In keeping with its theme, ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America and ISSA Convention, October 25-28, 2016, at McCormick Place, South Hall, in Chicago, IL, USA, are designed to help visitors unleash their “Untamed Potential.”Education & Training Re-ImaginedFor starters, attendees will find a completely revamped educational schedule, featuring more than 60 seminars, hands-on training workshops, and networking events focused on the industry’s hottest topics and newest trends. During four days of valuable education, showgoers will have more content and format options than ever, allowing for smaller, intimate experiences. In addition to traditional seminar settings, this year’s schedule includes:

• Deeper dives: In-depth seminars on hot topics, such as infection control• Flash sessions: Two, 15-minute sessions in a 30-minute block of concentrated information, including leadership, management, and hiring tips• Ask the Experts: Panel discussions where attendees design the content based on their burning issues• Workshops: Half- and full-day hands-on opportunities to learn skills, such as floor and restroom care, customer service, supervisor, and auditing, many of which include certification.

Also new, Tuesday’s lineup of educational sessions includes a featured speaker, Ryan Estis, a top-performing sales professional, leader, and consultant, who will present Managing Breakthrough Performance in the New Economy, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., to provide practical insights into the attributes of an effective leader and manager.The trade show will also feature three keynote speakers, including:

• Rob O’Neill, former U.S. Navy SEAL and military legend, Wednesday, October 26, 8:00 a.m.

• Dennis Miller, comedian and political commentator, Thursday, October 27, 8:00 a.m.

• Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and Silicon Valley icon, Friday, October 28, 1:00 p.m. All three keynotes will take place at the ISSA Keynote Stage in the Grand Ballroom, Room S100.

Nonstop Innovation
Nowhere will the industry’s potential be more evident than on the trade show floor, where more than 700 exhibitors—including dozens of first-timers—will display thousands of the latest cleaning products and services from around the world to assure attendees find the specific solutions they need. Plus, the popular ISSA Innovation Showcase is back! Here distributors and facility service providers can browse the 2016 entries, then vote for their favorites to see who earns the Visitors’ Choice Awards and which one company wins the ISSA Innovation of the Year Award, the competition’s overall top spot. Online voting for the category award winners will be open August 1– October 21, 2016, and all the winners will be announced at a special ISSA Innovation Awards Ceremony, Friday, October 28, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., just prior to Wozniak's ISSA Keynote Address.

Unique Networking In addition to the spontaneous and informal networking that takes place during the one week when the entire industry comes together, ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2016 will include several organized events to jumpstart attendees’ connections:• ISSA/INTERCLEAN New Attendee Orientation:
Open to first-time and long-time-away returning attendees, this invite-only event, Tuesday, October 25, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., will help visitors navigate the show floor as well as make the most of the educational sessions, roundtables, and other networking sessions the show offers.
• ISSA Poker Tournament: The Windy City Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament, Tuesday, October 25, at 6:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Chicago and benefitting the ISSA Foundation, offers a fun, casual setting to make new connections while supporting a good cause.
• Fourth Annual ISSA LinkedIn Reception: Back by popular demand, this intimate networking opportunity will be held right on the trade show floor, Thursday, October 27, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., and includes free drinks and prize giveaways, including a four-night hotel stay and free registration for ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2017 in Las Vegas, NV, USA; Smart Watches; a US$200 Visa gift card; and more!
• Soldier Field Facility Tour: This behind-the- scenes tour of an iconic Chicago stadium offers a sneak peak into how Solider Field values clean. The tour includes the Field, South Courtyard, Doughboy Statue, Grand Concourse, Colonnades, Skyline Suite, and Visitors Locker Room. It takes place Friday, October 28, at 2:30 p.m.

More Special Events
Further strengthening the opportunities to learn and network at the 2016 show are several new events being held in conjunction with ISSA/INTERCLEAN:

• Green Clean Schools Forum, presented by ISSA and the Healthy Schools Campaign, Tuesday- Wednesday, October 25-26: Focused on pressing topics related to green cleaning for the education sector, this event includes workshops, networking opportunities, and a guided tour of the show floor.

• Green Sports Alliance Chicago’s Greener Cleaning workshop, Thursday, October 27: Venue operators and partners will gather to learn, share, and discuss how sports facilities can reduce the health and environmental threats associated with cleaning.

These events join colocation partners—the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI), Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), Cleaning Equipment Trade Association (CETA), and IEHA (Uniting Facility Managers Worldwide) — holding their annual conventions and various distributor groups that are hosting member events in conjunction with ISSA/INTERCLEAN.

For more information on ISSA/INTERCLEAN and ISSA Convention, visit www.issa.com/show.