Articles

ISSA 2020 Elections Meet Your Candidates

Categories: ISSA Insights

These are the nominees for the 2020 ISSA Board of Directors. Election ballots are being sent electronically to all voting members June 12, 2019, and elections close July 11, 2019. Be sure to cast your ballot for the individuals who will lead our association in the coming years!

Vice President

Steve Lewis
“I’m honored to be a candidate for vice president/president elect of ISSA. Both our global community and industry are changing at a record pace, and if elected for this position it will be my primary goal to represent the interests of all ISSA members in promoting the sustainability of our industry and creating a cleaner, safer world. I want to ensure we are building a solid foundation for the future of our industry, the people associated with it, and the association as a whole.”

About the candidate
Steve Lewis is president of Golden Star Inc. in Kansas City, MO, a global manufacturer of industrial dust mops, wet mops, and microfiber products. Founded in 1908, Golden Star has been an active company member of ISSA for 73 years. He began working at Golden Star in 1977 as a part-time summer job, which eventually lead to a full-time career. During the past 39 years, he has held many different key management positions within Golden Star, from divisional sales manager, national sales manager, vice president of sales and marketing, to current position of president.

Executive Officer

Brendan Cherry
“I have chosen to seek election as the executive officer on the board as it would truly be an honor to again serve this very respected association. If elected, I hope that my understanding of the needs in both the manufacturing and distribution side of the industry will provide value to the association. Secondly, my experience in other market segments could be an asset in attracting both new membership, enhancing existing members experiences, and increased visibility to the association with the goal of advancing clean and driving innovation.”

About the candidate
Brendan Cherry is a senior executive who has more than 30 years of experience in general management and sales and marketing management in both the manufacturing and distribution sectors of the sanitary supply, foodservice equipment, and non-residential construction industries. During this period, he has worked in senior management positions with KBC Specialty Products of Canada and Koala Corporation. He joined Bobrick Washroom Equipment after they purchased the Convenience Products division of Koala Corporation in May of 2004 to lead the newly formed Koala Kare Products division as its vice president and general manager. Today he leads Bobrick’s sales effort across all channels as its vice president of sales. He has also served as a cabinet member on the Rocky Mountain United Way, ASTM International standards committees, and is currently Bobrick’s United Way corporate campaign chair.

Manufacturer Director

Christine Vickers Tucker
“I am running for the position of manufacturer director on the ISSA board because I am passionate about the professional cleaning industry and the role we play in protecting the public from being negatively impacted by the pathogens and aesthetics in the environment. If elected to serve on the ISSA board, I will do all I can to drive this message and to grow our industry in size and importance.  Specific areas of interest for me are the roles innovation and technology can play to improve both the process and outcomes for the industry.”

About the candidate
Christine Vickers Tucker is the vice president/general manager of both the Professional Products Division and the Laundry Division of The Clorox Company. She has been with Clorox since 1995, holding progressive positions in marketing, sales, and general management. Previous roles at Clorox include vice president/general manager of The Clorox Company of Canada, vice president of sales, including responsibility for shopper marketing, category management, multicultural and eCommerce for the domestic portfolio, and director of marketing of the Home Care Division.  Prior to joining Clorox, she began her career in operations and systems management at The Chase Manhattan Bank.

Distributor Director

Ailene Grego
“Let’s face it, this is a tough industry! Shrinking margins, budget reductions, an aged workforce, and corporate buyouts force us to reinvent ourselves on a regular basis to promote differentiations from our competitors. If elected, I will use my 36-year experience to help ISSA grow through sharing ideas and experiences that will help create a platform for all members to not only survive, but thrive in this ever-changing industry.”

About the candidate
Ailene Grego is the president and CEO of SouthEast LINK, a premier distributor of cleaning supplies and equipment in Atlanta. She began her career when Larry Holtzman, her father and chairman of the board, purchased the company in 1983. Her experience includes sales, marketing, program development, operations, finance, acquisitions and strategic planning. In 2016, she was nominated to be a part of the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, where Fortune 500 companies lend their executives and resources to help mentor small businesses. After presenting in front of 30 executives in a “Shark Tank” environment, there was a matchmaking process and The Home Depot chose to mentor her for one year. She and her mentor were awarded the Power of Partnership Award at the final awards ceremony.

Director Canada

Amir Karim
“I am pleased to be a candidate to join the board of ISSA, as I believe in the organization’s vision to be the leading resource and voice for the cleaning industry worldwide. Our industry is poised for some dramatic changes as we become more conscious in how we manage our waste and lower our environmental footprint. In that sense, I think I can add value to the ISSA, as well as representing the Canadian membership.”

About the candidate
Amir Karim became president and CEO of Les Industries Polykar Inc. in July 2018, following the successful second-generation transfer of the family enterprise. Prior to this, he had been leading the corporate development and strategic planning arm of Polykar Inc. since 2001. He is an advocate of environmental sustainability in plastics recycling and has been chairman of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA). In 2016, he was awarded Leader of the Year for service to industry and community by the CPIA. Giving time to causes outside the business, Karim is a dedicated volunteer serving civil society institutions and sits on several boards promoting higher education, community-based arbitration as well as philanthropy.