New Talent Pipeline Emerged at ISSA Show

The cleaning-industry community experienced a milestone moment at ISSA Show North America 2025 with the successful launch of the first-ever Global Collegiate Sales Competition (GCSC).

Designed to spotlight emerging sales talent and forge meaningful connections between students and the cleaning industry, the competition brought energy, innovation, and fresh perspectives to the show floor.

Over the course of two dynamic days, 40 top sales students representing 10 universities put their skills to the test in a series of high-pressure events. Competitors participated in both Speed-Selling challenges and real-world role-play scenarios, each using actual cleaning-industry products and service situations to demonstrate their ability to listen, adapt, and sell effectively.

The competition created a powerful new pathway for students to engage directly with manufacturers, distributors, and facility-service providers—many of whom are actively searching for the next generation of sales talent.

The inaugural GCSC concluded with outstanding performances from students across the country. Winners included:

Role Play

• 1st Place: Emily Grimaldi (Virginia Tech)
• 2nd Place: Lucy Lyons (Ball State University)
• 3rd Place: Kelly Mollenauer (Virginia Tech)

Speed Sell

• 1st Place: Kaylie Cerda (Texas A&M)
• 2nd Place: Ellie Swain (Virginia Tech)
• 3rd Place: Leah Im (University of Nevada–Las Vegas)

These students demonstrated an impressive command of sales fundamentals, emotional intelligence, and industry awareness—earning recognition from judges and industry experts in attendance.

Participating institutions included Texas A&M University, Boise State University, Idaho State University, University of Nevada–Las Vegas, Weber State University, California State University–Chico, Ball State University, and Virginia Tech, among others. Each school brought a team of high-performing sales students eager to explore opportunities within the cleaning and facility-services field.