ISSA Scholars, a signature ISSA Charities program–the charitable arm of ISSA, named the recipients of the ISSA Scholars 2024-2025 Scholarship Awards. The generous contributions of several individuals and ISSA member companies provided 42 scholarships to new and continuing college students totaling US$144,500 in financial aid. “We had another exciting year with a competitive applicant pool, and are so excited to celebrate these amazing graduates,” said Sandy Wolfrum, ISSA Charities Director of Development. “Thank you so much to each of our donors and member companies who helped make these scholarships possible. Without your support, we could not introduce our vast industry to the next generation of professionals.” ISSA Scholars provides financial aid to help students achieve their dreams of higher education. Since 1988, the organization has awarded nearly $4 million in financial aid to more than 1,000 ISSA member company employees and their immediate family members. Scholarships relieve the burden of tuition for college and university students and introduce new professionals to career opportunities in the cleaning industry. Students entering or continuing studies at fully accredited four-year colleges and universities are eligible to apply for annual scholarships. An independent committee selects scholarship winners based on merit, individual accomplishments, and evidence of leadership. The full list of 2024-2025 Scholarships and recipients is available here: www.issacharities.org/scholarship-recipients/ Learn more about ISSA Scholars at www.issacharities.org/issa-scholars.
Last week, ISSA and the Healthcare Surfaces Institute™ (HSI) merged. HSI will now be known as the Healthcare Surfaces Institute, a division of ISSA, and the HSI community can become members of ISSA immediately. HSI was formed in 2015 at the first Healthcare Surfaces Institute Annual Summit. During the past eight years, HSI has had many accomplishments—including identifying the spread of deadly pathogens via surfaces which lead to unaddressed patient and healthcare worker safety risks. The institute includes an advisory committee of world-renowned experts in the fields of healthcare, infection prevention, facilities management, environmental services, manufacturing and engineering, regulatory agencies, microbiology, occupational health, and academia. HSI's work includes scientific research, development of guidelines and standards, and outreach and educational programs to support effective and efficient cleaning and disinfection of healthcare facilities. “The addition of HSI to the ISSA family furthers our association’s mission to change the way the world views cleaning and advance the professionalism of the cleaning industry,” said John Barrett, ISSA Executive Director. “We are incredibly excited to welcome HSI to ISSA and look forward to adding the group’s knowledge and expertise to educate and empower our membership and our industry.” The merger further augments ISSA’s educational and certification offerings. With the addition of HSI, ISSA gains strength and subject matter expertise in the healthcare sector to bolster education and training and develop new programs to support the industry. Cleaning and facility solutions professionals are invited to join HSI at a rate of US$290 per year and gain access to select ISSA benefits. As part of the agreement, Linda Lybert, HSI Executive Director, became a full-time ISSA staff member. Lybert is a 25-year healthcare industry veteran and an established expert on infection control as it relates to the foundational issue of surfaces. Lybert will lead the HSI division while working closely with the ISSA management team to implement new training and certification programs, education events, and other engagement opportunities for the cleaning, facility solutions, and healthcare markets under ISSA’s global platform. “I am very excited about this partnership and the opportunities it will deliver to not just the cleaning industry, but public health overall,” Lybert said. “Being able to combine HSI’s programs and subject matter experts with ISSA’s global network will allow us to increase awareness of how surfaces are active in spreading pathogens that cause deadly infections, and more importantly how we can work together to make the world a healthier, safer place for everyone.” Save the date for HSI’s 2024 Healthcare Surfaces Summit. This two-day event takes place Nov. 18 and 19 in Las Vegas as part of ISSA Show North America. HSI’s annual conference will spotlight healthcare experts and thought leaders from a wide variety of expertise, who will discuss the latest advancements in mitigating the spread of deadly pathogens as it relates to surfaces.
