The Consensus Group is an ISSA member organization, and it prides itself on being game changers in hygiene, health, hospitality, and happiness. As both Frank Laurentius (father) and Glenn Laurentius (son) describe their company in this edition of Straight Talk!, it is their mission to provide this and future generations a cleaner and healthier world. The entire Consensus Group team is behind the company mission. Learn how the Consensus Group got its start, how the company has found its pathway t...
Jun 28, 2022•24 min
With flooring, oil build-up can be an issue, creating slippery situations. Then, if claims are filed, insurance premiums go up. They rarely go down. Understanding what causes slippery floors and then working to avoid them is critical considering both protecting people along with the cost of litigation. Russ Kendzior is the founder and the executive director of the National Floor Safety Institute (NSFI) and has been involved in more than 1,000 litigation claims in his 20+ years in the industry. I...
Jun 22, 2022•14 min
As told by Debbie Sardone, the founder of Cleaning for a Reason, an ISSA Charity program, Tyler Perry is a comedian and actor she has never seen in a television show or movie, yet she loves him for his giving attitude. In this episode of Straight Talk!, learn how Tyler Perry paid off lay-a-ways for families in need and how Debbie focused in on how a giving attitude can be infectious. The story she shares is inspirational to anyone who wants to give to others.
Jun 01, 2022•14 min
The majority of Americans say either they or someone in their immediate family have been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Cancer has no bias, and attacks anyone. How can the cleaning industry help when cancer attacks? That's where Cleaning for a Reason, an ISSA Charity program, comes into play. More than a thousand professional house cleaning companies have come together to help families who have been affected by cancer, offering free cleanings to them. In this episode of Stra...
May 25, 2022•7 min
Robert Kravitz is the founder of AlturaSolutions Communications and is a recognized thought leader for the cleaning industry, a frequent author of articles and content for ISSA publications, and engages in working with clients to promote their products and services. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Kravitz describes what a thought leader is, how they specialize in a particular field or niche, the impact they have on an entire industry, their influence on trends and habits, and much more....
May 23, 2022•17 min
Some may balk at paying more for workers, as BSCs try to stay competitive, but the living wage program is alive and well in many industries, and has value that is hard to ignore. Learn how to work a living wage program into your proposals, how to identify potential clients that are a good fit with this type of program, and other critical details to make this program work for both the cleaning contractor and the clients it serves. For this program, host ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross welcomes Bik...
May 19, 2022•24 min
Russ Kendzior is the founder and chairman of NFSI, and in this episode of Straight Talk! he discusses the testing methods and protocols the industry uses to see just how slippery and how potentially dangerous a floor may be. Surprisingly, he discloses that some want to put their head in the sand and not know how potentially dangerous their floors are, and some want to hide the data if it comes back negative.
May 13, 2022•18 min
David Kahle is a noted and in-demand keynote speaker, author, and expert business coach who concentrates his efforts on helping wholesale distribution companies to succeed. In this episode of Straight Talk!, he offers several solutions that can help any organization involved in sales, but especially those in distribution.
May 09, 2022•16 min
Daigle Cleaning Systems, based in Albany, NY, is an ISSA member company and takes advantage of ISSA programs, such as the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) certification. The company offers virtually every type of cleaning service, such as home maid services, post-construction cleaning, pressure washing, office cleaning, carpet cleaning, water damage restoration, and more. Derek Foster is the president and CEO, and in this ISSA Impact feature of Straight Talk!, he discusses what his c...
May 02, 2022•16 min
Are all cleaning products the same? Are they better than conventional cleaning products? And can you find "good" green cleaning products manufactured by "bad" companies? Stephen P. Ashkin is the founder of The Ashkin Group, and has strong feelings for the cleaning industry and especially when it comes to corporate responsibility. Whether it is specific products being used, the labor force tapped to create the products or use them in the service sector, Ashkin wants the green pathway to be paved ...
Apr 28, 2022•9 min
Fleas are a nuisance, but they do more than itch. They can cause all types of issues beyond discomfort and can quickly invade and infest a home or even a commercial facility. In this episode sponsored by ARCSI, a division of ISSA, urban and medical entomologist Jennifer Gordon shares her thoughts on what the cleaning industry and others need to know about the flea, what it eats, how it infests structures, what it means for public health, and what can be done to eradicate a flea infestation....
Apr 25, 2022•10 min
Mike Atkins is the assistant vice president of facility management services with SOAR365. The facility services company, an ISSA member organization, partners with families and creates life-fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities, tapping into a labor pool willing to work... and work hard. In this ISSA Impact interview, learn how SOAR365 has evolved and found success, and has tapped into the resources offered by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association....
Apr 20, 2022•6 min
Mosquitoes are a pest that can be both an irritant but also a source of disease. There are many details and misunderstandings about this type of insect. In this episode of Straight Talk!, urban and medical entomologist Jennifer Gordon digs into the details about the mosquito, how it lives, what it eats, how it affects people, and more.
Apr 15, 2022•11 min
Russ Kendzior is the chairman and founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and is called to be an expert witness for legal issues, for both plaintiffs and defendants. In this episode of Straight Talk!, he outlines what those involved in litigation should know and offers three solid tips that building service contractors can embrace to stay out of the courtroom.
