Robert C. Sherrill
A North Nashville native with what most deem a rough start in life, Robert Sherrill is a true testament to the age-old adage ‘we don’t look like what we’ve been through’. As a young man swayed by his environment, Robert’s chosen path led him to the federal penitentiary where he vowed to make a change for his family and himself. Upon his release, he opened Imperial Cleaning Systems (ICS), a growing commercial cleaning, restoration, and janitorial company based in Nashville, Tennessee where he serves as President and CEO. With over 12 years’ experience in the industry, Robert is certified as an MBE/DBE with the Governor’s Office of Diversity, Tristate Minority Supplier Development Council, and several other governing and certifying organizations across the region. He works to educate others on the necessary processes to grow businesses and obtain contracts through various speaking engagements. His work as an entrepreneur, influencer and community figure has been recognized in his wins of “Stay On The Go’s 40 Under 40”, Nashville’s Black Chamber of Commerce’s “Rising Star”, Power Moves’ “Best in Entrepreneurship 2018”, Varnell Foundation’s 2018 Community Leader of the Year, Nashville Minority Business Center’s 2018 Minority Man of the Year and Nashville Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO 2018”, Nashville Business Journal's 2022 40 under 40 and is a graduate and member of Cohort 5 of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Catalyst Program and a member of the 2022-2023 Leadership Nashville cohort.
As a nod to the Greater Nashville community, his past experiences, and a desire to help those in a familiar situation, he launched “Imperial Cares” to provide jobs and internships to area residents who are displaced or enrolled in a post-incarceration community re-entry program. In addition to his work with ICS, Robert is the Chief Executive Officer of The DREAM (Decreasing Recidivism through Education And Mentorship) Initiative, an organization geared towards the empowerment, betterment, and transition of returning citizens, the President of Impact Youth Outreach, a non-profit organization working to combat youth crime by fostering positive relationships and supportive experiences with a focus on mentorship, community service and motivational opportunities, the CEO of RCS Holdings, a real estate investment and management company, and the founder of iStudio Nashville, an entrepreneurship co-op. Ever the budding entrepreneur and with a deep passion for seeing others succeed, he was, also, the co-founder of theLAB Nashville, the first black-owned collaborative members-only space that catered to local creatives and entrepreneurs in Tennessee.
He is a board of trustees member for Nashville State Community College Foundation, a board of directors member for BEST (Building Entrepreneurs for Success in Tennessee), and was appointed by Mayor John Cooper to sit on the Metropolitan Nashville Policing Policy Commission.
In 2018, Robert became a best-selling author with the release of his first book, The Journey Back to Now, chronicling his life and telling how losing everything was the catalyst he needed to gain the world.
