HISTORY OF OUR INDUSTRY – MEXICO PART 2

As we explored the many factors that led to the establishment of the portable sanitation industry in Mexico – world recognition in hosting the 1968 Summer Olympics, the oil boom in the country in the late 1970s, and the tragedy of the 1985 destructive earthquakes – many companies were pioneers in this effort. This article continues the story of portable restroom companies in Mexico that led the way and set the standards that exist even today.

DESARROLLOS Y SERVICIOS VIVA

As with any new industry, the founders had other backgrounds and experiences before beginning portable sanitation companies. Ricardo Valles, Sr was no exception as he began his career in accounting and real estate.

As sons Riccardo, Jr and Andres relate, “Father was playing golf one day in the mid-1980s and saw a portable restroom. Being a new product, he began to research this industry and to learn more about what he called ‘jonnys.’ His research paid off.”

Riccardo Valles, Sr began his company in 1987 with ten units and a service truck. As we saw from Part 1 of this series, the Mexican portable restroom marketplace was not mature in the late 1980s and mid-1990s. Riccardo, Jr shares “there was a need for vacuum technology and our father had to educate the customer and to seek resources to provide this product.” The sons stated that forming a good working relationship with PolyJohn was a key to the company’s early success and Mike Cooper and Mike Adams were their father’s key contacts.

Using the name “Jonny’s” for his portable restroom company, Riccardo, Sr used his past education, training, and organization to begin to learn as much as he could about the portable sanitation industry. Andres says that “in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were more competitors in Mexico, but they had little education about the industry. Father attended all of the Pumper Shows in Nashville from 1994-2015. He always sought new knowledge, best practices, and new products.”

The year 2015 proved to be pivotal for Riccardo’s family and his 28-year-old company. In August 2015, Riccardo Valles, Sr passed away unexpectedly and sons Riccardo, Jr, Andres, and daughter Victoria became the new owners of the company. Andres headed Operations, Riccardo, Jr managed Administration, and Victoria managed Sales.

From PRO Magazine 2016. Left to Right - Riccardo, Jr, Victoria, and Andres.

First Challenge to the New Ownership

This second generation of ownership at Viva had much to learn and were tested almost immediately with the forthcoming visit of Pope Francis to Mexico in February 2016. In November, Viva provided a quote for 1,200 units for this event. Both sons shared that “we were running out of time building units and the local government decided that they would construct permanent restrooms at the site, however, they were unable to finish them in time so they had to pivot back to portable toilets at the last minute. We had 10 days to provide 500 units. At the WWETT Show that year, just prior to the Pope’s visit, Andres says that “Mike Adams and PolyJohn were very supportive in assisting where they could.”

Besides an unplanned mid-day service, the Pope’s visit to Juarez was a success. The new second generation owners did an admirable job and upheld their father’s memory in a wonderful fashion.

Ricky summarizes Viva’s success by stating that:

“Being flexible is one reason for our success. We have good supplier relationships, and we have grown our market both vertically – increasing our market share and horizontally – by expanding into other markets.”

Desarrollos y Servicios Viva is a second-generation company that continues to expand to improve our industry. Their innovation and commitment to excellence is a model for new companies in our industry.

MOVIL

“Believe in yourself … Develop good work habits … Hard work pays off … Learn by failing.”

These are some of the principles that Alberto Guevara attributes to his success over the last 38 years in the portable sanitation industry. Beginning with his initial investment of two used fiberglass units purchased in Mission, Texas in 1987, he established and grew WC Movil over the years through outstanding customer service and dedication to hard work and employee training and development. Today, the parent company, Environ Solutions Group (ESG) employs over 450 people and provides services for sewer cleaning, industrial grease handling, hazardous waste and sludge, and septic and industrial tank cleaning.

Alberto shares his fascinating and inspiring story of his youth …

“I have always been a hard worker. I grew up with eight brothers and there was always work to be done. From the age of 12 or 13, I began a newspaper route, did gardening, and washed cars. After high school, I spent six months in Syracuse, NY and then 6 months in Buffalo, working and ‘seeing the world.’

Upon returning, I went to technical school and studied the most difficult major, chemical engineering. I wanted to test myself and I knew that if I mastered this, I could do anything.

My first job was with Caterpillar, Inc welding, and painting parts for assembly in the Peoria, Illinois plant. After this job went away, I began two of my own companies. I owned and operated a taco stand and a small grocery store. I soon discovered that retail businesses produced very low profits due to price competition. I wanted to become involved in a service business.”

His third job, operating at the same time as the taco stand and the grocery store, is of interest to our industry. It all began while Alberto was examining the 1987 Yellow Pages of Houston, Texas. There he saw ads for portable restroom rental and service companies.

Discovering the need for portable toilets at a football (soccer) stadium near Monterrey, Alberto traveled to nearby Misson, Texas, and purchased the previously mentioned two fiberglass units and asked the owner to borrow two more. He delivered the units to the event and Alberto was now in the portable sanitation business in 1987!

(Interesting Aside … Mission, Texas is the home of legendary NFL Dallas Cowboy’s head coach and Hall of Fame Member, Tom Landry.)

Always wanting to learn and to improve his business, Alberto attended the 1988 PSAI Convention and Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas.

Asked his impression of his first PSAI Event, he reflects a common sentiment shared by many of us throughout the years:

“The Roundtables were amazing. Being able to learn and to share valuable information with others in the industry is an outstanding way to improve your business.”

Soon he sold his other two businesses and WC Movil was Alberto’s only focus. His brother, Guillermo, worked with the company for a week and then moved on. Interestingly, in 1990, Guillermo founded his own portable restroom company, SanMex - which is still in operation today.

(NOTE: This is the only instance that I am aware of in which brothers began competing portable restroom companies. Alberto states that they are “friendly competitors.”)

EARLY GROWTH OF WC MOVIL

Initially, Alberto did not have a vacuum service truck, but he developed a mold for fiberglass units that had a pipe in the tank with a plug for drainage of the waste. For cleaning, the units were raised so that they would drain into a tank on a truck and then the units were cleaned and refilled with water. Hard work that eventually paid off as the company grew.

WC Movil chose yellow as their company color and their distinctive clean and well-maintained units began to appear on construction sites and at special events as the years progressed.

CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION

WC Movil continued to grow and to expand through the years. Alberto continued to improve his business by attending the Pumper and Cleaner Environmental Expo in Nashville, Tennessee (commonly referred to as “The Pumper Show”) and later renamed the WWETT Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2004 Environ Solutions Group began as the company began to expand their services into other areas.

A FAMILY BUSINESS

Alberto and his wife, Magda, have been married 44 years and she has been his partner and supporter during that entire time. The couple has three sons and ten grandchildren. Here is the entire Guevara Family.

Today, Alberto’s son, Carlos, runs the company and Alberto still helps with special events. Alberto still begins his days at 5:00am and continues to work where needed.

Among his many hobbies is hiking and Alberto has climbed many mountains – both literally and figuratively – in establishing WC Movil.

From beginning the company from scratch in 1987, Alberto Guevara established a successful and well-respected comany. From his early entreneurship as a youth to passing on the busines to his family, Alberto is a role model for everyone in our industry.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Multi-genrational companies continue to contribute to the growth and expansion of portable sanitation in Mexico. The strong tradition of excellence, professionalism, and leadership as exhibited by both Viva and WC Movil are much appreciated by those in our industry throughout the world.

REMINDER …

MEXICO TO HOST PSAI EVENT FROM MARCH 3-5, 2026, IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN

This educational event will allow an international audience to share information and to learn from each other while experiencing the beauty of Mexico.