I’m in the twilight of my second year as ISSA president, and if there’s one word that keeps coming to mind as I look back, it’s optimism. Not the vague, everything-will-work-out kind. The kind that comes from sitting across the table from the people building this industry and watching what they’re capable of.

A new kind of leader arrives

What gives me the most hope right now is the quality of the leaders coming into this business. I’ve met people who came from completely different careers and found themselves genuinely excited about cleaning and facility solutions—on fire for it, sharp, ready to contribute.

That energy is contagious, and it’s showing up alongside a level of collaboration across the supply chain that I don’t think we’ve seen before. Manufacturers, distributors, and building service contractors (BSCs) are actually listening to each other rather than guessing what the other side needs.

Innovation has caught up with that energy, too. I remember walking trade show floors years ago and seeing the same vacuum, the same bucket, the same equipment on repeat.

Now every show brings something new. That pace of change tells me the industry is finally moving as fast as the people in it.

Technology should elevate people, not replace them

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are transforming how we work, and I think a lot about what should stay constant through that change.

My answer is … the people.

Technology will fully automate some tasks and amplify many others. That’s just reality. I think about front-line custodial staff performing repetitive-motion work all day, and I see real opportunities for programming and robotics to take on more of that physical burden. In contrast, people take on more of the thinking and judgment.

If we’re thoughtful about how we bring AI into this industry, we can build people up while we do it. What we can’t do is treat automation as a reason to stop investing in the humans doing the work.

People should always be at the center of this business.

Leadership means answering a different question

Leading well today isn’t about authority or command and control. It’s about building the next generation of leaders, and that means understanding what people actually want to know.

I’ve read a lot recently about how younger professionals, and honestly people at every stage of their career, aren’t just asking what the company’s strategy is. They’re asking how it affects them. Is there a place for me here? What can I hold onto while everything else shifts?

People are graduating into a job market where parts of the role they trained for are already being automated, and they want to know they can trust the organization they’re giving their time to. Leaders who take that seriously and build a real pathway for people are the ones who will attract and retain good talent.

My hopes for the next 10 years

I want this industry to be more respected, and not just by the people inside it—we already know what we bring. I want our clients and the broader public to see it too.

We’re already seeing signs of that influence.

Our recent fly-in to Washington moved the needle in ways that showed real groundswell behind our advocacy. I want to see that continue, along with a shift away from viewing cleaning as a line-item cost and toward recognizing it as a strategic investment in the health of a facility, its employees, and everyone who walks through the door.

To the next generation of leaders coming up through programs like ISSA’s Emerging Leaders: Stay curious about more than your own lane. The more you understand about the rest of the industry, the more value you’ll bring. Be courageous enough to ask for what you want—a mentor, fifteen minutes of someone’s time, a seat at the table. Ask yourself what the worst outcome could really be. It’s rarely as bad as you think. And as you climb, lift the people coming up behind you. Be a climber, not a stepper.

Serving as ISSA president has made me a better leader and a better person, and I’m grateful for every conversation that got me there.

This industry changes lives, not just for the people who work in it, but for everyone touched by the work we do.

Don’t underestimate the impact you’re having. The future of this industry is ours to build, together. And I couldn’t be more excited to keep building it with you.

I hope to see many of you at ISSA Show North America, where we’ll get to do some of that building in person.