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Sharon Boyd knows that passion drives impact, and that impact leads to lasting change. Early on in her career, before becoming a Supervisor of Custodial Services for Newport News Public Schools, Newport News, Virginia, she was drawn to the mission of custodial operations.
“I found myself increasingly intrigued by the technical side of cleaning, the importance of process, and the role proper training plays in creating safe, healthy, and well-maintained environments,” Boyd recalls. “I realized how impactful this work could be, not just for customers and communities, but for the employees.”
Boyd’s foundation in nonprofit work lent itself to her transition into the commercial cleaning industry. Combining her desire to support people with her newfound interest in safeguarding facilities, she became a leader who invests in people and the buildings they occupy.
“My passion for this career has been sustained by the people, the purpose, and the opportunities that this industry continues to offer. What keeps me energized year after year is the constant growth, the evolving standards, and the chance to make a meaningful impact,” she says.
Leveraging her undergraduate degree in Human Resources Management and master's degree in Organizational Management, she developed essential skills for navigating complex environmental challenges. This skillset was tested when Boyd’s department faced significant organizational change. To address shifting needs and expectations, she crafted a structured communication plan to support her frontline team through the transition. As a result, her department stabilized and achieved operational success.
“This experience reinforced what I believe to be true: success in custodial and facility operations requires continual learning, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead people through change—not just the ability to complete tasks,” Boyd shares. “Technical skills keep you grounded, but leadership, communication, and lifelong learning are what elevate you to senior management and help you create lasting impact.”
Throughout her leadership experience, Boyd has learned three key lessons:
• Know Your Value
• Education Matters
• Consistency is Necessary
Advancing the industry toward a more equitable future requires individuals to embrace their strengths and lead with a growth mindset. For women looking to lead, Boyd stresses the need to be a present participant—invest in education, lead conversations, and contribute to the spaces where women have been historically marginalized.
“When you know your value, commit to learning, and continue to rise to every challenge with purpose, there is no limit to how far you can go,” Boyd says.
She notes that this change will not be driven by individualism, but by the commercial cleaning community. Removing structural barriers and replacing them with supportive systems will empower women. When management representation is grounded in reality, the industry improves.
“With the right support systems and a culture that embraces equity, growth, and representation, the future of women in custodial and facility operations will not only be strong—it will be transformational,” Boyd notes. “My hope is that the next generation of women will step into this industry and immediately know they are capable, they are needed, and they have a place here.”
Taylor Vraney is the Assistant Editor working on Facility Cleaning Decisions, Sanitary Maintenance, and Contracting Profits magazines. She's also very active in contributing to CleanLink.com. Prior to her time in media, Taylor served as a Special Education teacher, which gives her a strong perspective on custodial operations and its role in creating healthy environments for building occupants.
Taylor currently oversees Sanitary Maintenance's Sales Leaders Award program, which gave her a quick introduction to some of the many outstanding personalities that make up this great industry. At industry events, Taylor got first-hand experience with products and equipment, and even recorded the experience to demonstrate what frontline workers experience on the daily.
Taylor handles the collection of content for the Cleaning Insider newsletter and facilitates CleanLink's monthly polling questions.
Follow Taylor on LinkedIn here.
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