Caught an article in BSCAI's SmartBrief to the effect that less than 1% of the janitorial industry carries any sort of professional certification.
I've long believed in training my managerial folks, and assisting them on the path to professional certification. The "less than 1%" figure is born out, at least locally, by the BSCAI's website:if you search for folks in Arizona holding BSCAI's executive or managerial certifications, you find that half of them are with my firm.
Here's some notes I posted a couple of years ago on the subject:
"I'm asked, from time to time, what the owner of a new janitorial firm ought do to both gain technical competence in his chosen field, and to demonstrate to his potential clients both his bona-fides, and that technical competence.
" Besides joining and participating in his local BBB and Chamber of Commerce (covered earlier), I suggest a bit of what we've done (we provide janitorial service in Phoenix AZ):
• Building Service Contractors Association International - great seminars and conventions, links to member firms from their website, accreditation programs, industry contacts and a monthly magazine
• American Indoor Air Quality Council- local champers give workshops, good contacts in the HVAC and mold remediation industries, and a monthly publication
• U. S. Green Building Council - knowledge you need should you have a client looking at LEED certification; local chapters can train in LEED criteria
• IMAGE- a new Immigration & Customs program, allowing firms to partner with the Feds to better control ones hiring and screening procedures.
Try it - you'll be more competent, more legitimate, and can demonstrate it."
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