ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is pleased to announce the ISSA Board of Directors’ appointment of Kim Althoff as the next ISSA Executive Director, effective October 29. Althoff will succeed John Barrett, who has served in the role since 2015 and will transition to Chairman Emeritus, continuing to advise the association for the next three years.

This leadership transition marks a pivotal juncture for ISSA as it honors Barrett’s 10 years of leadership and embraces a new chapter under Althoff’s direction.

“John’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative,” said Laurie Sewell, ISSA President and CEO of Servicon Systems. “His vision and dedication have elevated ISSA’s global presence, expanded member services, and strengthened our advocacy efforts. On behalf of the ISSA Board of Directors, we are deeply grateful for his service and are thrilled to welcome Kim into this role. Her energy, strategic mindset, and deep industry relationships make her the ideal leader for ISSA’s next chapter.”

Althoff, who has 29 years of experience at ISSA, most recently served as Executive Vice President. In this role, she led membership, events, media, sales, international operations, and ISSA Charities. Althoff has been instrumental in advancing strategic partnerships, overseeing flagship events like ISSA Show North America, and championing member engagement initiatives such as the ISSA Hygieia Network and ISSA Emerging Leaders Program.

“I’m honored and excited to step into this role,” Althoff said. “ISSA is much more than an association—it’s a vibrant community of businesses and professionals who come together to drive the industry forward. I am incredibly passionate about our industry, and I look forward to working with our talented staff and amazing members to build on John’s legacy and shape the future of ISSA.”

During his tenure, Barrett led ISSA through a period of unprecedented growth and modernization. His legacy includes orchestrating more than 25 mergers and acquisitions, expanding international partnerships, and fostering a member-centric culture that continues to define the association’s impact.

“It has been the honor of my career to serve ISSA and our members,” Barrett said. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Kim for more than a decade, and I can say with full confidence that the association is in excellent hands. Her passion for our mission and her ability to build consensus and drive results will serve ISSA well in the years ahead.”

ISSA will formally announce the leadership transition to ISSA members during ISSA Show North America 2025, taking place November 10-13 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. For more information and to register, visit www.issashow.com.

About ISSA
With more than 11,000 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.

Contact:  ISSA Senior Director of Marketing Jill Nuppenau at [email protected]; phone 847-982-0800 Ext. 1367.