BSCAI

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Phillippe Mack, Canadian senior vice president of Bee Clean Building Maintenance. As a generational building service contractor, Mack has seen the industry grow and change in unique ways. He’s also located in Canada, and speaks to what businesses are seeing there versus their American counterparts. What you’ll hear in this episode: - How Canada’s unique labor laws impact building service contractors. - How family-owned businesses are strong in the Canadian building service contractor. - Why attracting a younger generation is important, even in a family business environment. - Technology’s role in modernizing family businesses’.

For many small businesses, cybersecurity isn’t always top of mind. But as technology becomes more integral into our day-to-day lives, it should become an important part of a business, too. In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with William Velez, the Chief Information Officer at Harvard Maintenance. While it may not be top of mind for all building service contractors, Velez said cybersecurity is an essential part of running a business. In this episode, you will hear: • How innovative hackers have become in illegally accessing information • Why cybersecurity is integral in keeping not only your customers information safe, but your information as well • How cybersecurity builds trust • What legal ramifications are for having an inefficient cybersecurity program • How to start scaling a cybersecurity plan to fit your business

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Robert Stewart, CBSE, the BSCAI Director of Member Advisory. We discuss BSCAI’s newly invigorated Member Advisory program which aims to bridge the gap between mentor and mentees, and bring together peer groups to discuss issues they’re all facing. In this episode you will hear: • Information about the main programs of the BSCAI Member Advisory; including peer groups and mentor/mentee relationships • Requirements for being involved in the program • History of the BSCAI Member Advisory program • The benefits of joining a peer group • The benefits of mentoring and/or being mentored

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Michael Diamond, CBSE, owner and managing partner of Connecticut-based AffinEco LLC. We discuss his company’s involvement in the Certified Site Supervisor certificate program by BSCAI. The CSS is specifically designed to elevate on-site supervisors and members of the leadership team. Modules for this include in-depth looks at management and training, as well as best cleaning practices. Diamond’s company has put more than 30 people through the training. Especially I light of COVID-19, it’s been a great tool to help employees learn best practices from both a company and an industry perspective. In this episode, you will hear: • Specific components of the CSS educational program • Why Diamond and his company opted to look into the certificate • Why education is an important aspect of leadership • How CSS relates directly to COVID-19

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Claudia St. John, the president of Affinity HR—and official partner of BSCAI. An expert on everything human resources, St. John discusses some of the biggest questions weighing on BSCs in light of COVID-19. In this episode, you will hear: • How BSCs are dealing with worker’s comp issues in light of COVID-19 • The importance of proper training and protection • Why it’s critical to record processes and communications with employees • The impact of PPP loans and employment • The future of human resources issues due to the impact of COVID-19

As more states and communities begin reopening for business, it’s leaving many wondering what they can do to keep everyone healthy. For many, cleanliness is top of mind. Jerry Flug Jr., executive vice president and owner of Davis Professional Services, has taken a unique approach to help his clients prepare their spaces for reopening and helping them establish new processes going forward. In this episode, you will hear: • Tactics to help clients reopen their businesses • How to lean on other community leaders and business owners to package services together as a one-stop-shop • Understanding how to keep your clients and your staff safe • What the coronavirus can tell BSCs about cleaning schedules in the future

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Terell Weg, CBSE. Her company MSWN, Inc., is based in Washington State, and area was the first in the U.S. to experience a widespread outbreak of COVID-19. For Weg, it was an unsettling experience, but she and her team rose to the challenge. In this episode, you will hear: - What it was like in the onset of COVID-19 in, what was at the time, the area hardest hit by COVID-19 - Understanding the struggle of obtaining PPE - Lessons learned when it comes to leading during crisis - The importance of safety in the workplace - How having a wide support system of BSCs was reassuring during uncertain times

In the latest episode of BSCAI’s podcast Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Eugene Cole, an expert in the ecology and cleanliness of indoor and work environments. He explains to us how understanding how viruses work and thrive will help BSCs refine their cleaning schedules, and how people overall are now acutely aware of the hygiene of their environment. In this episode, you will hear: - A breakdown of what makes a coronavirus, and how COVID-19 fares among them. - The difference between a pandemic and an outbreak. - The difference between cleaning and disinfecting. - How COVID-19 will change the way we view more common illnesses. -- Specifically, how will our COVID-19 response affect the way we view the flu. - The impact COVID-19 will have on practices and building service contractors in general. -- Understanding types/frequency of cleaning and how they might change. -- The importance of education and training with workers. -- Reevaluating procurement of PPE and types of disinfectant. - Some findings for Dr. Cole’s research in a public school system, and reexamining the cleaning schedule to reduce absenteeism. - Cleaning for specific environments: Health care facilities versus other types of buildings. For additional resources related to COVID-19, please visit www.bscai.org/covid-19.

This our inaugural episode of BSCAI’s Contracting Conversations, we talk with BSCAI President Todd Hopkins and President-Elect Eric Luke, CBSE, discuss top-of-mind issues for BSCs. From PPP loans to what the future of cleaning schedules look like, Hopkins and Luke dissect the challenges BSCs are facing and give tips on what they can do to weather through them. In this episode, you will hear: - How BSCs immediately responded to the crisis. - Lessons learned from COVID-19. -- The impact of increased unemployment, both during and after COVID-19. -- What PPP loans will mean for BSCs, and how BSCs are using that money. -- Dealing with customers who suspend services. - The importance of sharing information among peers—even competitors—during this time. - How this pandemic will highlight the importance of janitorial and sanitation companies, and of cleaning for health. - The importance of communication with customers. - How we move forward from here—and how we can be proactive for any future events. For additional resources related to COVID-19, please visit www.bscai.org/covid-19.

Welcome to Contracting Conversations by BSCAI