Apr 07, 2022•10 min
Clean Advocacy Summit, part of National Cleaning Week, was a success, if you ask any who were involved with the event. In this episode of Straight Talk!, John Nothdurft, the director of government affairs with ISSA, explains how advocacy efforts brought some 60 ISSA members to the political battlefield known as Washington, D.C., and how took advantage of networking and presenting ideas and thoughts to lawmakers, politicians, business leaders, and more.
Apr 05, 2022•13 min
As a disaster restoration contractor, you need tools to get the job done quick, efficiently, and profitably. Some may not be keeping up with available technologies in restoration. Some are. And the ones who are keeping up are winning in a competitive marketplace. In this episode of Straight Talk!, industry veteran Josh Bachman, a business development advisor with Violand Management Associates, shares some thoughts on what all restoration business leaders need to do.
Apr 01, 2022•10 min
A new version of the omicron variant is starting to get the attention of scientists, health professionals, and the cleaning industry. Known as "BA.2" or the "stealth" strain, there are concerns about this genetic mutation and how it may become a health issue especially with certain demographics. In this episode of GBACtv's BioTalk, hear from Patty Olinger, GBAC executive director, and John Cordier, CEO and co-founder of Epistemix, on what you need to know right now as information emerges on this...
Mar 21, 2022•19 min
Mike Sawchuk is a business coach and uses his expertise to help business owners and facility managers in the cleaning industry to succeed. This special edition of Straight Talk! is in partnership with his article "Effectively Tackling Workforce Challenges" in the March/April 2022 issue of ISSA Today, which is to be published the third week of March.
Mar 17, 2022•16 min
Anyone who works with floor maintenance and cleaning wants the absolute best appearance, and for some floors, that’s to create what we call “the wet look” or shiny finish. When you achieve that, you are pretty pleased and proud of yourself or your crew. Besides the appearance, there’s more to consider. Russ Kendzior, chairman and founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), explains real-world scenarios that highlight the litigation that can emerge from a simple spill.
Mar 10, 2022•17 min
In this episode of BioTalk, a GBACtv production, learn how the cleaning industry can respond to an increased risk of indoor air contamination and how building sciences is identifying critical issues and addressing them. John Cordier, Epistemix CEO, and University of Colorado's College of Engineering’s Mark Hernandez share thought-provoking solutions for improving indoor air quality while addressing cleaning and contamination issues.
Mar 04, 2022•28 min
Steve Ashkin is the founder of The Ashkin Group and the father of green cleaning. One day he cherishes in his mission is Earth Day, held every April 22. Earth Day is a way for everyone to celebrate protecting the environment. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Ashkin discusses what the cleaning industry can do to showcase what industry professionals are doing for their facilities to reduce environmental impacts and protect health.
Mar 01, 2022•8 min
Russ Kendzior is the founder and chairman of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and knows there are no winners in litigation that is estimated at approximately $150 billion annually. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Kendzior describes the state of the industry regarding floor safety, slips, trips, and falls, and how both ISSA and NFSI can team up to bring awareness of important issues.
Feb 25, 2022•13 min
Dr. Gavin Magregor-Skinner, a senior director with GBAC, a division of ISSA, has been following emerging studies that impact what we know about infectious diseases and transmission of them, and how we can best protect ourselves. In this GBAC industry alert, he describes three studies and concentrates on breaking news regarding the Javits Center, a GBAC STAR accredited facility.
Feb 22, 2022•6 min
Joe Lepore is the founder and chairman and Domenico Lepore is the general manager of LCS Facility Group, serving clients across the United States. They have grown their company into a success story by tapping into and utilizing the benefits of ISSA. This is the story of their journey and how they are worthy of imitation.
Feb 18, 2022•17 min
Employers want to pay their workers a wage that is competitive and provides them with a decent quality of life for working families. The solution to this can be implementing a “living wage” program. Chris Arlen teams up with Michelle Murray from Living Wage for US, a non-profit organization that helps employers navigate the nuances of a living wage program.
Feb 15, 2022•27 min
John Downey calls himself a "formerly important person" but he is far from hanging up his hat and retiring. The founder of Cleanfax is busy with his work as the executive director of CIRI, the Cleaning Industry Research Institute. In this special on-location interview, Downey discusses his work and what he is doing to help promote the value of cleaning.
Feb 03, 2022•16 min
Jon Isaacson is the host of The DYOJO Podcast and is known as The Intentional Restorer. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Jon proves to be a challenging guest but an entertaining one at the same time.
Jan 31, 2022•13 min
Both Pete Consigli and Cliff Zlotnik are dedicated, passionate industry advocates and have spent decades as the industry’s watchdogs. In this segment of Straight Talk!, they discuss how the industry has evolved and the work they have done to help the modern restorer.
Jan 31, 2022•53 min
Stephen P. Ashkin is the founder of The Ashkin Group and is extremely interested in the state of schools and educational opportunities for students, especially regarding how the built environment impacts learning. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Ashkin describes the huge gap in funding that is growing annually and the need to do something about it. In his comments, he references an important document and encourages everyone to download their own copy. Get the " 2021 State of Our Schools " doc...
Jan 24, 2022•9 min
Saul Strain is the owner and president of ABC Sales & Services in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. He believes in and uses the many resources offered by ISSA, the global cleaning industry association. This is his story about the company's journey using resources offered by ISSA and strategies that should be embraced by any company or organization.
Jan 21, 2022•12 min
