Our History
Born of Heartbreak and Hope, Guided by Family, and Fueled by the Truth That Life Is Too Short.
In 2011, within the halls of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, our founder, Tracy Palma, walked side by side with her mom during her battle with terminal breast cancer. While losing her mom and best friend was devastating, Tracy also faced the reality that her four little daughters were losing “Grandma Chicken”; their safe place and their second home.
Navigating the nuances of cancer treatment while balancing the needs of four small girls, Tracy came to a profound realization: the peace, health, and sanitation of a home are not luxuries; they are necessities. A clean and orderly space wasn’t just about appearances; it was about physical health, mental well-being, and the very sanity of the life lived within those walls. In the hardest season of her life, she decided that every family deserved that same sanctuary. Not just sometimes, not just during the holidays, not just in illness or chaos, but in the day-to-day, in the hustle of bustle of life, and in the few quiet corners you can manage to finally claim as your own. It seeps into nearly every aspect of your life creating immeasurable unsung benefits. A clean home, a healthy home, provides abundance far deeper than many realize. It is felt the moment you open your eyes until the time you crawl into bed. It serves you with an uncluttered mind while at work and with a sense of calm and comfort as you navigate the kitchen making dinner.
A clean home is a service none of us can truly afford to live without.
As a single mother, Tracy needed a path that would allow her to provide for her children while still being present for them. Out of that season of grief and resilience came an idea: a cleaning company built not just on scrubbing and shining, but on dignity, health, and service. It was a natural step from real estate, where Tracy had spent years helping families achieve the American dream; now she could help them preserve it.
American Maid grew from those humble beginnings into a hometown business powered by family. Those four little girls have since grown up, each contributing at different times to their mother’s vision. Today, Tracy leads from behind the scenes while some of her daughters carries the torch as the face of the company.
Our community has been truly instrumental in our growth, rallying behind a local family business in a way that felt both humbling and extraordinary. Families supporting families because the heartbeat of American Maid, and our growth was almost entirely organic built on word-of-mouth referrals that over a decade later continues to this day. It was unprecedented and, at times, almost unbelievable. Tracy discovered that a family-first, people-first culture was the best marketing of all; the kind money simply cannot buy. Even now, with very little spent on traditional advertising, the loyalty and trust of our community continues to propel us forward through astronomical referral business and loyalty rarely seen in today's economy. We are proud to serve clientele who have been with us since day one and continue to be part of our story today entrusting us with their homes and cheering us on with unwavering support. That trust is something we hold sacred.
Every client represents an opportunity to honor our roots, to live out the lessons Tracy's mom taught her about the critical need for a healthy home, the comfort she needed for her little girls and the incredible peace she so desperately needed when she returned home to steady herself in the storm. It is our opportunity to remember the fragility of life and demonstrate our commitment to excellence, and to deliver the kind of service that feels personal, professional, and profoundly human.
Born from hardship and fueled by family, what began as a grieving mom's humble idea and means of survival quickly became her unshakable MISSION!