Commercial Cleaning Industry CEO Reflects on Career Success

Growing business by way of upselling practices or winning contracts with new clients is something many BSCs would reflect on as measures of success. After all, the point of the business is to be profitable. While Lee Building Maintenance has achieved a lot of this growth over the past decade, Lee curiously takes more pride in succeeding at a less exciting, yet vital, aspect of running virtually any business.  

“It sounds dumb, but the reality is, I'm this happy man because in all these years I've been in business, I've never missed a payroll,” he says with a chuckle. “To me, that is one of the most important things of being in business.”

In most settings, a missed payroll will lead to angered employees. In the commercial cleaning industry, it can be a brutal blow to employees and their families. Many employees are working two jobs just to get by. Some are working full-time as a janitor and wouldn’t be able to cover groceries and other living essentials without every cent they have rightfully earned. Lee is certainly aware of the importance of these wages, which makes the company’s more than 500 consecutive, on-time payrolls even more important. 

Second to this impressive milestone, Lee is a strong advocate for continuing education, constant personal and professional improvement, and promoting that to current and prospective clients. He’s not alone. The commercial cleaning industry is increasingly joining these ranks as many executives and managers chase those appealing acronyms synonymous with aptitude and work ethic. Lee is especially proud of one he’s earned: Certified Building Services Executive (CBSE), a designation earned through BSCAI. 

“I think there's been many milestones in [commercial cleaning],” he says. “Within this industry, one is my being able to obtain and maintain the CBSE. Having that Certified Building Service Executive label is awesome, as is being able to serve on the board.” 

Returning the Favor

Given that BSCAI both gave Lee the spark his early career needed and bestowed the CBSE certification he so covets, it’s only fitting that he pays the organization back in the grandest way possible: as president. 

Lee’s 2026 BSCAI presidency comes at a unique time for the cleaning industry. Some executives of Baby Boomer age are retiring and turning the reins over to Gen X and Millennial generations. These younger executives are joining the industry, like Lee’s daughter, who is returning to her father’s company full-time after working in the fashion industry post-college.  

Technology is also a big deal, as BSCs look to take advantage of autonomous equipment and even AI. Whether it’s changes to staff demographics, technology, or something else, Lee says BSCAI will continue to focus on bringing its members the greatest value possible. 

“The value comes in forms,” he says. “We provide three signature in-person events: CEO Seminar, Executive Management Conference, and Contracting Success. Each offers the right content to help people grow their business. We also do a great job at providing premiere opportunities for people to network and share war and glory stories.” 

These in-person events are good for education and networking, but BSCAI offers digital opportunities in these areas, too.  

Lee laughs, saying that people have been promoting the digital age since the late 1990s, but he thinks BSCAI is in a true digital age right now. He says that’s what makes the continued distribution of educational content so valuable for the organization. BSCAI offers online learning, where several on-demand educational courses are available. The Contracting Conversations Podcast adds a personal touch via a digital platform. Multiple online Virtual Summits offer specialized training in human resources, operations, technology, sales, and finance. The Inside Cleaning section of the website features articles that help BSCs navigate challenges throughout the year. Finally, there are newsletter emails, a strong social presence, industry research, and more. 

As popular and important as BSCAI is in the commercial cleaning industry, Lee says there are BSCAI owners that know little or nothing about the organization—just like him early in his career. He thinks this presents a gap the organization must continue to fill—to not only bring in those new to the industry, but also industry veterans who have drifted away. 

The ever-modest Lee says his goal as president is to “not mess this up,” but that shouldn’t be an issue. After all, he’s done everything LeRoy Dock asked of him when he helped Lee all those years ago. Lee continues to pay things forward. 

Jake Meister is the Managing Editor of Contracting Profits, CleanLink.com, and sister publications, Facility Cleaning Decisions and Sanitary Maintenance.