The
Busy Bee Blog
Buswell & Bennett: Bridging Child Welfare, Community & Cleaning
Rob Buswell, president of Buswell and Bennett Commercial Cleaning is a successful business owner, a father, a husband, and a champion for children. He is also a survivor of abuse.
Unseen and Unheard
During the 1970s, Rob grew up in a household of dysfunction with divorcing parents constantly at odds with each other. This made him vulnerable, and an easy target for his baseball coach predator, whom he trusted and looked up to. The abuse left Rob broken and withdrawn. He was mislabeled as learning disabled and left to languish in a classroom with no formal instruction and an inability to read above a second-grade level. Deep inside, Rob knew he was capable, but no one else believed in him. So, he had to believe in himself.
Three years after graduating high school, he applied to a small Delaware university, Goldey-Beacom College, and they took a chance on him. He graduated in just three years with two diplomas: an associates and a bachelors in business administration with a concentration in marketing. The baggage he had carried from his public school career was no longer haunting him. But the abuse he endured was still there, and about to resurface.
Tug-of-War With the Past
In 2002, Rob’s wife became pregnant. When you find out you are going to be a first-time parent, there is a mixed bag of emotions that come with the experience including excitement, fear, hope, and anxiety. For Rob, it was anguish. He was so afraid that what happened to him might happen to his own children. He couldn’t let that happen. That’s when he came forward and reported his abuse.
During the case against his abuser, a gap in the sex offender registry was discovered. Individuals who committed sex crimes prior to July 1, 1994, were not required to register on Virginia’s sex offender registry. It turns out, Rob’s predator had a prior conviction—but it was before 1994. Though felonies are public records, those records were not readily available to law enforcement and this predator was able to exist in anonymity.
Rob fought for several years to close that gap and was instrumental in getting two laws passed in Virginia. One law exposed 5,604 child predators who had skirted the registry, just as his abuser had, due to a gap in the law after their crimes were adjudicated. VA House Bill 1353 Supplement to the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, also known as Robby’s Rule, required the Superintendent of State Police to establish a Supplement to the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry that would include information on persons who were convicted of certain sexual offenses on or after July 1, 1980, and before July 1, 1994, who are not currently on the Registry. The Supplement is now available to the public on the Department of State Police website. But Rob didn’t stop there.
On the day his predator was arrested and wound up on the evening news, the camera crew zoomed into the license plate on his car. Disturbingly, it was a specialized plate issued by the state of Virginia supporting Virginia’s Department of Health Safe Kids Coalition. Rob fought to get the Virginia DMV to stop issuing child-friendly personalized license plates to owners or co-owners of a vehicle who are registered in the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act. He was successful.
Robby’s Rule
Rob eventually wrote a memoir, “Robby’s Rule: A Journey to Redemption” as not only a cathartic exercise but also to serve as a beacon of hope and empowerment for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Beyond writing and getting legislation passed, Rob actively participates in community programs, supports counseling initiatives, and collaborates with organizations dedicated to protecting vulnerable individuals.
Personal Values and Professional Endeavors Defined
As a business owner, Rob has learned how to channel the darkness of his childhood abuse into four cornerstones of how he does business and life: integrity, empathy, empowerment, and respect. These principles aren’t abstract ideals, but practical guides that have helped shape his values, his company's culture and business operations.
Integrity and Transparency. Whether with clients, employees, or partners, Buswell & Bennett is known for its straightforward communication and ethical business practices.
Empathy and Support. Understanding the profound impact of empathy from his advocacy work, Rob’s goal is to create a supportive work environment where listening to employees, understanding their needs, and providing the necessary support to ensure their well-being has fostered a culture of trust and mutual respect in the company.
Empowerment. Rob’s advocacy work focuses on empowering survivors, and he brings this same approach to his leadership at Buswell & Bennett. He empowers his employees by involving them in decision-making processes, valuing their input, providing training and growth opportunities, and encouraging feedback. This empowerment fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their work, leading to higher job satisfaction and loyalty.
Respect and Dignity. At Buswell & Bennett, every employee is valued and their contributions are recognized. This respect extends to clients and the broader community, reinforcing the company's reputation as a respectful and reliable service provider.
Rob’s leadership at Buswell & Bennett exemplifies how passion for community and child welfare can help drive business success. By integrating his advocacy values into his business practices, he has created a company culture that not only benefits his employees and clients but also serves as a model for how businesses (and individuals) can contribute positively to their communities.
For more information, visit Buswell & Bennett and Robby's Rule.