contract cleaning company. In 1959, Marvin, Harry’s second son, became the pastor of a small church. Because the church could not provide for all of his financial needs, and following advice from Harry and Gerald, he started the Perfection Office Cleaning Company. His first cleaning contract was with the Welsh, Welsh and Holmstrom Law Firm on the corner of N. Church St. and Fisher Ave. That first cleaning contract lasted for twenty-three years. 

1964–1973

In 1968, Harry retired from Case and transitioned into a semi-retired role, helping Gerald manage Rockford Sani-Clean. The business grew rapidly, securing major clients such as Nylint Tool & Manufacturing, Lou Bachrodt Motors, and Belford Theaters. around this time, Gerald also launched the first major carpet shampooing service in the Stateline area. During the 1960s, Rockford Sani-Clean had established itself as the largest commercial contract cleaning service in Rockford. In 1970, Marvin rebranded Perfection Office Cleaning as MC Office Cleaning Services. Crews were working seven days a week and the contracts kept coming in. ​That same year, a pivotal milestone secured the company's long-term future: Marvin’s nine-year-old son, Phillip, asked to join the crews on Friday and Saturday nights. Though young, Phillip was no stranger to the business, having cleaned the Welsh Law Firm along side his father since the age of six. His entrepreneurial spirit quickly took root; in 1973,  at just twelve years old, Phillip founded Carlson Industries, Inc., balancing his youth with the responsibility of cleaning two downtown office buildings five nights a week. 

1974–1983

Sadly, Gerald suffered from diabetes and spent the final three years of his life (1972–1975) in and out of the hospital. During this period, Harry stepped up to run Rockford Sani-Clean. Following Gerald's passing in 1975, Rockford Sani-Clean merged with MC Office Cleaning Services. With the influx of Rockford Sani-Clean, MC Office Cleaning became the largest cleaning service in northern Illinois. Phillip (age fifteen) worked with the crews and mapped out a strategy for the future. He designed an incentive plan—combining compensation and bonuses—that the company still uses today. While managing MC Office Cleaning Services, Phillip also continued to grow Carlson Industries, Carlson Galleries, and Carlson Properties. In 1979, Phillip formed a corporation in partnership with his father, Marvin, officially merging MC Office Cleaning Services and Carlson Industries while continuing to invest in real estate and other ventures. 

Phillip met Kim (DeRosso) at church, and after knowing each other for nearly a decade, they began dating and were married in 1982. 

1984–1993

These years brought significant changes. Marvin decided to focus exclusively on the Church, and MC Office Cleaning Services was reorganized into a company that relied entirely on sub-contractors rather than employees to provide its services. Marvin and Phillip established eighteen separate businesses during this time.
Phillip helped manage MC Office Cleaning Services while also providing administrative support and leadership at the Church. 

In 1992, Phillip founded JP Clark Services and purchased MC Office Cleaning Services.

1994–2003

The company expanded into Tennessee, Colorado, and Wisconsin, driven mainly by Phillip and Kim's church planting activities. During this time, the size of the company fluctuated wildly as businesses were established and subsequently sold whenever the ’ministry’ required the family to relocate. In 1996, the Carlson family settled in Madison, Wisconsin. Phillip continued to grow JP Clark Services while simultaneously building an award-winning insurance agency. In 1999, Phil became a teaching, senior-adult, and care pastor at a Madison mega-church, while Kim served as a primary worship leader and developed worship teams. In 2002, Phillip & Kim planted a new church in northeast Madison. While still operating JP Clark Services, Phillip purchased an insurance agency in Waterloo, Wisconsin, and Kim began working at the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators. 

2004–2013

Over the next five years, the church grew to encompass a $3.5 million main campus in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and a $500,000 childcare campus in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Phillip and Kim prayerfully made the decision to merge the church with a mega-church from Rockford, as well as another  church in Sun Prairie, WI. This merger resulted in a separate childcare company, which Phillip led alongside a number of partners and investors. The childcare company grew to four campuses with over $7 million in assets and an annual income of $2.5 million. Phillip & Kim moved back to Rockford in order to care for Phillip’s grandmother. In 2013, Phillip sold the business. Earlier, in 2012, the Venholm Group, was founded as a family holding company with the purchase of JP Clark Services. After 30 years of ministry, planting four churches, and founding four schools the family decided to permanently build a transforming company. In 2013, Venholm purchased the Norwegian Squeegee, which had been founded in 2008 by Mark Matson, who built a solid company with excellent employees.

2014–2023

In 2016, Venholm purchased Mr. P’s Prep N Paint (founded in 1989) and immediately integrated it into the company into the Company. In 2017, Venholm purchased Venice Terrazzo & Tile Company. 

2024–Present

In 2024, the family began the process of expansion. First, an office was set up in Madison, Wisconsin, and then an office was set up in Sugar Grove. The company's goal is to continue to grow, with three offices in Aurora, Madison, and Rockford. In 2025, Venholm purchased Pinnacle Cleaning Corporation, a premier service company in business for several decades.