Congratulations
ISSA Emerging Leaders Class of 2026!
ISSA is proud to announce the class of Emerging Leaders for 2026! This prestigious group of 30 industry professionals represents the next generation of visionaries in the global cleaning and facility solutions industry. They have been selected from a group of almost 100 nominations of industry professionals under the age of 40 for their outstanding contributions, leadership, and commitment to driving the industry forward.
ISSA Rising Star in Honor of Jimmy Core Award
Support this year’s Rising Star and cast your vote for the award.
Stay Tuned for Updates on 2025 Voting
Voting for the ISSA Rising Star Award in honor of Jimmy Core is officially closed. Thank you to everyone who voted, we appreciate your participation. The 2024 winner was recognized at the ISSA Show North America on November 19. Details for the 2025 nomination and voting process will be announced soon!
Areli Barlow, Business Solutions Manager, Verde Clean, LLC.
Areli Barlow is a bilingual Business Solutions Manager at Verde Clean and an emerging leader recognized for her expertise and relationship-driven approach in commercial cleaning.
Partnering with facilities and procurement leaders, Barlow specializes in designing solutions for highly regulated environments, government, education and complex construction projects. Her experience includes cleanroom and GMP cleaning programs, labor modeling, sustainability initiatives, pricing strategy, RFP development and Quarterly Business Reviews.
She earned her Critical Space Manager certification, validating her expertise in managing and servicing critical environments. Her ability to translate complex requirements into practical, measurable solutions has helped Barlow lead $26 million in new contract revenue for Verde. She champions safer, greener workplaces by aligning EPA Safer Choice products, waste-diversion strategies, supplier diversity and client sustainability goals without compromising quality or compliance.
Barlow immigrated to the United States from Mexico with her family as a baby. She gives back through Verde’s Social Impact Committee, the American Heart Association West Valley Heart Walk and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, along with organizations supporting women and children. Barlow leads with resilience, empathy, authenticity and a genuine desire to create opportunities for others while continuing to grow as an advisor and rising industry leader.
Areli Barlow
Verde Clean, LLC
Gloria Berwick, Vice President, DBA, Champion Service Group.
Gloria Berwick is a strategic operations executive whose career has been dedicated to advancing the human experience through innovation, thoughtful leadership and purposeful execution. With a background spanning value-based healthcare, alternative payment models, physician practice operations and enterprise management, she has spent more than two decades helping organizations navigate growth, complexity and change while keeping human outcomes at the center of decision-making.
Throughout her career, Berwick has focused on designing systems that create meaningful value without losing sight of the people affected by them. From developing care delivery models and supporting physician organizations to building operational frameworks and service programs, she has worked at the intersection of strategy, innovation and human connection. Her belief that organizational success and human well-being are linked has shaped her approach to leadership and problem-solving.
Today, as Vice President at Champion Service Group, Berwick leads operational strategy and organizational development across a growing facility services organization. Drawing on her healthcare background, she views facilities management as an extension of the mission that has guided her career: creating environments that support safety, trust, dignity and well-being. She is passionate about building systems, teams and experiences that strengthen organizations and serve the people within them.
Gloria Berwick
DBA, Champion Service Group
Andrew Bortolussi, Regional Sales Manager, Callico Distributors.
Andrew Bortolussi has built his career in the cleaning and facility solutions industry around relationships, continuous growth and a genuine passion for helping customers succeed. He began as a sales intern in 2014 before advancing to an Account Executive role, building a foundation in customer service, sales and relationship development.
In 2019, Bortolussi joined Callico Distributors, where he has spent more than seven years growing both his career and his impact within the industry. Today, as Regional Sales Manager, he serves distributor partners throughout New England. Backed by Callico’s reputation for service and customer commitment, Bortolussi takes an entrepreneurial approach to his territory, developing new opportunities, strengthening long-term partnerships and finding creative ways to help customers grow.
Bortolussi is passionate about continuing to learn and becoming more involved in an industry that has shaped more than a decade of his professional life. He values being accessible and dependable, working hard to earn the trust of customers and colleagues.
Beyond his career, Bortolussi is a member of the Springfield Kiwanis Club and enjoys giving back to his local community. Most importantly, he values time with his wife, Liezl, and their daughter, Everleigh, who motivate him to keep growing personally and professionally.
