Articles
The ISSA Impact: SOAR365
Categories: ISSA Insights, ISSA Member Spotlight, Straight Talk!
By Jeff Cross | April 21, 2022 << Back to Articles
The third episode of the ISSA Impact spotlights SOAR365, a Richmond, Virginia, nonprofit founded in 1954 by local families determined to find a better way to support their relatives with disabilities. Not only does the organization deliver a wide variety of human services, including pediatric therapy, youth programs, and summer camps, but it also provides life-fulfilling opportunities for employment for those with disabilities. From cleaning services and groundskeeping to digital imaging and logistics, SOAR365 completed more than US$11 million in contracts in 2020, all while being dedicated to an inclusive workplace by helping to lower the 65% unemployment rate among individuals with disabilities who are seeking work. The company provides custodial services to more than 120 facilities, maintaining more than 2 million square feet of space for such prestigious clients as the United States Naval Academy and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Watch or listen to the complete episode below to hear Mike Atkins, SOAR365 assistant vice president of facility management services, detail how his organization has evolved from its humble beginnings almost 60 years ago to become a thriving cleaning contractor offering essential work while making an impact on the lives of people who need it the most. Atkins explains to ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross how SOAR365 was able to leverage the resources of the worldwide cleaning association such as National Cleaning Week and Cleaning Industry Management Standard-Green Building (CIMS-GB) to help its business and its employees thrive. You can also download an audio MP3 of the episode here.
The ISSA Impact is a new video series from the ISSA Media team featured on Straight Talk! that spotlights the success stories of ISSA member companies. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming issue of The ISSA Impact, contact us at [email protected].
About the Author.
Jeff Cross is the ISSA media director, with media brands that include ISSA Today, Cleaning & Maintenance Management, and Cleanfax. He can be reached at [email protected] or 740-973-4236.
