We had the good fortune of connecting with Shenna Morris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shenna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

My initial business venture was sparked completely by the relocation of my mother. Given that none of our core family members no longer resided in our hometown of Bainbridge, Georgia, we all felt it was best for her to move from South Georgia to the Metro Atlanta area. The move would allow her to be closer to my family and I. At the time she wasn’t fully ready to retire and still had the desire to continue the type of work she was doing when she lived in Bainbridge. She’d been self-employed in the domestic and commercial cleaning service industry all of my life. Many people in our community knew her and her services were always in high demand. As a single parent and survivor of domestic violence, she used her skill and knowledge of cleaning to sustain our family. It only felt natural that starting an officially branded cleaning business, Mattie B. Cleaning Services, was the solution to continue an income-generating source to sustain her as she transitioned to a new environment. Starting the business and branding it also allowed me  to push back on social narratives and stigma that can often be associated with domestic service workers. I wanted my children to take pride in the fact that their grandmother was a Black businesswoman and not framed as someone who just cleans houses. I feel like going this route allows me to raise awareness about domestic violence and demonstrate that entrepreneurship can be an avenue for survivor economic mobility and sustainability.

After starting Mattie B. Cleaning Services and tapping into the human story behind the business, my other businesses, Accent Pieces, and Shenna Nicole Realty were birthed. In each there’s a bit of social justice twist that exist.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Mattie B. Cleaning Services is a residential cleaning service primarily serving the South metro counties. We focus on getting the surfaces inside of homes clean from top to bottom. I believe social justice is a primary impetus that sets our businesses apart from others. Mattie B. Cleaning Services was founded with the value that the entrepreneurial aspirations of survivors of domestic violence can be a catalyst towards their economic sustainability. 

Consisting of a small team of three, it has not always been easy to balance demand with team capacity. Our family often has to be strategic as to when we provide services and where our clients are. This is particularly important because my husband and I work full-time and have young children in the home. After the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, having our second child, and obtaining my Realtor license, we decided it would be best to shift the business to focus on unoccupied real estate. We are in the process of transitioing to this service model with the same committment of getting the homes of buyers and sellers clean from top to bottom. Despite the challenges that have come our way, we maintain our committment to using our business as a social justice advocacy platform for victims of domestic violence and those who serve them. Coupled with this spirit of Mattie B. Cleaning Services, I leverage my knowledge and platform as a Realtor to not only assist individuals with their real estate needs but also as a resource and tool in helping domestic violence advocates and survivors better understand the available resources and tools that may be able to support housing needs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m pretty low-key so we’d hop on the golf cart and head out into my small community. We’d begin our day at one of the local coffee shops, Kakao Cafe or Circa Coffee. I’d be sure to show them some of the locally owned businesses in my community, especially the ones owned by people of color like S2 Bistro or She Craft. It’s possible we’d find some good shopping and good wine, and maybe venture out to find a good estate sale or two.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are several folks I’d like to Shoutout as they’ve all contributed to who I am and where I’m going. My first goes to my mom, Mattie Johnson. She has been the starting point of inspiration for all that I’ve accomplished and for where I’m continuing to go. She is the epitome of tenacity that lives within me. Second I’d like to Shoutout my husband, Antwan Morris. In some of my hardest moments, he always believed in me and would tell me I was ahead of my time and I could succeed. I’d like to Shoutout my “mothering mentors” Yvonne Boykin, Janie Sims, Lavon Morris-Grant, and Sumayya Coleman. They’ve always seen the fire inside of me, encouraged me, and taken care of me. Finally I’d like to Shoutout my children Carter and Maddi for riding it out with me through every adventure our business journies have taken us on so far.

Website: https://shennamorris.sites.bhgrealestate.com/

Other: https://mattiebcleaning.com/

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