Andrew Bortolussi
Callico Distributors
Melanie Boyd, Network Distribution.
Melanie Boyd is a passionate people leader with a demonstrated history of managing customer service teams for a global distribution company and leading retail teams to success. She builds business processes that improve efficiencies and support revenue growth, and she focuses on creating a collaborative, inclusive environment that empowers teams to achieve their goals in a meaningful way.
Boyd has spent her career in distribution support, supply chain and retail operations, progressing through roles focused on customer integration, sales support and service delivery. Earlier in her career, she held positions in retail leadership and logistics, building a foundation in team management and customer service that continues to shape how she leads today. Along the way, she has developed strong skills in operations management, sales, customer satisfaction, sales operations and customer retention, and she brings a strong information technology background to her work as well. Across every role, Boyd’s focus has stayed the same: building processes that make work easier for the people doing it, and creating teams where people feel supported enough to do their best work. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Melanie Boyd
Network Distribution
Jameka Carter, Events & Social Media Project Manager, Imperial Brady.
Jameka Carter is an Events and Social Media Project Manager at Imperial Brady, where she brings together event strategy, marketing, content and relationship-building to create experiences that strengthen brand awareness, foster meaningful connections and drive business impact. Her role spans corporate social media management, trade show and event production, sales enablement, content strategy, video production and cross-functional collaboration.
Beyond her day-to-day role, Carter is actively involved in the ISSA community, which has provided invaluable opportunities to network, learn and grow. For the past four years, she has served on the ISSA Hygieia Network Event Committee, where she has helped bring meaningful industry events to life while building lasting relationships and learning from leaders across the industry.
Community service is also an important part of who Carter is. Outside of work, she volunteers through her church, helping organize and support youth programs, family events, community outreach initiatives and a food pantry serving individuals and families in need.
Whether producing a large-scale industry event, developing content that connects people with a brand or helping organize initiatives that give back to her community, Carter is passionate about bringing people together, building meaningful connections and creating experiences that make an impact.
Jameka Carter
Imperial Brady
Mathieu Champagne, Special Projects Supervisor, Groupe MMI.
Mathieu Champagne is Special Projects Supervisor at Groupe MMI, a Montreal-based commercial cleaning company with more than 30 years of experience serving over 1,300 sites across Canada, including offices, retail spaces, schools, and hospitals. Champagne brings several years of experience in commercial cleaning to his work overseeing quality, cleanliness, and compliance in day-to-day operations. His attention to detail, positive leadership style, and ability to keep teams motivated have earned him the trust of both colleagues and supervisors throughout his career.Recently promoted to his current position, Champagne has taken on a new and exciting challenge: coordinating specialized operations such as deep cleaning, floor stripping, and high-level cleaning, all while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety. He approaches each job with the goal of exceeding client expectations, drawing on a skilled team, proven methods, and constant attention to detail to get there. That approach lines up with Groupe MMI’s own “humans first” culture, which emphasizes building long-term relationships with clients through personalized, proactive service.Champagne’s strengths lie in teamwork, quality control, prioritization, employee training, problem-solving, and effective communication—skills that continue to serve him well as he takes on greater responsibility within Groupe MMI’s operations.Mathieu Champagne
Groupe MMI
Kimberly Eureste Neira, Lindenmeyr Munroe
Kimberly Eureste-Neira is an emerging leader in the janitorial and facility solutions industry with a passion for turning challenges into opportunities. She takes time to understand each customer’s unique needs, focusing on the right solution rather than simply selling a product, with a goal of making a meaningful difference in how facilities operate.
One of Eureste-Neira’s greatest passions is cleaning equipment and the innovation transforming the industry. She enjoys learning the technology behind each machine, understanding its capabilities and identifying the right application for the right environment. She thrives on troubleshooting and working alongside manufacturers to bring customers options they may not have considered.
Eureste-Neira believes meaningful progress happens when people, ideas and expertise come together. Working closely with customers, manufacturers and industry partners, she connects emerging products and technologies with the real-world challenges facilities face every day.
