A Show Brimming With Bright Ideas

Welcome to ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2009, this year we host you in ISSA’s headquarter town of Chicago. If you are reading this, then you are one of many progressive business leaders who have chosen to train, innovate and expand your network in the face of a difficult economy. We salute you for being a front-runner in our profession and attending the ONE SHOW for the cleaning industry.

In a year like this, you may wonder what to expect from the show. Well, ISSA has taken the same tactic you have: to innovate and push our limits to stay ahead of the curve. That is why the theme this year is “Bright Ideas Await You.” You’ll find those great ideas and even more attractions throughout the educational conference and exhibit hall.

The new Green Connections Center, supported by more than 40 industry leaders, will offer the first-ever fully operational mock restroom and a mock classroom where demonstrations and short educational sessions will run all three days of the exhibition. A Green Product Showcase section and Resource Library also will compliment this area to make it the hot spot of the event this year.

This is in addition to the popular ISSA Education Theatre, right on the show floor, which will host conveniently located sessions Tuesday through Friday. You’ll find popular trainers Joachim de Posada and Nancye Combs, plus the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM), The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI), the Healthy Schools Campaign and even Bill Nye “The Science Guy.”

This doesn’t even account for the many spot-on sessions you’ll find in the ISSA Educational Conference this week. From economic forecasting to finding untapped operational efficiencies and successful sales tactics, you’ll have access to a host of ideas to improve business from your favorite speakers such as Jim Pancero, Al Bates, Alan Beaulieu and Jason Bader. Plus, there are many technical and trend updates from cross-contamination issues to helping customers meet green building requirements.

You’ll also find new standards, accreditations and tools to help you advance. Some of these items include: the newest version of the ISSA Cleaning Times guide; the new ISSA Green Cleaning University program and Green Cleaning Professional designation; the new Online Industry Classifieds at www.issa.com; and the recently developed Green Buildings module for the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS). You can find them all at the ISSA Resource Center, Booth #1200.

Plus we’ve brought in the big guns to give you valuable leadership advice with legendary ad man and host of “The Big Idea,” Donny Deutsch presenting the keynote address Thursday morning and former NFL coach, Mike Ditka presenting a general session Wednesday morning.

The Show Floor Happy Hour also will return as a prime networking and entertainment event Thursday at 4:30 p.m., located between the central food courts on the show floor. This year you’ll find one of our own as the opening act, followed by dueling Chicago piano players. And we hope you enjoy the additional networking event this year, the Show Floor Round Table lunch, Thursday at noon, in Booth #5236.

We also are making it easier to be away from the office this year with the new Laptop Docking Stations, right next to the Show Floor Meeting Rooms you can reserve for quick, private meetings. Just stop by Booth #367 to take advantage of both.

I welcome you to the latest edition of the ISSA/INTERCLEAN show. I am confident that you will enjoy and profit from continuously updated and expanded opportunities at The ONE SHOW for the cleaning industry.

John P. Garfinkel
ISSA Executive Director