ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America continues to be the "one show" U.S. cleaning professionals make a point of attending. Nearly 8,500 jan/san distributors, building service contractors and in-house service professionals made up the roughly 16,000 visitors at last year's trade show and convention in Las Vegas. The 2012 event, taking place October 16 to 19 in Chicago, is promising to be as successful.  

ISSA wants 2012 to be the year the cleaning industry "reimagines clean." From the vast trade show floor to the informative seminars to the fun, yet resourceful, networking events, ISSA/INTERCLEAN will provide attendees with the resources to help make everyone realize that "quality cleaning is an investment, not a cost to be minimized."

The ISSA/INTERCLEAN show will also be a great opportunity for the industry to unwind and come back to the office recharged.

"Distributors and end users all work very hard these days and we need a break," says ISSA President Jon Scoles of Scoles Floorshine Industries in Farmingdale, N.J. "The show is a nice break that integrates both business and pleasure, and we deserve that."

Trade Show Floor

First-time attendees to ISSA/INTERCLEAN always marvel at the huge trade show floor. In 2011, 645 manufacturers exhibited, and attendees can expect similar numbers this year. Attendees can make the most of their time by planning ahead and scheduling appointments with manufacturers before they leave for Chicago.

The show is truly the place to see not only the latest products, but also the newest companies. More than 90 exhibitors are new to the show this year and they will be easy to find: ISSA/INTERCLEAN is introducing a new exhibitor pavilion. Other special pavilions include foodservice, green services and international vendors.

The year's most ground-breaking products will be on display in the Innovation Showcase at booth 2845. Attendees can vote for the product they think deserves the 2012 ISSA Innovation Awards before the show at issa.com/vote or at the booth on Oct. 17 or 18. Winners will be announced during the Trade Show Happy Hour on Thursday.

After seeing where the industry is heading, learn where it's been at the Don Aslett Museum of Clean at booth 2850. Back by popular demand, this historical exhibit showcases a timeline of the cleaning industry featuring a mix of antique cleaning products and the tools cleaning professionals use today.

Education Seminars

While the expansive trade show floor is impressive, ISSA/INTERCLEAN is also renowned for its education sessions and featured speakers. This year, ISSA added two new course tracks: facility management and social media.

"I always feel from a personal standpoint that the education I receive at these shows is outstanding," says Scoles. "I always come back with some really great ideas for my business."

Tuesday, Oct. 16, offers a full day of learning with more than 40 sessions to choose from. Highlights include "Measure, Manage and Improve," with John Garrett; "Recruit and Hire the Right People," with Bob Losyk; and "Decisive Actions for an Uncertain Economy," featuring Paul St. Germain. These three sessions are sponsored by Housekeeping Solutions and its sister publications, Contracting Profits and Sanitary Maintenance.

From Wednesday to Friday, education moves to the trade show floor at the ISSA Education Theater, booth 3669. Attendees can learn about Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools, foodservice sanitation, floor care and maintenance, green cleaning and other important industry issues and trends.

The big draw every year is the keynote address, and this year will be no exception. Legendary American news icon Tom Brokaw will deliver his keynote speech, "The Voice of a Generation," on Thursday. Brokaw will analyze the economical, political and social issues in today's headlines and how they impact the cleaning industry.

"This is a critical year in our election process," says Scoles. "Tom is going to be monitoring one of the debates. He's going to be a good barometer of what we may expect to see in the election coming up."  

ISSA/INTERCLEAN has lined up other notable speakers as well. On Wednesday, motivational trainer Scott Deming will teach attendees how to transform their organizations into "One Team – One Brand" environments for exceptional customer service. On Thursday, former NBA player and member of the Chicago Bulls "dynasty team," and current NBA player agent B.J. Armstrong will address "Leadership and Business: How to be a Point Guard for Your Company." And on Friday, Executive Coach Janelle Brittain will share lessons in leadership, communication and strategic thinking. Her session will also include the announcement of the ISSA Best Customer Service Awards.

Networking

"Besides all the positive things you get from a business standpoint — the networking with suppliers, the educational programs, looking at new innovations — the one thing you forget about is the downtime at a show where you have fun," says Scoles.

ISSA/INTERCLEAN offers attendees plenty of opportunities to mix a little fun into their business agenda. Besides the popular Trade Show Happy Hour where Chicago's favorite cover band, 16 Candles, will perform tunes from the 1980s on Thursday, attendees can network with friends and colleagues at a host of other events.

ISSA/INTERCLEAN unofficially gets underway on Monday, Oct. 15, with a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament. Professional tables and dealers will recreate a real casino for attendees to showcase their poker skills and call on Lady Luck in a chance to win prizes. All proceeds from the event benefit the ISSA Foundation Scholarship Program.

If gambling isn't in the cards, on Tuesday, head of cleaning and catering for the 2012 Olympic Games, Jan Matthews, will present "Lunch and Learn: The Importance of Cleaning and Disinfecting for Your Customer's Safety and Satisfaction." While attendees dine with other members of the cleaning industry, Matthews will share key cleaning and disinfection insights from this summer's Games.

Attendees can also network anytime on the trade show floor at the ISSA Sports Zone Bar. Featuring televisions broadcasting continuous sports coverage and a full-service bar, this area is always packed with attendees and great conversations.

ISSA/INTERCLEAN offers a busy and event-filled week. In August, attendees can get a headstart in their planning by downloading the ISSA app (available at www.issa.com/app) onto their mobile devices. Marking which manufacturers to visit and educational and networking events to attend will help to make the most of the limited time available at the show.  

Dan Weltin is editor-in-chief of Sanitary Maintenance and Contracting Profits, sister publications to Housekeeping Solutions.




POSTED ON: 9/10/2012