Registration is now open for the 2024 Business Growth Strategies Conference. Hosted by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, this year’s conference takes place June 11-13, 2024, at ISSA’s headquarters in Rosemont, Ill. This exclusive three-day event is designed to help building service contractors, residential cleaning companies, and restoration companies become more efficient operationally, grow their business with new sales and marketing techniques, and take advantage the latest innovations. Nearly 20 cleaning industry thought leaders will be on hand to share their wealth of expertise on such topics as enhancing sales techniques, improving worker retention, optimizing performance practices, and other topics designed to boost attendees’ businesses. This special event is limited to the first 100 attendees and by design will be an intimate setting that allows participants to have the experience of learning from some of their most respected peers. “As our industry continues to face significant concerns such as a mounting labor shortage, supply-chain challenges, and increased customer demands, we wanted to offer solutions,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “This year’s Business Growth Strategies is poised to provide attendees with the tools and skills to operate more efficiently while leveraging new technology in an environment encouraging peer-to-peer networking.” This year’s distinguished keynote speakers collectively bring forth decades of invaluable experience in the cleaning industry. Hear real-world advice from such luminaries as Dean Mercado of Online Marketing Muscle; Ricky Regaldo, CEO and founder of Route; and Debbie Sardone of Debbie Sardone Consulting. The event features several panels on game-changing strategies helmed by professionals from across the cleaning industry supply chain. A complete schedule of speakers and sessions can be found at www.issa.com/BGSschedule. In addition to the unprecedented educational and training opportunities, Business Growth Strategies offers attendees the chance to share success stories with fellow business owners and managers. As part of the event, all attendees are invited to join a special Cleaning & Cocktails Networking Event on June 11. “We really have gone above and beyond with our educational offerings this year for Business Growth Strategies,” said ISSA Chief Global Education Officer Brant Insero. “The panels and presentations we have scheduled will help you supercharge your skillset and take your operations to the next level.” Thanks to the generosity of the Business Growth Strategies event sponsors, all attendees of Business Growth Strategies have access to two exclusive offers. Sunbelt Rentals will provide participants with a coupon to enjoy 15% off any rental (a savings of up to $500) and ThinkLite Air is offering a 30-day, complimentary trial on an indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor. For more information on Business Growth Strategies and to register, visit www.issa.com/BGS.
ISSA is offering a complimentary webinar—Proposed LEED V5 Revisions: Industry Setbacks & How You Can Take Action—taking place April 22 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Earlier this month, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) began seeking feedback regarding the next version (v5) of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. In this FREE one-hour webinar, learn more about USGBC’s proposed changes and how they may adversely impact the cleaning industry. Attendees will hear from a panel of industry experts and USGBC committee members on concerns that LEED v5 undervalues cleaning in comparison to other issues and how the proposed changes will eliminate basic requirements for management systems, training, and certifications for cleaning services. Participants will also learn how to submit comments to the USGBC along with draft language for easy commenting. Click here to register today! To access the current LEED v5 drafts and voice your concerns, visit the USGBC website.
On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, join the ISSA Hygieia Network for its upcoming networking and leadership conference—Workplace Allies: The Power of Having Someone in Your Corner. This information-packed conference, which includes a networking lunch, will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Spartan Chemical Co. Inc.’s headquarters in Maumee, Ohio. “We’re excited to announce our latest networking and leadership conference,” said ISSA Hygieia Network Program Director Dr. Felicia Townsend. “We have assembled a fantastic lineup of speakers and invite people to come and learn about the significance of workplace relationships and developing allyships.” Attendees will gain new strategies on how to become better advocates and supporters of employees from every level in their organization. Additionally, they will receive insights into how they can make their organizations more inclusive for everyone to thrive and discover how securing mentors, sponsors, and peer relationships can help them reach their goals. “We’re especially honored to have Kim Graham Lee, Chief Allyship officer and former CEO of Integrating Women Leader’s Foundation (IWL), kickoff the event with her workshop, The 3A’s of Allyship: Awareness, Authenticity, and ACTION!” added Townsend. “This will be a great opportunity for attendees to learn how gender bias shows up in the workplace all too frequently and devalues women.” Other guest speakers include: John Swigart, Spartan Chemical President Cali Sartor, Spartan Chemical Vice President of Marketing and Advertising Rachel Sanchez, Prestige Maintenance USA CEO As part of this can’t-miss event, all attendees are invited to join a special Cleaning & Cocktails Reception and Fireside Chat taking place June 4 at 5:00 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Toledo/Perrysburg in nearby Perrysburg, Ohio. This conference is sponsored by Spartan Chemical. Registration is open now, with pricing starting at US$89 for ISSA Members and $119 for nonmembers. Group discounts are also available. To learn more and register, visit https://events.issa.com/events/hygieia-networking-conference-ohio-2024/ About ISSA Charities ISSA Charities™ is the charitable and philanthropic arm of ISSA and the worldwide cleaning industry. A 501(c)(3) organization, ISSA Charities’ mission is to make the world a cleaner, healthier, better place to live by sponsoring, funding, and operating charitable and social programs directly connected to the cleaning industry. Our Signature Charities are changing the way the world views cleaning: Cleaning for a Reason provides professional home cleaning for cancer patients; the ISSA Hygieia Network advances women, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cleaning industry; and ISSA Scholars supports youth with scholarship aid and seasonal internships. To learn more about ISSA Charities and to make your own donation, visit issacharities.org.
