1990s: BSCAI Rides a Wave of Momentum

The BSCAI Board of Directors were all smiles during the Annual Convention and Silver Celebration in 1990.

The 1990s started off with a bang as BSCA-International celebrated a milestone — their 25th anniversary. The Annual Convention returned to its birthplace in Washington, D.C. and was christened “Celebrating a Silver Moment Entering a Golden Future.” Members flocked to the event and were met with past presidents representing nearly two decades of leadership. The group reconvened not only to commemorate how far the association had come, but to also revel in the excitement of where the organization was heading.  

The association was riding a wave of momentum, which continued to swell during this decade. The 1990s saw some of the largest Annual Conventions, with upwards of 200 exhibitors. Membership also surged past 3,000 contractors, including a growing international group. To further acknowledge these members, the association officially added “international” to its name and put an “I” in its logo. By the decade’s end, BSCAI also added Spanish language options to training videos and event sessions.   

Evolution was the name of the game for the association throughout the 1990s. In terms of member offerings, BSCAI launched the Plateaus of Growth for Building Service Companies, a six-step guide for building service contractors trying to identify their company’s next step for growth and expansion (an offering that is still popular today). They also worked to continue elevating the industry by offering the Certified Sanitary Supply Professional (CSSP) designation. This was offered to manufacturers and distributors to encourage integrity and commitment to meeting the needs of BSCs.  

From an organizational standpoint, BSCAI continued to grow and evolve. In 1993, the association changed the presidential term to a calendar year rather than from convention to convention. As a result, Dan McCormick, of National Building Services & Maintenance, was the only nine-month president of the association. 

Then, in 1995, the association swore in the very first female president of the association — Lillian Lincoln Lambert, of Centennial One.