As the industry moves toward greater automation, technology and efficiency, Eureste-Neira is excited to be part of that transformation. She hopes to broaden the conversation around what a facility solutions provider can offer and inspire others to look beyond the product to the possibilities it creates. She is proud to represent Lindenmeyr Munroe and looks forward to contributing to the industry’s growth.
Kimberly Eureste-Neira
Lindenmeyr Munroe
Trace Ferreira, Regional Director of Business Development, CCS Facility Services.
Trace Ferreira is Regional Director of Business Development at CCS Facility Services, one of the largest building services contractors in the United States, where he partners with organizations across multiple industries to develop customized janitorial and engineering service solutions that support operational excellence and long-term success. He currently supports business growth across Colorado, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Since joining CCS in 2023, Ferreira has advanced from Business Development Manager to Regional Director, helping drive growth across multiple markets while building strong, long-term client relationships. Known for his consultative, relationship-driven approach, he combines business development expertise with a commitment to exceptional customer service, helping clients solve complex facility challenges and achieve measurable results.
Before joining CCS, Ferreira advanced business development efforts at Steril-Aire, where he helped clients improve operations through customer-focused solutions. That background, paired with his work today, has shaped an approach built on listening, follow-through and long-term trust.
A graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in Human Resources Management and a former collegiate baseball player, Ferreira brings a team-first mindset, discipline and competitive drive to every engagement, on and off the field.
Trace Ferreira
CCS Facility Services
Alec Germond, National Sales Manager, Sunbelt Rentals.
Alec Germond’s leadership is defined by collaboration and a relentless drive for results. He joined Sunbelt Rentals eight years ago as an Equipment Rental Specialist and now leads sales efforts for more than 100 Flooring Solutions locations across North America, a progression he credits to strong leaders and the dedicated teams who deliver excellence every day.
Alec is deeply committed to developing people. Whether supporting the National Account Team, building and delivering internal sales training programs, or mentoring Market Sales Leaders and Outside Sales Representatives nationwide, he works to remain an accessible resource for the next generation of leaders at Sunbelt Rentals.
His leadership extends beyond the workplace. Alec serves in volunteer and committee roles at his church, coaches youth basketball, and stays actively involved in his community.
A husband and father of three young children, Alec draws inspiration from his family and from Sunbelt Rentals’ senior leadership team. He is proud to represent a company that invests in its people, and he views this recognition as a chance to spotlight the future leaders within Sunbelt Rentals and the leadership that enables their success, alongside his own path.
Alec Germond
Sunbelt Rentals
Jeff Giannoni, Service by Medallion.
Jeff Giannoni is a dedicated father of three and a passionate leader in the facility services industry with Service by Medallion.
Founded in 1978 and grown out of the San Francisco Bay Area, the company provides janitorial, facility maintenance, workplace staffing, specialty cleaning, project support and sustainability services to complex workplaces nationwide. In his role, Giannoni focuses on guiding performance and developing employees to drive service excellence, work that includes overseeing staff, meeting contractual scopes of work, addressing client requests, conducting safety meetings and inspections, managing staffing and equipment, and documenting employee training.
Outside of work, Giannoni enjoys staying active and spending time with family and friends through sports, hiking, camping, fishing, biking and live music. He values family, personal growth and creating meaningful experiences, bringing the same commitment, positivity and accountability to both his professional and personal life.
Giannoni’s approach reflects the balance he strikes between a demanding industry and the priorities that matter most to him. Whether he’s leading a team on-site or spending a weekend outdoors with his kids, he brings the same steady focus and genuine care to everything he takes on.
Jeff Giannoni
Service by Medallion
Caleb Groen, Head of Canadian Sales, Tennant Company.
As Head of Canadian Sales at Tennant Company, Caleb Groen leads the company’s commercial and industrial sales organization across Canada. His responsibilities include shaping the national sales strategy, supporting his team, strengthening distributor and customer relationships, and driving sustainable growth across the Canadian market.
His approach to leadership is grounded in clarity, trust, and accountability. He believes in staying connected to his team and customers, understanding challenges firsthand, and creating an environment where people have the confidence and support to perform at their best.
A key focus throughout his career has been advancing the adoption of innovative cleaning technologies, with an emphasis on autonomous robotic equipment. Working closely with his team and customers, he identifies operational challenges and delivers practical, results-oriented solutions that improve productivity, safety, and efficiency.