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, join the ISSA Hygieia Network for its upcoming networking and leadership conference—Workplace Allies: The Power of Having Someone in Your Corner. This information-packed conference, which includes a networking reception, will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. at Delta Hotels Toronto Mississauga in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. “We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming networking and leadership conference,” said ISSA Hygieia Network Program Director Dr. Felicia Townsend. “We invite people to come and learn about the significance of workplace relationships and creating allyships through discussions led by our phenomenal lineup of speakers.” Attendees will gain new strategies on how to become better advocates and supporters of employees from every level in the organization. Additionally, they gain insights into how they can make their organizations more inclusive for everyone to thrive and discover how securing mentors, sponsors and peer relationships can help them reach their goals. “We’re especially honored to have Karen Craggs-Milne, CEO of Conscious Equality Inc., to present her workshop, Turning Good Intentions into Real Impact: Gender Equality and Allyship at Work,” added Townsend. “This will be a great opportunity for attendees to learn what it takes to achieve gender equality and how to promote allyship within the cleaning industry.” Other guest speakers include: Lori Armitage, Canadian Sales Manager Strategic Accounts – Essity Jenny Lawson, Director of Human Resources – Bunzl Canada Tom Fournier, Chair – ISSA Canada’s Distributor Council Shannon Hall, Vice President of Sales and Marketing – Dustbane Products Ltd. This conference is sponsored by Dustbane and SC Johnson Professional with supporting sponsors: Bunzl, Balpex, Carrousel, Cascades Pro, Larose ,and Tork. Registration is open now, with pricing starting at US$89 for ISSA Members and US$119 for nonmembers. To learn more and register, visit events.issa.com/events/hygieia-networking-conference-ontario-2024/.
If you’re a facility manager or building service contractor (BSC), you won’t want to miss CMM’s upcoming webinar, Strengthen the Synergy of Cleaning & Disinfection, taking place at 1 p.m. CT on March 5, 2024. During this free, one-hour session, a panel of industry experts will offer infection prevention best practices that, when enacted, will help you and your cleaning crew keep facility inhabitants healthy—every day. By attending, you’ll learn: How to identify the germiest areas in facilities How to effectively use cleaning and disinfecting products on surfaces How to justify increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting Why a focus on improving indoor air quality is critical How to build confidence in the staff cleaning your buildings. A live Q&A session will round out the webinar. Come prepared with questions specific to the challenges and concerns you face at your facility and on the job. Registrants can participate in the live event and will obtain a link to the webinar recording afterward. To register, click here.
