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Bob Rohlfing has an extensive resum? that the Dublin resident says prepared him well for his latest challenge.

Along with his wife, Nancy, Rohlfing owns the central Ohio franchise of Sparkling Image, a company that specializes in cleaning restrooms.

It might not be the career some would expect for a West Point graduate, former Airborne Ranger and onetime corporate executive, but "everything in my past has kind of built up to this," Rohlfing said.

As a business director for Ashland responsible for sales to the semiconductor industry, Rohlfing's clients were companies such as Intel and Motorola, and he was responsible for the growth of the firm's electronic chemicals business. Prior to that, he was a business director for Ashland in Pennsylvania, director of a silicon manufacturing plant in Houston, an engineer and operations supervisor in St. Louis and a production supervisor in North Carolina. He also served in the military in Hawaii, where he experienced daily inspections.

"I know how to find dirt," he said.

As operations supervisor for a corporate manufacturing "clean room," Rohlfing supervised the final cleaning of silicon wafers before they were shipped to customers for use in semiconductors.

He credits his former employer for his business experience.

"I don't manage from a spreadsheet, but I know my numbers based on my experience at Ashland," he said.

When Ashland sold his division, he chose to stay in Dublin rather than move to Pennsylvania. Rohlfing interviewed for other executive positions in Columbus, but was more enthusiastic about starting his own company.

"When I started looking into my own business, that's what got me excited," he said.

The Rohlfings view their role as more of a vocation than a job.

"Our business is our ministry, and we feel like we've been called by God to do what we are doing," Bob Rohlfing said. "Our emphasis on helping organizations improve relationships with their employees and customers is our way of preaching the golden rule. If managers 'love their neighbors (employees and customers) as themselves,' we believe their businesses and lives will be much more rewarding and fruitful both spiritually and financially."

Nancy Rohlfing said she's noticed a positive change in her husband since they began their current undertaking.

"He sees that business is part of life in general and not something you do all week so you can do what you really want to do on the weekends and on vacation," she said.

While she admits that owning their own business has had its share of stressors because they "bet the farm on it," she appreciates how it has strengthened their marriage.

"We have a lot more interaction and have learned to accept one another more fully," she said. "We had a pretty good marriage to start, and now it keeps getting better."

In addition to learning more about each other, the Rohlfings, through their work, are learning more about human nature.

There's no pretense in talking to people cleaning the toilets, Bob Rohlfing said. "I've learned people are more transparent with those who are in a service role. They're either super nice or super nasty. Their true nature comes out."

He said some people recognize he and his crew are working hard and express appreciation, but others don't seem to care.

"There's no need for them to be insincere when they're talking to us," he said.

Rohlfing said he has come to believe that business is more about relationships between people than financial statements.

"So many business managers sit at their desks and make decisions based on numbers. That's not the role of a leader," he said. "So many people react to our service as just another cost, and I'm sure I did that type of thing as a business director. A person reviewing a spreadsheet in the home office in another state doesn't see the huge contrast with our service and without it."

Sparkling Image's cleaning process begins with a blast of air from the Sparkilizer 4000, a chest-high bright yellow vacuum on wheels that rids vents and floors of dust. Technicians use the machine's high-pressure water gun to deep clean nooks, corners, floors, grout lines, urinals and under toilet rims. The Sparkilizer's wet vacuum then sucks up dirty water.

The process, which normally takes about 90 minutes, is complete after Rohlfing's staff disinfects the porcelain and shines the chrome fixtures.

Leigh Ann Burns, general manager at Digger & Finch, said Sparkling Image has done a thorough job cleaning the Dublin restaurant's kitchen and restrooms.

"They take their time and do the job right," she said. "Cleanliness is key to a restaurant, and if you don't have someone doing it right, it won't give customers the confidence to come back."

A large part of Sparkling Image's success depends on the dedication of its staff, and the Rohlfings are grateful for their team.

Senior service technician Jay Major, whose father was a drill sergeant, said, "I've had to do stuff like this all my life. Our house had to be clean to a certain standard."

Major said when he sees a public restroom in need of service, it's rewarding to know he can make a difference. "I think, 'I single-handedly can make this place better than what it is now.' "

Sparkling Image's clients include the city of Dublin, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Groveport Community Recreation Center, Bonefish Grill of Dublin, LaTavola, Oscar's, Hummer of Columbus, Polaris Grill, Metro Fitness, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Old Bag of Nails. For more information, contact (614) 792-9663 or e-mail rohlfing@sparkling-image.com.

The cost of the company's service is comparable to having a car detailed, Rohlfing said.