By Stephen Ashkin

It’s a little over week since the end of the ISSA/INTERCLEAN USA 2006 Exhibition and Trade Show in Chicago and I continue to feel amazed by just how much the green movement has grown in our industry. As I walked through the exhibit hall, I saw more Green Cleaning products and building supplies than ever. I couldn’t help but think back just five years when almost no one in our industry was thinking about or talking about Green Cleaning.

The proliferation of green products exhibited at the show also left no doubt about the commitment and power of the ISSA to “greening” the cleaning industry. The same holds true for the ISSA’s recent announcement that it will produce a special edition of the book “Green Cleaning For Dummies” for commercial or institutional cleaning operations. Yet another example is that a search for “green cleaning” on the ISSA website uncovers a list of more than 300 related articles.

Also at the Chicago show, I was fortunate to be honored by the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) with the 2006 William D. Joyner Achievement Award. Dr. Joyner was a leader and visionary who worked tirelessly to improve the professionalism of our industry. The Award, established in 1998, recognizes an individual considered by the IEHA to have helped the organization grow and who has contributed research, technical assistance, articles in Executive Housekeeping Today magazine and written books or guidelines.

Dr. Joyner, a consultant, lecturer and motivator for the facilities management industry, enjoyed a long career as a manager of environmental services and housekeeping operations. Through the years, he published hundreds of articles on facilities management in technical journals and trade magazines, presented papers and seminars at national conventions and trade shows, taught in the executive housekeeping certification programs at Harold Washington College and Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL, and taught graduate courses in the healthcare administration program at Governors State University.

I felt privileged and thankful to be selected for the Award. There is no greater accolade I could receive from managers of healthcare, hospitality, educational and other large facilities than to be recognized with an award that truly exemplifies the word ‘achievement’ – just as Dr. Joyner did throughout his life.”

During the awards ceremony, I had the honor of meeting Dr. Joyner’s widow, Susan. She brings honor and great integrity to her husband’s legacy and inspired me to work even harder to set a good example for the award and to encourage others – just as I believe IEHA members do – to follow in Dr. Joyner’s footsteps.

As I sat in the IEHA banquet during the awards presentation with my acceptance speech in hand, I listened to Ken Walvoord, Director of Custodial Services at the University Nebraska in Lincoln who was completing his heartfelt remarks after receiving the Margaret Barnes Diamond Award for his outstanding achievement and long time commitment both to IEHA and our profession.  Ken’s comments really made me think of what my legacy might one day mean.

How can we, as individuals really make a difference as Dr. Joyner and Ken Walvoord have done and are still doing? We can never underestimate the impact each of us have made—and continue to make—toward expanding the green movement in our industry. As the marketplace of green products and services continues to grow rapidly throughout our industry, the future of Green Cleaning looks brighter than ever. 

Good luck managing and operating a Green Building.

-Steve