International Cleaning Week takes place March 24–30, 2024. The week-long event hosted by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is a global celebration to honor frontline cleaning professionals and advocates for the industry. For four consecutive years, ISSA has hosted National Cleaning Week at the end of March. Based on the event’s tremendous success in the United States, this year ISSA is expanding the reach of this week-long event to also highlight the industry’s positive impact on the economy as well as the value of clean as it relates to improving public health. “ISSA is thrilled to build on the success of National Cleaning Week by hosting the first International Cleaning Week,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “This expanded scope reflects the value of clean and importance of cleaning for health worldwide, as well as ISSA’s international reach.” International Cleaning Week represents a unique opportunity to celebrate the Value of Clean®, raise public awareness, and honor your peers. Supporting cleaning industry companies and organizations can partner with ISSA to further spread public awareness. This Wednesday, January 31, ISSA will host a free, one-hour webinar offering insight and ideas for organizations to leverage International Cleaning Week in their customer outreach and internal communications. Register at issa.com/ICW2024webinar. International Cleaning Week offers something for everyone, including: Marketing– Use this week to increase sales for your company. Run special promotions to generate interest in your service or product while helping to raise awareness for the importance of cleaning. You can also utilize the International Cleaning Week Partner Toolkit which is packed full with template graphics, social media posts, and e-newsletter language. Help Us Make It Official – Located in the U.S.? Help ISSA by submitting a proclamation to designate an official week of cleaning for your state and/or city. ISSA has prepared a template proclamation, but we need your help submitting proclamation requests by February 16. Help us reach our goal of designating a cleaning week in all 50 states. If you’re interested, please contact ISSA Senior Government Affairs Manager Stacy Seiden. Education – During International Cleaning Week, ISSA will offer membership and educational resource discounts as well as exclusive learning opportunities. Philanthropy– Cleaning for a Reason is an ISSA Charities™ signature program that provides clean homes for cancer patients. International Cleaning Week is the perfect time for individuals to donate and for organizations to become corporate partners. “ISSA would like to especially acknowledge and thank Tork, an Essity Brand, for being a Supporting Sponsor of International Cleaning Week, the exclusive sponsor of our Leveraging International Cleaning Week 2024 webinar, and a Presenting Sponsor of ISSA’s 2024 Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “All three marquee events raise the profile of our industry and would not be possible without generous sponsors like Tork.” For more information about International Cleaning Week and to download the partnership toolkit to promote the event, visit issa.com/icw.
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, kick off the new year by joining ISSA Hygieia Network for its upcoming networking and leadership conference—Workplace Allies: The Power of Having Someone in Your Corner. This information-packed event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET at Georgia-Pacific’s headquarters in Atlanta. “We’re excited to start the new year off on a strong note and invite people to learn more about the importance of developing strong, professional relationships,” said ISSA Hygieia Network Program Director Dr. Felicia Townsend. “We have a phenomenal lineup of speakers and look forward to hearing their thoughts on how allyship in the workplace can enhance one’s career personally and professionally.” Attendees will gain strategies to better advocate and support employees from every level in the organization. Additionally, they will gain insights into making their organizations more inclusive for everyone to thrive and discover how securing mentors, sponsors and peer relationships can help them reach their goals. “We’re especially honored to have Jeffery Tobias Halter, president of YWomen, to present his workshop, Engaging ALL Allies: Moving from Awareness to Advocacy,” added Townsend. “This will be a great opportunity for attendees to hear about crucial topics such as gender equity through a lens of intersectionality and how it will help drive a competitive advantage for them in today’s workforce.” Other guest speakers include: Danyelle Leatherwood, Branch Manager-Atlanta–Imperial Dade Jeff Roberts, Chief Operating Officer–Envoy Solutions Kim Price, Vice President of Market Sales–GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific Ryan Elwart, Chief Customer Officer–Georgia-Pacific Wendie Manion, Vice President of Strategic Accounts–Supply Source This conference is sponsored by Georgia-Pacific. Registration is open now, with pricing starting at US$89 for ISSA Members and $119 for nonmembers. Learn more and register.
The cornerstone of success in the building service contractor (BSC) industry is effective leadership. Successful BSCs are powered by leaders who are the driving force behind critical decisions, company culture, engagement, trust, and respect. Are you ready to lead your BSC firm to new heights? The Keys to Unlocking BSC Success: Innovative Business Strategies for Contract Cleaners is a free webinar, being presented by Cleaning & Maintenance Management (CMM) at 1 p.m. CT on December 5, 2023. During the one-hour presentation, you’ll learn how to revolutionize your leadership approach and succeed in a competitive marketplace. This webinar is for anyone who owns, manages, or markets a BSC company and wants to improve business operations while driving revenue and growth. As an attendee, you will take away strategies to improve and enhance the cleaning and maintenance results of your BSC operation. You will learn: How to identify the critical elements of a successful BSC company How to create a positive company culture with effective leadership—not management How to focus on organizational excellence, profitability, growth, and sustainability when hiring employees How to embrace digitalization and technologies like robotics and AI to stay competitive How to transition from “running” your business to “managing” it as it becomes sustainable, focusing on driving revenue, increasing the “value-multiplier,” and leaving a legacy And much more! The expert panel for this webinar includes: Jeff Cross (moderator), ISSA Media Director Jill Frey, President/CEO at Cummins Facility Services Mike Sawchuk, Owner of Sawchuk Consulting Holly Borrego, Head of Cleaning Products and Performance, ISS Facility Services A live Q&A session will round out the webinar. Come prepared with questions specific to your BSC challenges and concerns. Our expert panelists will be ready! Registrants can participate in the live event and will obtain a link to the webinar recording afterward. Click here to register today!