Based in Toronto, Caleb and his wife are raising their two children, who inspire him to be his best both personally and professionally. Outside of work, he is an avid hockey player and golfer who also enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Caleb Groen
Tennant Company
Ryan Harris, Assistant Director of Campus Services, Auburn University.
Ryan Harris serves as Assistant Director of Campus Services at Auburn University, where he oversees contracted and in-house custodial operations supporting a large and diverse campus environment. His responsibilities include leadership and oversight of the university’s custodial quality control program, classroom building management, the in-house floor maintenance team, and contract management for facility support services. He works closely with campus partners to support the effective operation of academic, administrative, and student spaces across campus.
With more than 15 years of experience in facilities management, Harris is passionate about operational excellence, workforce development, and advancing the facility services profession.
Harris currently plays a lead role in preparing Auburn University’s newest academic facilities for occupancy, coordinating custodial staffing, quality inspection programs, and building walkthroughs alongside contract services and other Facilities Management teams. His focus is on ensuring cleaning services align with how each space will actually be used, working directly with campus departments to establish expectations, priorities, and service schedules.
In addition to his operational responsibilities, Harris is committed to developing high-performing teams and creating sustainable service models that improve efficiency, enhance the customer experience, and support the long-term stewardship of university facilities.
He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education at Auburn University, focusing on leadership development and workforce training within technical professions. Harris is committed to combining technical expertise with strong leadership principles to develop future industry leaders, enhance service quality, and drive continuous improvement within facility services.
Ryan Harris
Auburn University
Ian Hossfeld, CEO and Owner, City Wide Facility Solutions – San Diego.
Ian Hossfeld is the CEO and Owner of City Wide Facility Solutions – San Diego and City Wide Facility Solutions – West LA. After acquiring the San Diego location in 2021, Ian doubled the company’s revenue and grew the team from 13 to 45 employees, building a culture rooted in accountability and service. In 2023, he partnered with a longtime employee to launch a startup location in West LA; in just three years, that team has grown to service more than 100 accounts. The collective company looks forward to surpassing $30M in revenue in 2027 and expanding to over 60 teammates.
Prior to City Wide, Ian served as a Navy SEAL officer for 12 years. During his time in the service, he deployed four times, including combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor Device, and two Combat Action Ribbons.
Outside of City Wide, Ian coaches youth sports and supports the SEAL Future Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping active-duty Navy SEALs transition successfully to civilian life and careers. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the United States Naval Academy.
Ian Hossfeld
City Wide Facility Solutions – San Diego
Luisa Huguett, Contract and Quality Manager, Munich Airport NJ, LLC
Luisa Huguett’s leadership journey began long before her work in facilities and quality management. In Colombia, she worked across government, business, international organizations, and local communities, experiences that taught her that meaningful improvement starts by understanding the people a service is meant to support.
That perspective has remained at the center of her career. After moving to the United States, Luisa brought her background in relationship-building, service, and community engagement into the facilities and cleaning industry, where she has focused on creating environments that are not only cleaner and more efficient, but more welcoming, accessible, and responsive to the people who use them every day.
Her work at Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal A has included collaborating with frontline cleaning teams, vendors, airport partners, and passengers from diverse backgrounds to improve service quality and the passenger experience. She has championed initiatives involving restroom experience, accessibility, technology, employee recognition, operational improvement, and customer feedback — always connecting performance metrics with the people behind them.
For Luisa, leadership is not simply about managing contracts or achieving operational targets. It is about listening, bringing different communities and perspectives together, recognizing the people doing the work, and creating improvements that people can genuinely feel.
Her journey from Colombia to the United States continues to shape the kind of leader she strives to be: one who believes that service excellence begins with empathy, inclusion, and respect for people.
Luisa Huguett
Munich Airport NJ, LLC
Kyle Jefferson, Lead Strategic Partnership Specialist, KleenMark.
Kyle Jefferson is a Strategic Partnerships Specialist with KleenMark Services Corp., where he focuses on building strong client relationships and helping organizations develop customized facility cleaning solutions. He joined KleenMark in November 2022 as a Business Development Manager, moving into his current role after several years in operations and account management.
