PRE-1989

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ruling in 1989 banning most asbestos-containing products. However, in 1991 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned that ruling. Although Asbestos is highly regulated in the United States, it has NOT been banned. In the Summer of 2018, the EPA announced that it would be considering new uses of Asbestos for continued safety precautions.

1989

In 1989, as the era of Asbestos abatement began, Gary Bercaw and John Alexiou purchased Baxter Group, Inc. and began pioneering the Asbestos Abatement industry.  In 1990, they established their headquarters at 941 Progress Road in Chambersburg, PA.  The facility has grown to be comprised of eight offices, two warehouses, and eight storage buildings.

Over time, Baxter Group, Inc. established crews of conscientious, well-trained, licensed individuals.  This provides Baxter Group, Inc. with the ability to perform multiple projects of varying sizes simultaneously, while still ensuring timely completion and delivery of service at the highest possible level of quality workmanship.  Baxter Group, Inc. has become a company with a strong reputation, extensive resources, and the capability of undertaking and successfully completing small residential projects to larger and more complex commercial projects.

2010

In  2010, after devoting over 20 years to Baxter Group, Inc., Gary Bercaw decided to pursue an exit plan. The first step of this plan was to find a capable leader for the Company. He found this in Jocelyne Melton, who took the reins of the Company as CEO, after the death of John Alexiou. She became actively involved in all aspects of the business.  With her years of business ownership and management experience, she began growing the Company and establishing the vision of a Company dedicated to providing the community with healthier indoor environmental quality. Baxter Group, Inc. maintains its strength in Asbestos Abatement while adding new divisions to its portfolio, making the Company a one stop shop for all of your indoor environmental quality needs. The new Baxter Group, Inc. divisions have been established to meet the concerns of their Clients in the areas of lead detection, mold assessment and remediation, radon measurement, HVAC cleaning, air quality sampling and the availability of indoor air quality products.

2012

In 2012, to assist their government agencies and prime contractors, Baxter Group, Inc. became Nationally Certified with the Federal Government as an Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business and a Women Business Enterprise in the state of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

2014

As their popularity in the community grew, Baxter Group, Inc. began to pursue diversification in services, making the company a one-stop shop for all indoor environmental quality needs. Their project portfolio expanded to allow for more services including:

• Asbestos Surveys
• Asbestos Abatement
• Mold Assessments and Testing
• Mold Remediation
• Lead Paint Risk Assessments and Lead Paint Inspections
• Lead Paint Stabilization and Abatement
• Radon Measurements
• Radon Mitigations in homes, offices, and new construction
• HVAC Cleanliness Inspections
• HVAC Duct Cleaning
• Indoor Environmental Testing
• Indoor Environmental Mitigation and Stabilization

2016

Baxter Group, Inc. and Steven E. Jaymes Contracting worked side-by-side on many projects, Baxter Group providing the demolition or mold remediation services and Steven E. Jaymes Contracting providing the basement de-watering system or renovation services. Over that period of time the owners of both companies became close friends. When the CEO of Baxter Group, Inc., hard that Steve Jaymes was preparing to retire, she immediately approached him to inquire about his plans for the business. Both parties agreed that the acquisition of Steve’s home improvement company by Baxter Group, Inc. could not have been matched more perfectly. Baxter Group, Inc. then purchased the assets of the Steven E. Jaymes Contracting Company.

2017

Baxter Group, Inc. was accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program in the Spring of 2017, where they were encouraged to expand and grow their Indoor Environmental Division. This Division can now assess, test, and design programs such as:

• Water Testing
• Indoor Air Quality Testing
• Asbestos Management Plans
• Asbestos Awareness Training
• Comprehensive Assessments of Contaminants
• Global Harmonization Systems
• And more…

By the end of 2017 they had doubled their in the field workforce.

Today

Asbestos, mold, lead-based paint, radon and other indoor environmental contaminants impact the health and well-being of thousands of people every year.  Baxter Group, Inc. takes pride in making a difference in the lives of our Clients in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.  We focus on training our crews in the safe practices necessary to deal with hazardous materials and to attracting individuals to our staff that are genuinely concerned about the effects contaminants have on our Clients, our teammates and our communities.

As Baxter Group Inc. celebrates 30 years in 2019 – We are honored to accept the SBA Women Owned Business of the year award for Eastern Pennsylvania region.