On July 9, the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee officially approved the Education and Workforce Freedom Act (HR 8915) by a vote of 23-13. This bill included legislative text pulled from the ISSA-supported Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (HR 1477/S 722), which is a public-policy priority for ISSA. The bill would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include post-secondary training and credentialing, such as licenses and professional certifications for cleaning workers. As an early member of the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition, ISSA has long advocated for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. In April, 100+ cleaning-industry leaders who attended the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit met with congressional offices about the need for training essential workers and advocated for specific legislation. This collective advocacy is an important reason why the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act has gained so much bipartisan support in Congress (146 House cosponsors; 24 Senate cosponsors). “This marks a major milestone for our essential workforce training efforts,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “We thank the House Ways and Means committee members who voted to approve HR 8915, as well as our association partners and ISSA advocates who helped make this legislative success to date possible. Although the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act still has more to achieve in Congress, it’s progressing in a steadfast and meaningful way.” The bill has now been reported to the House floor for consideration at a time to be determined. Take action: Using ISSA’s Advocacy Action Center, take a moment to email, post on X, and/or call your congressional delegation to request their support for the bipartisan, bicameral Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act to help essential cleaning professionals get trained and certified. Take action To learn more about ISSA advocacy and our legislative efforts to train essential workers, please contact ISSA Senior Government Affairs Manager Stacy Seiden.
Submit your nomination for the 2024 ISSA Emerging Leaders Awards! Highlight some of the top talent impacting the market by July 31. Leaders will be recognized in Las Vegas this November as part of ISSA Show North America 2024. Take a moment to reflect on the young professionals who have impressed you with their vision, dedication, and innovative approach. This is your opportunity to celebrate their contributions and support their continued growth and success. By nominating an Emerging Leader, you’ll not only recognize some of the top talent impacting the market, but you’ll also bring awareness and recognition to your organization. The inaugural awards program is a complimentary benefit for all current ISSA members across the cleaning industry supply chain—including manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, distributors, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—who are proven leaders in their field. Nominations are open to anyone employed by an ISSA member company who will be younger than 40 years old as of November 30. ISSA members are invited to nominate individuals and complete a short questionnaire at issa.com/EmergingLeaders. Self-nominations are also accepted. The winning submissions will be selected by the ISSA Emerging Leaders Committee and notified in early October. The 2024 ISSA Emerging Leaders will be recognized in Las Vegas this November as part of ISSA Show North America 2024. This year’s winners also will be featured in an article in the November/December edition of the association’s member magazine, ISSA Today, and across ISSA’s social media channels. For more information on the ISSA Emerging Leaders Awards and to submit a nomination, visit issa.com/EmergingLeaders.
ISSA Show North America, the largest and most comprehensive event dedicated to the worldwide industrial, commercial and residential cleaning and facilities industries, opens registration for the upcoming annual gathering (November 17-21 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas). ISSA Show North America, organized by Informa Markets and sponsored by ISSA, convenes over 600 exhibitors from across the entire cleaning ecosystem to showcase the newest products, tools, equipment, and technologies. The event addresses the critical need to enhance safety, sustainability, and efficiency in global sectors including food and dining, hospitality, healthcare, and more. The annual gathering, held in conjunction with the Building Service Contractors Association International’s (BSCAI) Contracting Success Conference, will bring a projected more than 14,000 registered professionals from over 80 countries, with first-time attendance expected to near 30% as observed at the 2023 event. The expansive reach and continued growth underscores ISSA Show North America as a vital touchpoint to gain hands-on experience and education on new innovations, trends, and regulations in one of the most critical and indispensable industries in the world to better utilize resources to advance cleanliness. One of ISSA Show North America’s greatest values to the market is the ability to deliver highly qualified business opportunities across a variety of market sectors every year,” remarks Ed Nichols, Lead Director of ISSA Show North America. “Our industry partnerships allow us to bring a unique blend of distributors, suppliers and trusted brands together to utilize the most science-backed technology, research, and data, to source all kinds of solutions to regulatory, labor, sustainability, and operational efficiency challenges.” North America has become the world’s largest cleaning industry market, significantly contributing to the international market, which is forecasted to reach US$729.47 billion worldwide by 2033. As this space expands, software continues to optimize automated processes to meet demand. New technologies showcased at the ISSA Show North America, such as artificial intelligence (AI) assisted clean tech, autonomous AI-integrated service robots, and automated maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) programs, are enhancing performance. The surplus 170 educational sessions, covering business development, sustainability, career development, and facility operations and management will provide valuable insights for the hospitality, healthcare, residential, commercial and industrial cleaning sectors. These sessions will share best practices, solutions and success strategies to deliver high-quality services, tailored to each sector. Specialized courses for facility service professionals, housekeeping management, facility supply sales, and residential cleaners will also address labor law compliance, informing the industry about regulations impacting cleaning companies, improving the quality and safety of cleaning services. “ISSA Show North America is the single most important event in the cleaning and facility solutions industry,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “We’re excited to build on last year’s successful show and welcome back the entire industry to the fantastic Mandalay Bay Convention Center this November to elevate their knowledge, expand their network, and explore the latest innovative cleaning products and solutions.” Top-tier leading brands confirmed to attend include 3M Commercial Solutions Division, AmerCare Royal, Aztec Products, Bissell BigGreen Commercial, Clorox Pro, Ecolab Inc., Georgia-Pacific Pro, Kimberly-Clark Professional, Nilfisk, Procter & Gamble Professional, Rubbermaid Commercial Products Inc., Sanitaire, SC Johnson Professional, Sofidel Group, Spartan Chemical Co. Inc., Sunbelt Rentals, and Tork, an Essity brand. ISSA Show North America registration is open now. To attend the much-anticipated show this November, please register at www.issashow.com.