Before KleenMark, Jefferson spent time at Aurora Health Care developing growth strategies and managing relationships that increased patient market share. His background also includes work as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and operations supervisor at Mercury Marine, along with management roles at Verizon Wireless and Champs Sports. He holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
With a relationship-first approach to business development, Jefferson works closely with clients to understand their needs, identify opportunities for improvement and develop service programs that deliver consistent results. Based in Wisconsin, he is passionate about connecting with businesses and community organizations throughout the region, including serving as head coach for the Fond du Lac School District’s boys and girls track and field program. He enjoys networking, developing long-term partnerships and representing KleenMark through a commitment to professionalism, responsiveness and service excellence.
Kyle Jefferson
KleenMark
Channing Johnson, President, KB Building Services.
Channing Johnson is the President of KB Building Services, where the focus isn’t just on cleaning—it’s on building long-term relationships. Channing joined the KB team in 2009 after graduating from college, starting in marketing – focusing on creating templates and bid proposals. She has now spent 17 years working in the commercial janitorial industry with a deep commitment to culture, process, appreciation, and putting people first.
Under Channing’s leadership, KB has grown both revenue & bottom line by over 900%, has a running employee retention rate of 91% and a running customer retention rate of 99.6%. She has spent the last 4+ years developing custom software for the service industry, as well as working with other leaders to create efficiencies in their organizations through her “What’s the Stuck” business. Whether it’s supporting employees, sharing her experiences with other leaders or serving KB partners, Channing believes that great service starts with great relationships.
Channing Johnson
KB Building Services
Brad Kenny, Strategic Account Manager, Nilfisk.
Brad Kenny, Strategic Account Manager at Nilfisk, brings more than 12 years of industry experience, including five years in strategic account management focused on building service contractors and seven years as an Industrial Vacuum Sales Manager. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brad is known for his customer-first approach and commitment to results.A respected leader among colleagues and customers, Brad consistently identifies opportunities to create value, improve processes and strengthen partnerships. He treats every customer engagement as a collaboration, taking time to understand unique challenges and align solutions that drive results. His ability to balance disciplined execution with innovative thinking has made him a trusted advisor and key contributor to organizational growth.Beyond his business achievements, Brad is passionate about mentoring others. He supports teammates’ development, helps implement best practices and steps forward during change to lead complex initiatives. His integrity, humility and willingness to support others have earned him a reputation as someone who elevates both people and performance.Brad’s dedication to excellence and his ability to inspire trust mark him as an emerging leader in the cleaning industry. He is honored to be recognized by ISSA and remains committed to advancing the industry for customers, colleagues and partners.Brad Kenny
Nilfisk
John Lechtenberg, Territory Developer and Sales Coach, Corporate Cleaning Group.
John Lechtenberg is a Territory Developer and Sales Coach at Corporate Cleaning Group, where he has spent the past eight years building franchise businesses and developing the owners who run them.
From 2020 to 2023, Lechtenberg built four franchise territories in St. Louis from the ground up, growing them to more than $1 million in combined revenue. Corporate Cleaning Group went on to sell all four to existing managing partners, a validation of the operations and revenue base he had established.
Since then, Lechtenberg has turned that operating experience outward. Over the last three years, he has coached nearly 40 new franchise owners across the country, working alongside them to set goals, build their books of business and reach profitability faster than they would have on their own. He continues in that role today, splitting his time between developing new territories, driving new revenue for the company and mentoring the owners who come after him.
Lechtenberg lives in Lenexa, Kansas, with his wife, Amelia. The work regularly takes him to new parts of the country, which suits him because the parts of the job he values most are meeting new people and helping a new business get off the ground.
John Lechtenberg
Corporate Cleaning Group
Jeremy Leon, Chief Operating Officer, LJ's Cleaning Solutions.
Jeremy Leon is the Chief Operating Officer of LJ’s Cleaning Solutions, LLC, a leading provider of commercial cleaning, facility support, transportation cleaning and specialized environmental services. With a passion for operational excellence and organizational growth, Leon oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, workforce development, quality assurance, client relations and strategic expansion initiatives.
