Contracting Profits

Key Takeaways: • Successful leadership development in commercial cleaning requires evaluating promotion readiness—not just job performance. • Career development programs strengthen workforce retention and operational performance. • People-first leadership leads to stronger commercial cleaning teams and better business outcomes.

Key Takeaways: • A people-first culture is a competitive advantage in the commercial cleaning industry. • Sustainable growth requires disciplined systems, financial awareness, and continuous learning. • Commercial cleaning companies can differentiate themselves by delivering value beyond price. FlowerHill Facility Services CEO Tiffany Spelman’s path into the building services industry is a fairly recent one.

Key Takeaways: • Sustainable growth in commercial cleaning depends on building scalable operations—not simply winning more contracts. • Strong leadership and operational infrastructure are essential for long-term success in facility cleaning services. • Growth through acquisitions requires disciplined integration and realistic planning. For building service contractors, growth is often viewed as the ultimate measure of success. More contracts. More employees. More locations. More revenue.

As customer expectations evolve, sustainability is becoming less about compliance and more about competition—which is a good thing. “It’s no longer enough to do a good job,” Ashkin says. “[BSCs] have to compete in so many other areas, and sustainability can provide a roadmap to help them organize what it is they’re doing.” McGarvey agrees, but he also believes too many BSCs react to customer sustainability requests instead of preparing for them.

Key Takeaways: • Sustainability in commercial cleaning now extends far beyond green cleaning products. • Third-party certifications have become essential for proving sustainability and supporting healthier buildings. • Evolving green building standards are raising expectations for accountability, occupant health, and measurable performance.

Key Takeaways: • Restroom floor care is a critical driver of hygiene, odor control, and indoor air quality in commercial cleaning. • Preventive maintenance and the right cleaning tools improve productivity while extending floor life. • Smart technology and evolving restroom designs are changing best practices for commercial restroom cleaning. If commercial cleaning crews are like scientists, then restrooms are their Petri dish.

Key Takeaways: • Successful mergers and acquisitions in the commercial and cleaning industry depend on culture, due diligence, and post-acquisition integration—not just financial metrics. • M&A is only one growth strategy for commercial cleaning companies. • Commercial cleaning leaders should pursue growth strategically, not simply for scale. Cultural and ethical alignment are also the two most important things for St. Paul, Minnesota-based Marsden Services when exploring an acquisition. Want proof?

Key Takeaways: • Mergers and acquisitions are reshaping the commercial cleaning industry as building service contractors pursue growth, scale, and succession planning. • Successful acquisitions depend on more than financial performance—they require strong operational fit and cultural alignment. • Industry consolidation is creating new opportunities for commercial cleaning, jan/san, and facility management organizations.

Key Takeaways: • Contracting Success is designed to help building service contractors strengthen commercial cleaning businesses through education, networking, and industry insights. • AI and digital transformation will be major themes for the commercial cleaning industry at CS26 • Global collaboration and leadership development are central to this 2026 event.

Key Takeaways: • AI creates the greatest value for commercial cleaning companies when it frees leaders to focus on people, not paperwork. • Technology should support—not replace—the human side of commercial cleaning. • Commercial cleaning leaders should reinvest AI-driven efficiency into long-term business growth. When I was in middle school, I was at a friend's house when his mom made popcorn in 60 seconds. She didn’t use the stovetop method I was familiar with.