ISSA Show North America 2023 has wrapped up a week of reflection, education, and celebration for the worldwide cleaning industry. The event kicked off on Monday with numerous educational sessions across nine separate topic tracks, as well as sessions that were offered in Spanish. In all, this more than 90 opportunities for education, certification, and networking were available to this year’s participants. On Tuesday, a special spotlight session took a look back at ISSA’s last 100 years. ISSA Executive Director John Barrett opened the session, thanking everyone present for their dedication and hard work. “You are doing something that truly matters in the world,” he said. On Wednesday, exceptional industry professionals and products were honored as several awards presentations took place, including the ISSA Residential Awards, the ISSA Hygieia Network Awards, the ISSA Achievement Awards, and the ISSA Innovations Awards. Thursday served as one last opportunity for attendees to explore the industry’s newest products, trends, and technological advances, as presented by more than 600 exhibitors on the show’s exposition floor. With the 2023 show now in the past, the association now looks forward to ISSA Show North America 2024. Be sure to save the dates, November 18–21, 2024, as the ISSA Show returns yet again to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The third day of ISSA Show North America 2023 opened with a presentation by Doc Hendley, founder and president of Wine To Water, a nonprofit organization that provides clean drinking water to people worldwide. Since Hendley started the nonprofit in 2004, it has served hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. “We just reached 53 countries and two million people,” he said during his talk. Despite his current success, Hendley, of Boone, North Carolina, said he spent the early part of his life struggling to find his purpose. At first, he wanted to make his mark through athletics as he looked up to his grandfather, who had played professional football with the Pittsburg Steelers. However, Hendley quickly discovered he had no talent for football. He switched his focus to basketball, but his limited skills were soon surpassed by his younger brother, who grew to be six feet, nine inches tall. And his skills in golf were not much better. Next, Hendley considered focusing on scholastics. But he was a poor student, especially compared to his sister, who earned straight As throughout school, with the exception of one B. “I remember she literally wept when she got that B,” Hendley said. “I would have cried too, but tears of happiness, because I never earned anything higher than a B. Most of my grades were Cs and Ds.” After an unsuccessful semester in community college, Hendley went to work with an uncle on a horse ranch in Montana. He envisioned a life the resembled a John Wayne movie. “In reality, I spent 90% of my time shoveling manure, and I couldn’t even afford a place to live, so I slept in the barn,” Hendley said. After his mother convinced him to move back to North Carolina, Hendley landed in the restaurant industry, where he did well. He was promoted to bartender and supported himself while continuing his schooling. Although Hendley enjoyed spending time with the restaurant/bar patrons, he was in a rough patch of his life and one night, found himself drunk on the floor of a seedy bar’s restroom. At that low point, with only one semester left of college, he decided to buckle down. He had recently learned that a substantial number of people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water, a fact that greatly surprised him. So Hendley decided to put together a fundraiser using contacts he knew through the restaurant for food and drink. His first fundraiser was a success, raising US$5,000, so he organized several more. He decided to donate the money to an organization working to provide water to people in third-world nations. But instead of just accepting his money, the founder of the organization invited Hendley to join him. Hendley received training in repairing wells and filtering water and eventually found himself in Sudan, installing water systems for victims of government-sanctioned genocide. The work was difficult and sometimes dangerous, such as the time he was ambushed by a tribe that was enemies of the people he was trying to help. Hendley literally dodged bullets, but he continued the work, created his own nonprofit, and went on to receive several honors, including being named one of CNN’s top heroes for 2009. After Hendley’s spotlight presentation, the show floor opened, and education sessions commenced. A session in the facility maintenance and operations track looked at the conundrum between waste management and infection control. Michael Patterson, executive director at IEHA, a division of ISSA, led the participants in a discussion of the ramifications that occur when hospital workers do not properly dispose of hazardous waste. Several audience members told of being called to the landfill to pick up hazardous waste that was mistakenly mixed in with regular trash. Patterson described the three types of hazardous waste found at hospitals: Infectious, toxic, and radioactive. He explained that improper employee education and training often leads to mistakes in the disposal of this waste. Patterson advised the audience to keep updated records on employee hazardous waste training. This training should also include the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous waste. Patterson then quizzed the audience on the three requirements the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has for employers: The requirement to provide employees with PPE The requirement to tell employees where they will find PPE in their workplace The requirement to train employees on how to properly wear PPE.