Drawing from his experience as a United States Army veteran, Leon brings a disciplined leadership style focused on accountability, continuous improvement and mission-driven execution. His ability to develop efficient systems, optimize workflows and build high-performing teams has played a critical role in the company’s growth and reputation for service excellence.
Leon is highly experienced in contract management, regulatory compliance, government contracting, business development and operational strategy. He works closely with leadership teams, clients and employees to ensure LJ’s Cleaning Solutions consistently delivers exceptional service while maintaining high standards of safety and professionalism.
Beyond operations, Leon is committed to leadership development and empowering others. He believes strong organizations are built through servant leadership, clear communication, strategic planning and a culture of accountability, and his vision continues to drive innovation and sustainable growth throughout the organization.
Professional Motto: Excellence is earned through discipline, preparation and consistent execution.
Jeremy Leon
LJ's Cleaning Solutions
Will Lewis, President & CEO, Tolco.
Will Lewis is President and CEO of Tolco Corporation, a manufacturer of trigger sprayers and other janitorial products founded by his grandfather in 1961. Lewis joined the company in January 2009 and became President and CEO in November 2018, leading Tolco through a period of transformation and growth.
Under his leadership, Tolco has strengthened its commitment to company culture, anchored by five core values, while streamlining operations and transitioning to an updated ERP system. These efforts, paired with a strong strategic focus, have helped drive increased sales and profitability. Lewis holds a BS in Finance from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Michigan, a foundation that has shaped his hands-on approach to leading a third-generation family business.
Beyond Tolco, Lewis is active in his community. He serves on the boards of the Black Swamp Conservancy, which supports land conservation in Northwest Ohio, and the Maumee Valley Chapter of YPO. He is also a member of the Bay View Association and the Toledo Club.
Lewis lives in Ottawa Hills, Ohio, with his wife and three sons. Outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors, including hiking, kayaking and triathlons, and values staying active with his family.
Will Lewis
Tolco
Matt Meridieth, Sales Vice President, Clorox Purell.
Matt Meridieth is a Sales Vice President for Clorox Purell ProCare, where he leads strategic growth initiatives and high-performing teams within the organization’s Corporate Accounts sales function. With 14 years of experience in the JanSan industry, Meridieth has built his career around developing strong customer relationships and delivering solutions that create value for manufacturers, distributors, building service contractors, property managers and end users alike.
Meridieth has spent 12-plus years with GOJO, now Clorox Purell ProCare, advancing through sales and leadership roles in the Office and Wholesale Channel and with Building Service Contractors and Property Managers, and most recently managing distribution-focused sales teams.
A resident of Moreland Hills, Ohio, Meridieth and his wife, Jodi, are the proud parents of three children. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching youth sports, playing golf and spending time with his family. He also serves on the Board of the Friendship Circle of Cleveland, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering friendship and inclusion for children, teens and adults with disabilities and other developmental needs.
As a member of the ISSA Emerging Leaders Class of 2026, Meridieth is honored to collaborate with fellow industry professionals, continue growing as a leader and contribute to the industry’s future.
Matt Meridieth
Clorox Purell
Rex Moon, Sr. Director of National Accounts, GP PRO.
Rex Moon is the Sr. Director of National Accounts at Georgia-Pacific, where he leads Commercial Real Estate, Lodging and High-Traffic segments along with Connected Solutions sales. His team spearheads the growth of technology solutions that help organizations improve facility operations, efficiency and customer experience, including GP PRO’s KOLO Smart Monitoring System, an IoT-powered platform for connected restroom and facility management.
Moon has spent his career at Georgia-Pacific, progressing from Account Executive through Senior Account Executive, Business Development Manager and Manager of National Distribution into senior sales leadership. He holds a degree in Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University and regularly represents GP PRO’s solutions at industry events.
With a strong track record of driving business growth and fostering collaboration, Moon is focused on connecting people, technology and insights to solve complex challenges and deliver measurable results. He is also an active supporter of leadership development, committed to helping teams and organizations achieve their full potential.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Moon enjoys creating lasting memories with his wife and two children, whether on the ski slopes during winter or on the water in summer. He also volunteers as an interior firefighter and marine rescue scuba diver with the county rescue unit.
Rex Moon
GP PRO
Austen O’Reilly, ABM Industries.
