WFBSC 2014 Congress Comes To New York

After 20 years abroad, The World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) Congress is returning to the United States. WFBSC 2014 will be held in New York at the Marriott Marquis hotel April 6 to 9. The bi-annual show is held all around the world, from Brazil to Scotland, to Korea to New Zealand. The fact that it is in the United States makes it a can’t-miss event for American building service contractors.

“BSCs will be exposed to ideas they don’t normally experience in person,” says Stan Doobin, president of Harvard Maintenance and host of this year’s Congress. “If you don’t attend and your competition does, you will have a problem.”

The theme of the 2014 show is “Big Apple, Big Ideas.” When the nearly 1,000 contractors arrive in New York, they’ll be focusing on three concepts that are crucial to business success: Strategy, Health and People.

For the Strategy theme, BSCs will learn innovative ways to run their business and the technology needed to simplify and automate tasks.
“Our business is changing daily, people want to share and understand what Strategies are working to stay in the forefront of the industry,” says Doobin.

Peter Diamandis, founder and chairman of the X Prize Foundation, will kick-off the Congress with a presentation showing a future outlook that’s more positive than people think. He’ll also provide tips for creating an even better future for attendees and their companies.

“Peter’s vision of the future is something most people have not heard,” says Doobin. “In my mind, he is one of the smartest and most forward-thinking people on the planet.”

Attendees will also hear from Steve Forbes, chairman, CEO and editor-in-chief at Forbes Media, who will present “The Next Four Years: Navigating the Economy for Business Growth and Success.” He’ll help BSCs devise strategies that work in these challenging economic times.

“Forbes has his finger on the pulse of the global economy,” says Doobin. “Where that economy is moving should be of interest to everyone in the WFBSC audience.”

Diamandis and Forbes will also co-present a Q&A session, further giving attendees a chance to tap into their worldly expertise.
Another speaker in the Strategy lineup is Jim Collins, author of the bestseller “Good To Great” and his latest book, “Great By Choice.” Collins will share insights from his new book about building a great company during this unpredictable business market.