ISSA Residential is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Professional Image Awards. The deadline for nominations is July 31, 2024. The annual Professional Image Awards are an opportunity for the residential cleaning community to recognize industry professionals for their outstanding contributions during the last year. ISSA Residential will present two awards at ISSA Show North America, November 17-21, 2024, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas: The PerfectCLEAN Professional Cleaner of the Year This award recognizes an organization’s “go-to” cleaner or trainer that is always reliable, helpful to other staff, and someone clients and employees value and trust above others. This individual consistently goes above and beyond their responsibilities. The Office Team Member Award This award recognizes an individual within an organization that helps make the business run smoothly, and consistently takes on more responsibility. This can be an organization’s top office staff person, office manager, sales representative, or other employee. “The annual ISSA Residential Professional Image Awards offer a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the hard work of our dedicated residential cleaning teams,” said ISSA Residential Cleaning Council Chair Jeannie Henderson. “If you have employees that illustrate exceptional leadership by going above and beyond to deliver phenomenal customer service, raising the bar for their coworkers and elevating our industry, then now is the time to recognize their contributions.” Nominations can made on the ISSA Residential website. If you have any questions about the Professional Image Awards, contact ISSA Education Development Manager Erin Lasch at erin@issa.com. About ISSA Residential ISSA Residential, formerly known as the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI), was established in 2003 to assist residential cleaning service owners in starting, promoting, building, and expanding their businesses. The organization merged with ISSA in January 2017 to become ARCSI, a Division of ISSA, and in 2023 transitioned to ISSA Residential to better align with the greater ISSA community. As the residential cleaning arm of the worldwide cleaning industry association, ISSA Residential brings together members in the United States, Canada, and across the world by providing valuable information and opportunities to ensure the growth and development of its members’ businesses through education, networking, and collaboration. For more information, visit www.issa.com/residential or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The deadline to submit your nomination for the 2024 ISSA Emerging Leaders Awards is quickly approaching. Highlight exceptional individuals who are driving positive change and shaping the future of your organization and the industry by July 31. By nominating an Emerging Leader, you'll not only recognize some of the top talent impacting the market, but you’ll also bring awareness and recognition to your organization. Take a moment to reflect on the young professionals who have impressed you with their vision, dedication, and innovative approach. This is your opportunity to celebrate their contributions and support their continued growth and success. The inaugural awards program is a complimentary benefit for all current ISSA members across the cleaning industry supply chain—including manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, distributors, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—who are proven leaders in their field. Nominations are open to anyone employed by an ISSA member company who will be younger than 40 years old as of November 30. ISSA members are invited to nominate individuals and complete a short questionnaire at issa.com/EmergingLeaders. Self-nominations are also accepted. The winning submissions will be selected by the ISSA Emerging Leaders Committee and notified in early October. The 2024 ISSA Emerging Leaders will be recognized in Las Vegas this November as part of ISSA Show North America 2024. This year’s winners also will be featured in an article in the November/December edition of the association’s member magazine, ISSA Today, and across ISSA’s social media channels. For more information on the ISSA Emerging Leaders Awards and to submit a nomination, visit issa.com/EmergingLeaders.