Austen O’Reilly is an emerging leader in the commercial real estate and facility services industry, recognized for building strong relationships and connecting clients with the operational teams that deliver exceptional service. O’Reilly began her career at Allied Universal in 2022 in a sales support role before joining ABM, where she has spent nearly two years in sales supporting commercial real estate clients throughout Chicago.
O’Reilly takes a collaborative, hands-on approach to client service, working closely with ABM’s operations teams and frontline employees to solve challenges and deliver meaningful solutions. By serving as a bridge between client relationships and operations, she helps ensure that client needs are understood and effectively executed.
Beyond her professional role, O’Reilly is actively involved in Chicago’s commercial real estate community, currently serving as Vice Chair of the BOMA Chicago Emerging Leaders Committee and as a board member of the Chicago Real Estate Network.
In recognition of her performance at ABM, O’Reilly was selected for Presidents Club in FY25 and earned the company’s Rookie of the Year award for Business & Industry. As a member of the ISSA Emerging Leaders Class, she is committed to continued growth, leadership and making a lasting impact on the facility services industry.
Austen O’Reilly
ABM Industries
Tom Rosenthal, Director of Sales and Marketing, Janitors Supply Company Inc.
Tom Rosenthal is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Janitors Supply Company, a family-owned distributor founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1954 and now led by third-generation ownership. Rosenthal helps lead the company’s efforts to strengthen its sales organization, improve the customer experience and position the business for long-term growth across its five-state marketing area.
In his role, Rosenthal focuses on developing people, building stronger sales processes, improving communication and alignment across departments and creating a more proactive approach to serving customers. He works closely with sales, customer service, operations and vendor partners to identify opportunities, solve problems and improve the way the organization supports its customers.
Rosenthal is particularly passionate about helping modernize the independent distribution model by combining strong relationships and industry expertise with better processes, technology, training and accountability. His leadership approach centers on continuous improvement, practical problem-solving and helping teams better understand the value they provide to customers.
As Janitors Supply continues to evolve, Rosenthal is focused on building a stronger, more connected organization that develops its people, strengthens customer partnerships and creates sustainable growth for the future.
Tom Rosenthal
Janitors Supply Company Inc.
McLain Scales, Greenville Office Supply.
McLain Scales runs the Janitorial Supply Division at GOS, his family-owned distribution company based in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1968, GOS has grown into a single-source workplace distributor spanning janitorial and facility supplies, office supplies, office furniture, breakroom and coffee services, and promotional products. Scales works alongside his father, Charles Scales III, who serves as President, CEO and Owner; his brother Andrew, a business products specialist; and his brother Charles Scales IV, who serves as VP of Business Development. He joined the company in 2013 and has been credited with driving significant growth in the janitorial and facility category since then.
Before joining GOS, Scales earned a degree in Arts Management from the College of Charleston, where he learned budgeting, fundraising, marketing and event creation, skills he later carried into business. He also helped launch Sovi, a Charleston-based tech startup that built an app for discovering local events and buying tickets, serving as its community manager as the company expanded into several Southeastern cities. He spent several years volunteering with Pendleton
Place, an organization that supports children, youth and families affected by foster care and homelessness.
Scales values building the business alongside his father and brothers, and he grew up in the community GOS serves. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids.
McLain Scales
Greenville Office Supply
Matthew Vickers, R.J. Schinner Co., Inc.
Matthew Vickers has spent 15 years in the away-from-home janitorial and sanitation supply and foodservice disposable industry, including six years with distributors Sysco and RJ Schinner, his current employer; six years with manufacturer Henkel/Dial Professional; and more than two years with rep group Bull’s Eye, a legacy group of Avision, where he got his start. Most of his roles have focused on the healthcare vertical, his passion, though he has also worked across most vertical market segments.
Vickers is proud to have been nominated as an emerging leader for ISSA. Leadership development is something he cares deeply about, and he sees himself leading a team in this industry in the future. His leadership style resembles that of a servant leader: authentic, quick to help teammates and always willing to go the extra mile.
In his free time, Vickers runs 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons, raising money for local causes typically focused on autism or children’s health as a way to give back to his community.
He does so with the support of his wife, Edlira, and their two daughters, Kennedy (6) and Eliza (4), who also test his leadership skills. Vickers is also working toward his MBA at Rutgers University.
