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May 2026

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About the show

The BSCAI podcast series, Contracting Conversations, will present new ideas, solutions, and tips for contract cleaning and facility services. Each episode will interview a different business owner, entrepreneur, industry leader, or subject-matter expert on relevant topics and current events. Topics in this series will cover the industry’s pandemic response, as well as industry dynamics impacting contractors, customer insights, company culture, business growth, leadership, professional development, and many more. We look forward to sharing these thoughts and insights with you!

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53 recent

May 14, 202639 min

Is Your Employee Promotion-Ready or Just Great at Their Job?

How do you know when an employee is truly ready for more responsibility — and when promoting them might actually set them up to fail? In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we talk all things talent management, promotion readiness, and employee development with Fernando Cruz, president and CEO of Dynamond Building Services, and Ewa Lorick, vice president of human resources at The Budd Group. Fernando and Ewa share firsthand experiences and their take on what signals promotion readiness. From recognizing bandwidth and soft skills to understanding the difference between vertical and horizontal growth, we discuss best practices for leaders navigating promotions in fast-paced, frontline janitorial and facility service environments. Learn the risks of promoting too early, how organizations can build meaningful development runways, and why leading with care is at the heart of strong employee retention strategies. Conversation Highlights: • Early signs an employee may be ready for more responsibility. • The difference between vertical and horizontal growth. • Common mistakes leaders make when promoting too quickly. • Why soft skills matter as much as technical expertise. • How development programs reduce risk and improve retention. • Leading with care as a strategy for long-term success. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

March 16, 202624 min

Innovation Starts by Finding the Friction, Featuring Nikolas Badminton

In the latest episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with futurist, author, and global advisor Nik Badminton to talk about what’s reshaping contract cleaning and how leaders can prepare for the future. Nik shares why innovation starts with identifying friction inside your business: the everyday pain points, recurring problems, and operational inefficiencies that signal where change is needed most. Instead of chasing big, abstract ideas, noticing these friction points — and listening to the frontline cleaners and clients who experience them first — can lead to high-impact innovation. He also breaks down how shifting workplace expectations, emerging technologies like robotics and AI, and evolving client needs are creating new opportunities for cleaning companies willing to intentionally disrupt “the way we’ve always done it.” Conversation Highlights: • How leaders can balance day-to-day operations with forward-thinking strategy. • Why “we’ve always done it this way” is the beginning of the end. • Practical ways to uncover friction and unlock innovation from your team and clients. • What future-ready service models, from flexible workspaces to new tech tools, mean for contract cleaning businesses.

January 13, 202625 min

Stop Playing Small: Chip Conley on Thriving in Your Second Act

In the latest episode of Contracting Conversations, we talk to Chip Conley, hospitality entrepreneur, Modern Elder Academy founder, and bestselling author, to discuss what it takes for contract cleaning pros to thrive in their second act. From leading one of the largest boutique hotel companies in the U.S. to mentoring Airbnb’s founders and creating the world’s first midlife wisdom school, Chip shares lessons on career reinvention, leadership resilience and why curiosity is the ultimate competitive edge. Chip opens up about the challenges of growth plateaus, the psychology behind entrepreneurial burnout, and strategies to reignite purpose and passion. He also dives into how company culture drives employee retention, why recognition matters more than money, and how wisdom helps navigate complexity in industries like commercial cleaning and hospitality. Conversation Highlights: • Ways to break through business growth plateaus and avoiding burnout. • Paths for mid-career entrepreneurs: sell, delegate, or rediscover purpose. • How to stay relevant through curiosity and crystallized intelligence. • Why creating cultures of recognition and meaning can reduce employee turnover. Chip Conley is co-founder and executive chairman of MEA (formerly Modern Elder Academy) and a renowned entrepreneur, best-selling author, and dynamic speaker celebrated for his innovative approach to leadership and hospitality. As the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, he expanded a single boutique hotel into the second-largest boutique hotel brand in the U.S. In 2013, he joined Airbnb as head of global hospitality and strategy, mentoring its founders and helping shape its culture during a rapid growth phase. Inspired by his midlife journey, experience at Airbnb, and extensive research and collaboration with thought leaders in the area of aging, Chip co-founded MEA, the world’s first midlife wisdom school.

December 11, 202537 min

Inside the Leadership Playbook: BSCAI Past Presidents Live at CS25

In this special edition of Contracting Conversations, we celebrate BSCAI’s 60th anniversary with a panel featuring three past presidents: Arlo Luke (1997), Leroy Dock (2004), and Sally Shopmeyer (2011), moderated by Jason Lee, BSCAI’s 2025 President-Elect. Recorded live at Contracting Success 2025 (CS25) in Las Vegas, our past presidents explore the evolution of the building service contracting industry, the role BSCAI has played in shaping standards, and the personal leadership lessons that have stood the test of time. Conversation Highlights: • Why joining BSCAI was the most important strategic decision for these leaders. • How the industry has evolved: consolidation, technology, and AI. • The enduring importance of relationships and partnerships in business growth. • Sally Shopmeyer on breaking barriers as one of BSCAI’s few female presidents. • Why peer-to-peer education is the secret advantage of BSCAI. • Golden nuggets of wisdom for future leaders: service, gratitude, and execution.

