Over 1,200 jan-san industry members (attendees and exhibitors) attended the two-day NJSSA Mid-Atlantic Association of Cleaning Experts' 2012 Supply Line biannual trade show at the Taj Mahal Etess Arena on May 2 and 3 in Atlantic City. Attendance at the 2012 NJSSA Show jumped 10 percent and included 925 distributors and cleaning professional. Immediate feedback was very positive with many exhibitors and attendees, stating this was a great show and one of the best in years.

"My associate Richard Beck and I walked the recent Supply Line Show and not only did we see new products and explored new opportunities, but we were able to meet with old friends and make new ones," commented Steven Tabak, Jersey Paper Plus. "The show gave us the opportunity to meet with industry professionals outside of the office and connect in more personal ways."
                
Jeffrey Pease, national sales manager at CLEANMAX, Tacony Corporation, added, "This was my first attendance at Supply Line. Overall, I was very impressed with NJSSA. I was able to make new contacts and renew relationships with folks I hadn't seen recently. From our perspective at Tacony, it was a success."

NJSSA Golf Outing
Before the show floor opened, 54 golfers teed off at Harbor Pines Golf Club on May 1. First Place Low Gross winners were the team from Sheppard Industries: Bill Wunder, Karrie Melita, Andrew Rosen and Chris Lebendig. Melita also won the longest drive and Rosen won closest to the pin awards. Second Place went to the Seko Dosing team of Bill DeCristofano, Larry Wiacek, Mike Wiacek and Ed Thompson.

NJSSA representatives send a special thanks to Golf Outing sponsors: Am-San, Seko Dosing, R3Tec, Americo Manufacturing, Misco Products, Simple Green, and Norshel Industries.

Training and Certification
ISSA ICE Certification Seminar on May 1 was attended by 36 industry members. David Frank of the American Institute of Cleaning Sciences conducted the session and attendees took the certification exam at the end of the program.  

Frank also conducted two seminars for distributors and cleaning contractors on May 2. The first session, entitled "Demystifying the Building Service Contractor Market," identified the framework of the building service contractor market and how the cleaning community can work together toward a common goal. Frank also presented the "10 Trends That Are Reshaping the Cleaning Industry" as a special luncheon keynote on May 2.

On Thursday, May 3, Cleaning Management Institute personnel Aaron Baunee and Matt Moberg presented "Cleaning Trends for Contractors."  The session focused on ways contract cleaners can stay on top of any and all cleaning trends to satisfy their demanding customers. Twenty lucky cleaning professionals who attended the seminar and the show won new vacuum cleaner systems from show sponsor Hoover/TFI.  

NJSSA President's Reception & Membership Meeting
NJSSA President Dan Josephs, General Manager of Spruce Industries, welcomed exhibitors and members to the President's Reception held on May 1 in the Taj Mahal. Josephs reported on the state of the association and presented a President's Plaque to Peter Davidson of Leading Edge Associates for his service as NJSSA President for two years. Josephs also encouraged NJSSA members to get involved in the association and to uphold the ethical and professional standards that have been a hallmark of the jan-san industry.  

"Our industry is in a state of constant change, we must adapt to meet the challenges of the future, but we must maintain our integrity in the process," Josephs said. "We have all seen what impact negative behaviors have had on our customers, it is now time to show them what our best efforts can do."
 
During the reception, Jon Scoles of Scoles Floorshine and President of ISSA, presented the 2012 Bob Stader Award to Stanley Reicher of Banner Chemical in Orange, NJ.  Reichel served on the NJSSA Board of Trustees from 1992-1995 and again from 2002-2008, serving as treasurer from 2002-2003. In 1996, he was elected to a three year term as northeast director to the International Sanitary Supply Association Board of Directors.    

NJSSA wishes to thank the following show sponsors for their generous support this year:
Legacy Converting
Hoover/TTI Floorcare
VVF Industries
Banner Chemical
Univar
Treleoni
Sales & Marketing Co.
Chase Products
Commercial Cleaning Corp.

The 2014 Supply Line trade show will be held again in Atlantic City. Dates will be finalized in June. For additional information, contact the NJSSA office at 973-283-1400 or visit www.njssa.net.