Matthew Vickers
R.J. Schinner Co., Inc.
Christian Williford, President and Founder, APEX Commercial Cleaning.
Christian Williford is President and founder of APEX Commercial Cleaning, a janitorial and cleaning company he started in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 2014. He believes leadership is about building people, strengthening the community and leaving things better than you found them.
Under Williford’s direction, APEX provides commercial cleaning, floor stripping, waxing, buffing and carpet cleaning to office buildings, schools, churches, fitness centers, retail establishments, automotive dealerships, financial institutions and management properties throughout Lafayette and the surrounding Acadiana region. The company’s approach centers on removing the burden of managing cleaning services from its customers, pairing consistent janitorial work with attention to environmental safety and customer satisfaction.
Williford has built APEX around a culture of service beyond expectations, guided by the company’s motto of always providing excellence. He has shared his path to ownership and leadership philosophy publicly, including on a local podcast spotlighting Acadiana business leaders.
Beyond running APEX, Williford is known locally for his commitment to community impact, viewing the company’s growth as tied directly to the strength of the people and neighborhoods it serves. As a member of the ISSA Emerging Leaders Class, he continues to bring that same people-first philosophy to the broader facility services industry.
Christian Williford
APEX Commercial Cleaning
Miguel Zamora, Operations Leader, Ecobrite Services.
Miguel Zamora is a people-focused operations leader at EcoBrite Services who leads with integrity, accountability and compassion. He believes leadership is earned through consistent action, supporting others, taking responsibility and doing what is right even when circumstances are challenging.
With years of experience in the cleaning and facility services industry, Zamora has developed a strong understanding of the people, partnerships and operational discipline required to deliver exceptional service. Supporting complex, multi-location operations across the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii, he is known for his hands-on approach, sound judgment and ability to build trusted relationships with frontline employees, colleagues and clients.
Zamora approaches challenges with a fact-based, solutions-oriented mindset. He remains actively engaged in the field, works alongside his teams and looks for practical ways to strengthen service quality, communication and accountability. Most importantly, he is committed to helping others grow and creating an environment where employees feel respected, supported and empowered to succeed.
Zamora is honored to be selected for the ISSA Emerging Leaders Class of 2026. He looks forward to expanding his industry knowledge, learning from fellow professionals and contributing his operational experience and people-first perspective to the continued advancement of the cleaning and facility services industry.
Miguel Zamora
Ecobrite Services
Ri Zheng, Manager of Custodial Care, Central Park Conservancy.
Ri Zheng is the Manager of Custodial Care at Central Park Conservancy, where he leads a team responsible for maintaining public restrooms, visitor centers, and interior facilities throughout one of the world’s most iconic urban parks. His mission is to redefine what public-facing facilities can be by creating clean, welcoming, and worry-free spaces where every park visitor can feel comfortable and cared for.
With more than a decade of experience in hospitality and facilities services, Zheng has built his career around operational excellence, exceptional service, and developing high-performing teams. Before joining Central Park Conservancy, he developed and oversaw housekeeping operations across more than 60 properties and 2,000 units nationwide, helping reduce cleaning-related issues to below 2% while lowering operating costs by more than 20%. He holds a Google Project Management Certificate and is an ISSA Certified Professional Trainer.
At the heart of Zheng’s leadership philosophy is a genuine commitment to teaching and developing others. He believes knowledge is most valuable when it is shared and that great leaders create opportunities for others to learn, grow, and succeed. Through hands-on coaching, continuous training, and working alongside his team, he strives to build confidence, accountability, and pride in the profession. At Central Park Conservancy, Zheng is dedicated to elevating custodial standards while ensuring the professionals behind this essential work feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow.
Ri Zheng
Central Park Conservancy
Vote for the ISSA Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core
As part of the Emerging Leaders Program, one individual will be honored with the ISSA Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core. Industry professionals can vote below to select a winner from this impressive group to receive the prestigious title. One vote per person. Voting ends Tuesday, September 30 at 11:59PM ET
The recipient of the Rising Star Award will be recognized at ISSA Show North America on November 11, highlighting their exemplary leadership and influence in the industry.