November 11, 202534 min

Steven Harper Built the Cleaning Company He Wanted To Work For

In the latest episode of Contracting Conversations, Steven Harper, president and CEO of Spectrum Building Services of America shares his career path: from electrical engineer to working with Fortune 500 companies and finally founding Spectrum, a commercial cleaning company that now generates eight figures in annual revenue. Tune in as he shares how he scaled his business over time and built a company rooted in trust, systems thinking, and a people-first culture. Steven opens up about the early challenges of entering the janitorial industry, how he learned “you can’t scale chaos,” the ways he engineered a service model focused on accountability, and why he believes the future of cleaning lies in a hybrid model of human expertise, robotics, and AI. Conversation Highlights • Applying systems thinking to scale janitorial services • The importance of building infrastructure before chasing growth • How Spectrum doubled its revenue in six months without chasing new clients • The role of AI, robotics, and automation in scaling a service business • How company culture and employee trust drive long-term success • What cleaning-as-a-service means and why it’s the future of the industry

October 7, 202526 min

Episode Replay — How BSCs Build Their Business, Featuring Blake Dozier and Cory Jessee of OnPoint

Discover this fan-favorite episode, originally shared in 2024, or listen again to glean new insights! This episode of Contracting Conversations focuses on how Blake Dozier and Cory Jessee, founders of OnPoint, a janitorial company based in southeastern Virginia, built their commercial cleaning company. Dozier and Jessee have been in business together for the last 10 years — combining their expertise in commercial real estate and small business management — and have also had the unique advantage of developing a solid friendship with time. Learn how they got their business off the ground floor, the advice they’d give themselves in those first three years, how their involvement in the industry and BSCAI has impacted their work, the ways they balance their friendship with business, and much more. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Connect With BSCAI Online bscai.org bscai.org/exec facebook.com/bscaipage twitter.com/BSCAI linkedin.com/company/building-service-contractors-association-international/

September 8, 202534 min

Episode Replay — How I Grew My Career: Featuring Matt Streiff of The Budd Group

Revisit this fan-favorite episode, originally shared in 2024, or listen again to glean new insights! This episode of Contracting Conversations features Matt Streiff, senior vice president of sales and marketing at The Budd Group. Matt is a longtime BSCAI member who joined in 2007 and has held positions on both the supplier and contractor side of the commercial cleaning industry. He offers a unique perspective about how he’s grown his career, learning from everything the industry has to offer. Tune in as Matt shares the steps he’s taken to become a leader in the space, as well as his advice for building trusted relationships with clients and sales teams. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

July 15, 202530 min

From Cleaner to Chief Development Officer: Tom Kruse on Leading With Humility and Earning Client Trust

In this episode of the BSCAI podcast, Tom Kruse, Chief Development Officer at Marsden Holding, LLC, shares his insights on customer engagement and retention. Drawing from his early days as a frontline cleaner, Tom emphasizes the importance of leading with humility and staying connected to the people behind the service. He outlines his framework for success — paying attention, ensuring competence, and showing care — not just to customers, but to employees as well. With experience acquiring over 30 companies, Tom also discusses how to maintain consistent service and values during times of transition.

June 27, 202529 min

John Ravaris Wants You to Rethink Growth — It’s an Outcome, Not a Goal

In the latest episode of Contractor Connections, we sit down with John Ravaris to talk about what it really takes to grow a business in the contract cleaning industry — and why growth isn’t something you chase, but something you earn. John shares his framework for differentiation, the power of understanding client success factors, and how to create raving fans who fuel long-term success. If you're ready to stop competing on price and start leading with purpose, this conversation is for you. ________________________________________ John Ravaris is the founder of UVPsolutions, a consultancy devoted to helping businesses create compelling, unique value propositions and growth-enabled organizations. John has dedicated over 35 years to marketing and sales leadership in the facility supply and service industry. His career has been defined by working in family-owned businesses, ranging in size from tens of millions to hundreds of millions in revenue. Throughout his career, John has been inspired by visionary leaders who emphasized client-centric strategies and drove exceptional revenue and profit growth. John was recognized by BSCAI with the Industry Service Award for his contributions. John holds a degree in marketing from the University of Maine and an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University.

May 19, 202527 min

Small Businesses: Insights on Growth, Challenges, and Resilience in Contract Cleaning

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we sit down with Mark Herbick, founder and CEO of Pursant, who brings over 30 years of experience to the contract cleaning industry. Tune in to explore the nuanced world of small business valuation and what it takes to thrive in a sector known for its low barrier to entry but high demands of grit and ambition. Mark shares his observations on the current landscape for small businesses in contract cleaning, including the emotional and operational challenges owners face as they scale. We also dive into strategic growth opportunities, owners getting comfortable with the idea of making themselves obsolete, and what the path looks like when it’s time to sell. Whether you're a seasoned operator or just getting started, this conversation offers valuable takeaways to understand the realities of today’s small business landscape. _____________________________________________________________________________ Mark Herbick is the founder and CEO of Pursant, a middle market advisory firm specializing in M&A, private capital market financing, transaction advisory services, financial leadership support, and consulting related to business value enhancement. The firm’s integrative, customized suite of services deliver the insight and guidance parties seek to confidently navigate complex strategic transactions. Prior to founding Pursant, Mark was a serial entrepreneur and buyer/seller of businesses, having bought, sold, and operated over a dozen companies of his own and advised on countless strategic transactions in numerous sectors, including the building service contract sector. He grew his companies through acquisitions, strategic divestitures of divisions and managed organic growth. During his time as an operator, Mark found that to best grow enterprise value, it was necessary to become proficient at optimizing company performance and executing strategic transactions. He honed his skills in these areas and in 2009 founded Pursant, LLC. The firm works on over 50 transactions a year ranging in value from $10m-$500m.