PuroClean of Central Southwest Houston 
Every successful company has a defining moment—the point where experience, timing, and conviction converge. For John Villon and Nilo Quiroz, owners of PuroClean and 1-Tom Plumber in the Houston market, that moment didn’t arrive through a carefully scripted plan. It emerged through years of disciplined careers, hard lessons in entrepreneurship, and an uncommon partnership built on trust and complementary strengths.
Their story is not about shortcuts or overnight success. It is about teamwork, faith and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.
On the Head Heart & Boots Podcast, John Villon and Nilo Quiroz share their full journey as business partners, breaking down the wins, challenges, and lessons learned in building a successful restoration operation.
Two Engineers, One Shared Dream
Before entering the restoration industry, both John and Nilo built careers in oil & gas. John, a mechanical engineer, spent nearly a decade with Schlumberger, one of the world’s largest oil and gas service companies. The experience gave him exposure to large-scale operations, structure, and leadership—but also clarity.
After all that exposure, I realized it wasn’t for me to be an employee…I needed to lead. I needed to build something that was meaningful to me.
-John Villon
Nilo’s background followed a similar trajectory. He, too, worked internationally with Schlumberger as an engineer, living in nine different countries over the course of his career. The constant movement sharpened his adaptability and people skills, but left him with a growing desire for ownership. When Chris Nordyke asked Nilo why he left his cushy corporate job, Nilo said:
I wanted to know what it feels like to own something.
-Nilo Quiroz
Opposite Skill Sets, One Direction
Business partnerships often fail because of overlapping personalities or competing egos, but John and Nilo have different strengths that complement each other. One is measured, the other takes bold risks. John and Nilo Joke-
‘We’re black and white. Totally different.’
John Villon
‘I jump out of the plane, and John is the one who follows and throws me the parachute.’
Nilo Quiroz
Nilo is the relationship-builder. He thrives in sales, conversation, and opportunity recognition. John is the strategist—detail-oriented, process-driven, and focused on execution. Together, they make up a robot; one handles the arms, the other handles the legs.
Trial, Error, and Hard Lessons
PuroClean was not their first venture. Before restoration, John and Nilo explored multiple business ideas, including food and beverage and catering. Some showed promise. Others failed outright.
‘When COVID hit, it basically killed the company… food and beverage was lost everywhere. We came back to the US, reunite and then we said what we’re going to do next.’
-Nilo Quiroz
“There were moments where the numbers didn’t make sense,” John admits. “The bank account was going down.”
-John Villon
Those moments forced accountability—and ultimately, growth.
The Accidental Discovery of Restoration
The introduction to restoration came during a hurricane response—not through analysis, but observation.
While running a catering operation, Nilo received an urgent request tied to Hurricane Laura: hundreds of meals for disaster response crews on extremely short notice. Nilo recalls:
‘(First) We delivered 500 meals in a few hours….Then more…Then (soon after) thousands.’
The sheer volume of orders caught their attention.
Building With Intention
Today, John and Nilo operate in one of the most competitive restoration markets in the country. Their success is grounded not in luck, but in discipline, partnership, and a willingness to learn quickly.
“I enjoy every failure I’ve had,” John says. “Because it prepares me for the next step.”
For listeners and aspiring owners, their story offers a clear takeaway: progress does not come from certainty. It comes from commitment, adaptability, and choosing the right people to build alongside you.
As Nilo puts it, “Don’t do this alone. And don’t do it without trust.”
That philosophy is embedded in every company they run—and it’s what turned an unexpected encounter with restoration into a lasting business.
PuroClean of Central Southwest Houston was honored to share its story on the Head Heart & Boots Podcast. Check out the rest of the podcast on their Spotify or Apple.
For more content on our services, check out our YouTube page.
PuroClean of Central Southwest Houston 