Dozens of cleaning industry professionals from across the United States converged on ISSA’s Rosemont, Illinois, headquarters for the 2024 Business Growth Strategies Conference. This exclusive three-day event took place June 11-13 and featured nearly 20 cleaning industry thought leaders who shared their expertise on such topics as optimizing performance practices, enhancing sales techniques, improving worker retention, and other topics designed to boost the business of the building service contractors (BSCs) and residential cleaners in attendance. Business Growth Strategies’ distinguished keynote speakers included Ricky Regaldo, CEO and founder of Route; Dean Mercado of Online Marketing Muscle; and Debbie Sardone of Debbie Sardone Consulting. The trio shared real-world advice on some of the most pressing issues facing our industry. Attendees also participated in multiple interactive panel discussions, allowing them to share new ideas and innovations in a spirited back-and-forth setting. In addition to the educational offerings, this year’s Business Growth Strategies also provided attendees with the opportunity to network with other like-minded business leaders and share their success stories. “We are beyond grateful for the participation of so many individuals that shared their stories, knowledge, and expertise with a new network of friends,” said ISSA Chief Global Education Officer Brant Insero. “We witnessed new relationships and bonds with likeminded executives created within a purposely designed intimate setting. These are the moments that ISSA fosters with our members. We are already beginning to explore ways to make Business Growth Strategies stronger for next year.” Special thanks to the event’s sponsors, Sunbelt Rentals and ThinkLite, whose gracious support enabled this year’s Business Growth Strategies to be a huge success.
ISSA Show North America 2024, the annual trade show that brings together leaders from the commercial, institutional, and residential cleaning community, is open for industry-wide registration. The annual event showcases the latest products and innovations, engaging education, and numerous networking opportunities to help attendees grow their businesses and advance their careers. Cleaning industry professionals are encouraged to register now for the event taking place November 17-21 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. With dedicated tracks for distributors, building service contractors (BSCs), and facility services professionals, the ISSA Show is the one place you need to be to expand your product line, make your business more profitable, and take advantage of the latest advances in the cleaning market. Register now for ISSA Show North America 2024. For exclusive Las Vegas hotel and travel discounts, visit www.issashow.com/en/travel. For general event information, visit www.issashow.com.
The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environments Safety (WIPPES) Act (H.R. 2964). According to INDA, the nonwoven fabrics association, “This bipartisan legislation is intended to address the growing problem of sewer system clogs caused by improper disposal of consumer wipes that are not intended to be disposed of in toilets.” This federal solution is the result of collaboration with wastewater operators and similar legislation has been passed in seven states. The WIPPES Act aims to create a national standard based on existing state laws to ensure non-flushable wipes will carry prominent ‘Do Not Flush’ labeling on packaging, according to legislation. “ISSA has been a big supporter of this legislation and is pleased to see that is overwhelming passed the U.S. House of Representatives,” said John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs. “The cleaning industry manufactures, distributes, and uses wipes frequently in buildings, and we are appreciative of the bill sponsors, industry partners, and INDA for this commonsense approach to helping make ‘Do Not Flush’ labeling a reality nationwide.” The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate Science, Commerce, and Energy Committee for consideration.
The May/June edition of ISSA Today—now available in digital format for your desktop, smartphone, or tablet―helps you stay up to date on the latest cleaning industry and ISSA-member news. The latest edition of ISSA Today spotlights the entrepreneurs behind the success stories of Rozalado Services and Route, what they did to succeed, and their vision for the future. Don’t miss the feature article highlighting innovation and technology in 2024 and beyond, and what experts say is most important to embrace for thriving companies. Then take a deep dive into cleaning product information and what you should know about labels and ingredients. Here’s some of what you can find in the May/June issue: Using Cleaning Products What do you need to know about ingredients? Innovation and Technology in 2024 An insider’s look at what impacts the industry now and in the future. Strengthening Client Relationships The power of value-added services in commercial cleaning. Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom Four components necessary in today’s data-driven world. Save Money and the Environment Follow these six practical sustainability strategies. And so much more! Why not see for yourself? Check out this edition’s table of contents to get started.
The May/June issue of INCLEAN, the leading trade publication for the Australian commercial cleaning and hygiene industry, is now available online. This issue of INCLEAN explores incoming mandatory climate disclosure laws set for early 2025. Find out what small businesses need to know about the changes, and how your business can leverage sustainability as a competitive edge. The May/June edition also includes articles on such topics as: What Australia can expect this flu season Mold and remediation every facility manager should know The latest local innovations in floor cleaning tech And so much more! See all this edition of INCLEAN has to offer here.
