ISSA’s State Advocacy Leaders (SAL) program surged forward in 2025, expanding its ranks to 31 leaders nationwide and amplifying the industry’s voice at the federal and state levels.

Launched in 2024, the SAL program strengthens advocacy for the cleaning and facility solutions industry by mobilizing ISSA members as grassroots and grass-tops champions to further impact federal and state legislation important to the industry.

This year, SALs delivered meaningful impact, including:

• Meeting with their congressional delegations during the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit and throughout the year
• Securing congressional sponsorships of ISSA priority legislation
• Supporting ISSA’s application to the U.S. Department of Labor for a Recognized Apprenticeship Program for cleaning professionals
• Securing state and local proclamations recognizing International Cleaning Week
• Serving as emerging and healthcare leaders for ISSA
• Providing critical, real-time feedback to shape ISSA’s advocacy positions

“In 2025, we significantly expanded the reach and engagement of our nascent State Advocacy Leaders program,” said ISSA Senior Government Affairs Manager Stacy Seiden. “We’re grateful to our SALs for stepping up as industry leaders and driving positive change in the profession.”

This year also brought expanded program resources, including ISSA’s new Advocacy 101 video series, What is Advocacy? and Why Is Advocacy Important? “We look forward to growing both the size of the SAL program and the depth of its advocacy in 2026,” added ISSA Government Affairs Director John Nothdurft.

Current ISSA State Advocacy Leaders

• Alan Applebaum, Director of Operations, Jack Laurie Group (Indiana)
• Lauren Belskie, Marketing Operations Manager, Imperial Dade (New Jersey)
• Caryn Brahn, Director of Business Development, Accses New Jersey (New Jersey)
• James Caragianes, CEO, Rose’s Cleaning (Massachusetts)
• Jody Carroll, CEO, PowerX3 Property Maintenance Services (Pennsylvania)
• Richard Comer, Jr., Regional Manager, Sovereign Commercial Services (Pennsylvania)
• Stacey Conkle, Founder & CEO, A Beautiful Day Cleaning (Arkansas)
• Gregory Cox, President & Managing Partner, CLLean Facility Services (Georgia)
• Everett Deloney, Supervisor, City of Durham (North Carolina)
• Heather East, Director of Marketing & Communications, Grand Rapids Building Services (Michigan)
• Megan Echtenkamp, Business Development Executive, RD Industries/U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Steve Eichman, Facilities Manager, West Allis-West Milwaukee School District (Wisconsin)
• Derek Foster, Co-Owner, Daigle Cleaning Systems (New York)
• Kimberly Goldberg, Key Account Director, Diversey- A Solenis Company (California)
• Tricia Holderman, CEO, The Germ Girl/Elite Facility Systems (Texas)
• Jacob Hopps, Owner, KleenHaus Commercial (Colorado)
• Jeremy Leon, COO and Director of Operations for North America, LJ’s Cleaning Solutions (Arizona)
• Natasha Magrath, Owner, You’ve Got Maids of Northern Virginia (Virginia)
• Joe Pereira, President, Integrity Maintenance Solutions (California)
• James Purcell, President & CEO, Products Chemical Company (Ohio/Texas)
• Stephanie Ramsey, Owner, Simply Maid OK! (Oklahoma)
• Candido Rosario, Associate Director of Operations, Fairfield University (Connecticut)
• Meredith Solomon, CEO, CCI Efficiency Solutions (Washington)
• Karisa Stahle, VP of Human Resources, Verde Clean (Utah)
• Adam Stathakis, Chief Operating Officer, Stathakis (Michigan)
• Mary Stieger, Director, Marketing Operations, Hospeco Brands Group (Ohio)
• Luiz Thomaz DaCosta, CEO, Modular Concepts (Massachusetts)
• Susanne Trotta, Director of Sales, Imperial Dade (Massachusetts)
• Bre Tschilar, Owner, Cleaning’s A Breeze (Alaska)
• Iris Verdi, Strategic Account Manager, Healthcare, KBS (Delaware)
• Veronica Vidal, CEO, CCMS (Florida)

State Advocacy Leaders are ISSA members in good standing in the United States, who demonstrate a strong commitment to elevating the built environment through advocacy.

“Being a State Advocacy Leader is a powerful opportunity to help transform our industry,” said SAL Tricia Holderman, CEO of The Germ Girl/Elite Facility Systems. “From labor shortages to janitorial work-loading challenges, the issues we face demand collective action at both the national and state levels. I’m honored to help lead that charge for our industry in 2026.”

Interested in becoming a State Advocacy Leader?

Learn more about the program and connect with ISSA’s Stacy Seiden.

ISSA State Advocacy Leaders participating in the 2025 Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC.