1980s: Education Drives BSCAI Forward

The association continued to gain momentum in the 1980s by offering strong educational tools. In September 1980, Building Service Contractors Association – International (BSCA) hosted the Improving Training Techniques Seminar, which would increase communication and motivation; provide tips on how to secure learning activities; and offer parameters for assessing effective teaching methods. They also utilized new technology to create a video training series covering office cleaning, quality control, and other topics.   

Simultaneously, the already popular BSCA Bulletin evolved into a formal, monthly magazine named Services. Born from those pages was the Bidding and Estimating Seminar, which was launched as a traveling educational opportunity that is still offered today. 

Despite ample educational offerings on running and improving a contract cleaning firm, there was still a need for education on the tasks and challenges of being a CEO. BSCA responded in 1984 by introducing the CEO Seminar (which is still a very popular event today) to teach financial management, organizational structures and other executive level topics.  

The availability of quality education caught the eye of cleaning contractors all over the world, and international membership grew to include representatives from roughly 40 countries. To reflect the importance of these international members, the board added Latin American and European territorial directors, and in 1983, William Hogg, executive vice president of Toronto’s The Adelaide Company, served as the first association president from outside the United States. 

That same year, BSCA hosted the International Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Not many years later, the CEO Seminar would go global, hosting an event at Ashford Castle in Ireland and setting the tone for elevated destinations at future events.  

During this decade of rapid growth, BSCA was run by two association icons, the first being executive vice president Walter Cook. His efforts helped mold BSCA into a well-run, financially sound group. He was also instrumental in advocating for elevating the sense of professionalism within the industry — so much so that when he passed in 1984, the board created the Walker L. Cook Award for Distinguished Service, recognition that remains a coveted part of the CLEAN Awards today. 

After his death, Carol Dean was appointed Cook’s successor. She would go on to manage the association for almost 25 years.