Informa Markets’ ISSA Show North America has announced the recipients of the 2023 ISSA Show Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards program honors trailblazing companies in the commercial, institutional, and residential cleaning community. “As we celebrate 100 years of ISSA at this year’s show, it’s also important to look towards the future,” said Ed Nichols, ISSA Show North America Show Director for Informa Markets. “This year’s award recipients are truly elevating the cleaning industry and leading the charge for innovation into the next century of ISSA.” [caption id="attachment_21629" align="alignnone" width="476"] GP PRO (Georgia-Pacific)[/caption] GP PRO (Georgia-Pacific) was honored with the Innovation of the Year Award for its Compact Quad® Plus 4-Roll Toilet Paper Dispenser. Designed for maximum waste reduction, hygiene, and ease of maintenance, this coreless toilet paper dispensing system holds up to 6,000 two-ply or 12,000 one-ply sheets. The Innovation of the Year Award Honorees include: PathogenFocus Air/Surface Disinfection Biosecurity by PathogenFocus is a clean tech solution—a chemical free organic technology that protects people and processes. Proline WAVE™ 1-liter manual dispenser by SC Johnson Professional uses the equivalent of 16.9 fl. oz. of recovered coastal plastic waste in its plastic bottles, making it a great choice for facilities that care about sustainability and want a reliable solution for their busy restrooms. All Floor™ cleaning system by Kaivac Inc. is designed to deeply clean high volumes of both hard surface flooring and carpeting on a single platform, with the ability to easily switch between modes for the best of both worlds. Multi-Surface Ceramic Clearcoat PURE AIR Coating by SIMIX LLC transforms all HVAC systems, floors, and roofs into air purifiers that never stop working. Evogen® Tri-Vend High-Capacity No-Touch Menstrual Care Product Dispenser by Hospeco Brands Group provides comfort and convenience for patrons with an inviting, hands-free experience. [caption id="attachment_21632" align="alignnone" width="476"] ABCO Products Corp.[/caption] The recipient of the Environment & Sustainability Award, for its dedication to environmental innovation, is Natura Yarn by ABCO Products Corp., the first and only line of Green Seal-certified wet and dry mopping products. Honorees of the Environment & Sustainability Award include: Super Hydro Pod Foaming Hand Soap by Soap2o allows you to completely eliminate single-use plastic and the shipping of water, while saving up to 40% on your costs. Tork Carbon Neutral Dispensers by Tork, an Essity brand, are a line of 11 innovative dispensers that have been certified as carbon neutral. The recipients of the Innovation Industry Choice Awards include: Distributors: Natura Yarn line of mopping products by ABCO Products Corp. Facility Service Providers: All Floor™ cleaning system by Kaivac Inc. Manufacturer Representatives: TOPFILL™ No Touch Counter Mount Soap Dispenser by Kutol Products use an innovative locking refill dock that allows for refilling from above the counter—instead of below—saving labor time, strain, and stress. Residential: SIMPL: Smart Inspect Machine Predictive Learning by SmartInspect™ applies the power of machine learning to your inspection data. About Informa Markets Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate, and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience, and do business through face-to face exhibitions, specialist digital content, and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. About ISSA With more than 10,500 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
The cornerstone of success in the building service contractor (BSC) industry is effective leadership. Successful BSCs are powered by leaders who are the driving force behind critical decisions, company culture, engagement, trust, and respect. Are you ready to lead your BSC firm to new heights? The Keys to Unlocking BSC Success: Innovative Business Strategies for Contract Cleaners is a free webinar, being presented by Cleaning & Maintenance Management (CMM) at 1 p.m. CT on December 5, 2023. During the one-hour presentation, you’ll learn how to revolutionize your leadership approach and succeed in a competitive marketplace. This webinar is for anyone who owns, manages, or markets a BSC company and wants to improve business operations while driving revenue and growth. As an attendee, you will take away strategies to improve and enhance the cleaning and maintenance results of your BSC operation. You will learn: How to identify the critical elements of a successful BSC company How to create a positive company culture with effective leadership—not management How to focus on organizational excellence, profitability, growth, and sustainability when hiring employees How to embrace digitalization and technologies like robotics and AI to stay competitive How to transition from “running” your business to “managing” it as it becomes sustainable, focusing on driving revenue, increasing the “value-multiplier,” and leaving a legacy And much more! The expert panel for this webinar includes: Jeff Cross (moderator), ISSA Media Director Jill Frey, President/CEO at Cummins Facility Services Mike Sawchuk, Owner of Sawchuk Consulting Holly Borrego, Head of Cleaning Products and Performance, ISS Facility Services A live Q&A session will round out the webinar. Come prepared with questions specific to your BSC challenges and concerns. Our expert panelists will be ready! Registrants can participate in the live event and will obtain a link to the webinar recording afterward. Click here to register today!