ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2014 Offers Plenty Of Networking

This year ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America’s theme is “The One Show for Facility Solutions,” due to the fact that it is the one show where the entire industry comes together, including five different co-located events by industry associations.

Co-hosting their annual conventions again this year are Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), IEHA, and the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI). ISSA welcomes new co-location partners Cleaning Equipment Trade Association (CETA), which focuses on pressure washer technology and outdoor cleaning, and International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA), which will provide specialty safety training workshops for window cleaners.

A growing number of exhibitors will also be showcasing products and services that go beyond traditional cleaning solutions. This will help attendees find solutions to help with other needs they may have within facilities.
No matter the job title of the attendee, Steinbach says those who attend the show will take home valuable information.

“Cleaning professionals will take home the answers they’ve been looking for to solve their greatest needs, whether they be in the form of products, education, or peer networking,” she says. “Distributors will find niche products they can’t find anywhere else, to fill out their product lines, as well as talk with supplier executives and technical experts who they may not have access to in their local region. Plus they’ll find trend updates and business advice to help them maintain their competitive edge.”

With professionals from a wide variety of industry sectors in attendance, ISSA/INTERCLEAN will be the perfect venue for networking.

“The entire week is an opportunity to network — with the person next to you in line, at a seminar, a reception, in a booth and everywhere in between,” says Steinbach.

Of the specific events scheduled, members can network at the ISSA Excellence Awards Luncheon or at the reception on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., on the show floor at the ISSA Resource Center for ISSA LinkedIn members. Attendees will need to download the invitation from ISSA’s LinkedIn group and bring it to receive their free drink ticket.

More than 18,000 people are members of the ISSA LinkedIn group, which makes for an excellent networking opportunity online and then in-person at the annual trade shows. To join, visit issa.com/connect.

Another great networking opportunity that is back by popular demand is the ISSA Bistro, a relatively upscale dining option on the show floor. Attendees can reserve tables prior to arrival through www.issa.com/bistro, or stop by during the week to see if space is still available.

Attendees who want an easy way to find one another on the busy show floor also can use the ISSA Meeting Hub to connect. Available during the three exhibit days, the Hub  includes private meeting space on the show floor that is available to reserve for short discussions or multiple days.

Still on the fence on whether to attend this year’s show? Steinbach says executives who send their top people to the show will help them gain a more well-rounded understanding of the industry, as well as establish valuable contacts with the right peers, partners, experts and customers.

“The show really holds different value for different people, but the common theme is that what you’re looking for in your business, in your individual job, can be found at ISSA/INTERCLEAN if you look closely enough,” says Steinbach.

“You get out of it what you put into it. And what you go to the show for may be different than what one of your top staff might get out of it.”

The week of ISSA/INTERCLEAN is a can’t miss event. It’s a great opportunity for new employees to experience the immense size and scope of the cleaning industry. And for returning veterans, it’s a nice break from the daily routine and a chance to re-connect with old friends and peers.

“There is something to be said for the lift you get after being with 16,000 people who are committed to protecting public health through cleaning,” says Steinbach. “It’s a great chance to re-energize so you can hit the office with an even better attitude and stronger commitment to creating success.”

Nick Bragg is a freelance writer based in Milwaukee. He is the former Deputy Editor of Sanitary Maintenance.