organizations. Within a couple of weeks, they had raised enough money to bring his father, Jerry, to the U.S. to see his son walk across the stage and receive his degree. “It’s those kinds of things I will never forget. Ever,” Halilovic says. The hard work and determination that propelled Halilovic through his college career proved to be just as great an asset after graduation. Combined with the entrepreneurial spirit he cultivated working as a boy in his father’s menswear store, he knew that his goal was to become a business owner. Working on cleaning detail as a student, he began to realize what that business would be. “Cleaning is one of those businesses that will never die,” Halilovic says. “It’s always going to be there no matter what.” Shortly after leaving Concordia, he began his first commercial cleaning business, Ambassador Cleaning, with one employee: himself. Halilovic would spend nights cleaning his first client’s location, Timber Lodge Steakhouse, and return in the morning looking for feedback.
Halilovic continued to grow his business, taking on several more restaurants before expanding to include other industries. Eventually, he opened a second business, Rainbow Restoration, for clients with specific needs like mold removal or fire cleanup.
Nedzad Halilovic ‘01 turned his experience cleaning as a student at Concordia into inspiration for two businesses: Ambassador Cleaning and Rainbow Restoration.
Halilovic has maintained a sense of responsibility to the community that welcomed him 20 years ago. His passion for giving back led him to Fargo’s Kiwanis chapter, where he was recently named president – the first Muslim to hold the position.
“This is my home. My kids were born here. This is my community. It wouldn’t be right not to give back.” – Nedzad Halilovic
Through his own dedication, Halilovic overcame adversity and cultural differences, affirming our college’s earliest commitment to provide a welcoming place for those seeking opportunity and heeding a call to give back. ◊
“They’d tell me, ‘oh, they did a fantastic job,’” Halilovic says. “But the whole time, it was just me.”
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