(L-R) In 2009, ISSA Executive Director John Garfinkel, ISSA's then-President Bob Stahurski, BSCAI's then-President Stan Doobin, and BSCAI's then-Executive Vice President Maurice Desmarais announce their intent to broaden the ISSA/BSCAI partnership by co-locating their conventions.
(L-R) In 2009, ISSA Executive Director John Garfinkel, ISSA's then-President Bob Stahurski, BSCAI's then-President Stan Doobin, and BSCAI's then-Executive Vice President Maurice Desmarais announce their intent to broaden the ISSA/BSCAI partnership by co-locating their conventions.



Entering the new Millennium came with some trepidation of what the coming century might bring, but BSCAI board members were unwavering in their ambition to drive the association into this new era. Partnerships proved to be the main goal.  

In the early 2000s, the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) was putting pressure on cleaning contractors to improve safety compliance or face stiff fines for violations. To combat the threat, the 2004 BSCAI board successfully established a 2-year alliance with OSHA officials. This partnership allowed members the opportunity to schedule onsite visits with OSHA inspectors who would identify infractions and, assuming future steps were agreed upon, waive any associated fines. The program resulted in improved training and communication in workplace safety and health. 

This was the first of what would become some momentous moves for BSCAI. The biggest occurred in 2007, when the association selected Smithbucklin as its full-service management company. As a result of this new partnership, the association's headquarters relocated from Fairfax, Virginia, to Chicago.  

This change brought immediate and positive effects. Several large BSCs rejoined the association, and membership grew. Nearly 2,000 contractors also attended the annual convention — a record high at the time — and the CEO Seminar hosted the largest crowd in a decade.  

Capitalizing on that momentum, BSCAI wasted no time in securing another alliance, this time with ISSA, to cohost events and collaborate on member and regulatory issues. In 2009, BSCAI held its Executive Workshop in conjunction with ISSA/INTERCLEAN. That same year, BSCAI hosted its last independent trade show. In 2010, after 45 years of coming together for the Annual Convention in the spring, the landmark event moved to autumn to be co-located with ISSA/INTERCLEAN.  

This partnership with ISSA was not the only one for BSCAI during this time. Before it, the association also formed alliances with BOMA and IFMA.   




POSTED ON: 9/17/2025