This year’s ISSA Rising Star Award in honor of Jimmy Core celebrates the next generation of leadership in the cleaning and facility solutions industry—and one professional who exemplifies the spirit of service, growth, and integrity: Donnell Hines, Regional Operations Manager at Integrity National Corporation.
Hines’ journey to the top of the industry’s emerging leaders list began years before his professional career, rooted in family and fueled by curiosity. “I have an inheritance somewhat into the industry,” he said. “My grandfather had his own cleaning company called Beautify. And later, my uncle, Antonius—the owner of Integrity—started Integrity around 1997. I was only six at the time, but I played with all the different vacuums and floor equipment in the basement of my grandfather’s home. So I grew a fascination with equipment.”
That fascination turned into a lifelong pursuit. “I started around 16 as a floor tech where I stripped and waxed at a library,” Hines said. “Didn’t know what I was doing at all, but I just enjoyed using the machines and the results of it.”
From that first job, he steadily built a career through nearly every operational role imaginable—floor technician, general cleaner, porter day and night supervisor, and beyond. “Around 2016, I worked my way up into management where I was a quality control manager at an aviation base in Atlantic City, New Jersey,” he said. “From there, I learned more about business development and the management side of things. Since then, I’ve been a assistant project manager, project manager, area manager and now I’m a regional manager for the last two years.”
Today, Hines oversees teams across multiple accounts and states. A certified Building Service Manager through the BSC Management Institute, he’s also looking ahead. “I’ve earned my registered builder service management certification through BSCAI, which I’m proud of, and I’m looking to go for the executive one next and see where this industry takes me,” he said.
Building people, not just programs
What sets Hines apart, colleagues say, is his hands-on leadership style—something he describes as both a necessity and a passion. “I think just building people up, through succession planning,” he said. “I have one particular person who started as a cleaner who is now receiving the training to become a supervisor. Having people adapt to me, reach out to me for advice, and helping them further their careers through my leadership—that’s what excites me most.”
That commitment to mentorship is especially notable given Hines’s own path as a young leader. “I’m a younger manager,” he said. “Most of the people, if not all the people that I manage, are older than me. So I’m learning from them as they learn from me and just being an asset to them in their careers.”
Hines’s approach to management emphasizes consistency, communication, and accountability. “You have to stay on top of your tasks each day because you never know what the next day is going to bring,” he said. “We’re in a customer service business. Your customer expects a certain level of commitment, a certain level of operations, and they want to get what they are paying us to do each day. I drill that into my team members—to remain consistent with their inspections, periodic work, or just routine maintenance on their equipment. If you’re consistent through your day-to-day, it takes you a long way.”
A culture of trust and recognition
Hines also understands that leadership requires balance—holding people accountable while recognizing their effort. “When you go so long without giving a certain site attention, something can go wrong,” he said. “So you prioritize the managers that may need the most help but give that same level of support to the ones doing good and pat them on the back. Those kudos when they need it matter, because in the janitorial industry, there’s not always a lot of recognition.”
His authenticity and accessibility have made him a trusted mentor to colleagues across Integrity National Corporation. Beyond his daily work, Hines volunteers through Integrity Cares, the company’s nonprofit arm that supports vulnerable communities through outreach and service projects. Whether at work or in the community, he leads by example—calmly, genuinely, and with a deep respect for people.
Recognition that matters
When Hines learned he was being honored as the ISSA Rising Star Award recipient, the moment hit deeply. “When I first heard the news, it was very emotional,” he said. “I shed a tear with my uncle, the CEO, Antonius, and he’s the one who even referred me to the program. I wanted him to be the first person to know. This is my first award in the industry. Obviously, I have my certifications but winning this award and being a part of the program—it’s a great honor.”
He credits his success to the people around him and the opportunities to learn from others in the field. “The hardest part of being young in the industry and working for one primary company is not having experience from other avenues,” he said. “But when I bring on different managers or we have different leadership coming to the company, I attach myself to them and learn. I bring those things I learn from them, and from people networking at ISSA or BSCAI conferences, back into my company to make us more successful.”
Advice for tomorrow’s leaders
For the next generation coming up behind him, Hines’s advice is simple but powerful. “Never be afraid to attack your goals,” he said. “When I say attack, I mean put your full force into it. Find yourself a mentor, soak up all the information from your peers and your leadership that you can, and incorporate that into your daily routine. Remain consistent—personally and professionally.”
As for what comes next, Hines has his eyes set on continued growth. “I’m in a sweet spot right now where I’m not the top guy, but I’m not the lowest guy either,” he said. “So I have influence and reach. I’m building my team under me so they can create new opportunities within their own accounts and even open accounts in their areas. We’re expanding into different states, different territories, different verticals. Eventually, I want to get my executive certification and move into the next spot—maybe vice president of operations, COO, or even CEO of the company.”
He added with a grin, “I love my boss, but I’m coming for your job.”
For Hines, the Rising Star Award isn’t the destination—it’s proof that dedication, mentorship, and consistency light the path forward.
