CleanLink's Women in Cleaning Virtual Forum returns in 2023, with conversations centered around leadership, work-life integration, and making our voices heard in our industry and communities.

This year's agenda includes a mix of panel discussions, presentations, and networking, that provide refreshed perspective on women's impact on the industry, and address how women can tap into shared qualities to enhance their roles as professionals, leaders and learners.

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Women in Cleaning Agenda

1 PM ET Panel Discussion:     Aligning Purpose and Passion

Panelists:

  • Ailene Grego, President & CEO, SouthEast Link
  • Shari Cedar, Vice President, AK Building Services
  • Ada Baldwin, M.A., Director for University Housekeeping, North Carolina State University
This session showcases leaders from across the industry in an interactive discussion about what led them to a career in cleaning ‐ and what inspires them to succeed. From overcoming hurdles to finding inspiration to cultivating leadership skills, our panelists share personal insights into authentic leadership, communications strategies, establishing a trusted network, mentoring the next generation and more. Discussion topics include:
  • Meaningful ways to create a mentoring network
  • How to establish work-life integration in today's evolving landscape
  • Identifying your personal communication and leadership style
  • Finding inspiration for risk taking and reinvention

2 PM ET Authentic and Agile:     Keeping Career Development on Track

Panelist:

  • Luciana Paulise, Leadership Coach, WeCulture
A recent McKinsey/LeanIn.Org research project conducted in partnership revealed that one in three working women considered leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers because of the stress the pandemic placed upon traditional parenting, caregiving and professional roles. Now, the post-pandemic world is asking for help, and existing models no longer work. It's time to become agile. In this session, Luciana Paulise, Latina, millennial and a leadership consultant, will tell her story of personal growth and how she discovered the importance of working on herself before leading others. Topics include:
  • The stages of the self-care journey
  • How ‐ and why ‐ to define your purpose
  • Identify strategies increase self-awareness and remove common daily blocks

Speakers

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Ailene Grego
President & CEO
SouthEast LINK

Ailene is President and CEO of SouthEast LINK, an innovative company focused on changing the world by good practice, environmental stewardship, common sense and working with customers and vendors who reflect those values. Through Cleaner University, a division of SouthEast LINK, they provide training and certifications on over 200 different topics all centered around cleaning best practices and sustainable solutions.

Ailene Grego is also the President and CEO of American Formula, Inc, a premier manufacturer of cleaning chemicals in Atlanta, GA. She began her career in the industry in 1983. Her experience includes sales, marketing, program development, operations, finance, acquisitions and strategic planning.

In 2016 Ailene was nominated to be a part of the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, where Fortune 500 companies lend their executives and resources to help mentor small businesses. She and her mentor were awarded the Power of Partnership Award at the final awards ceremony.

Ailene has been on the Sanitary Maintenance Editorial Advisory Board since 2017. She has served on the Member Advisory Council for Pro‐Link since 2014. In 2019, Ailene was elected to the ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) Board of Directors, where she served a 3‐year term.

Ailene is certified as an Advance Professional Master of Cleaning by CMI (Cleaning Management Institute) and has COVID‐19 ‐ Proper Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID‐19 Certification from GBAC (Global Biorisk Advisory Council).

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Shari Cedar
Vice President
AK Building Services

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Ada Baldwin, M.A.
Director for University Housekeeping
North Carolina State University

Ada Baldwin, Director of University Housekeeping at North Carolina State University, led her department in receiving the Green Seal Certification. This certification represents the Green Seal Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services (GS42). NCSU is the first university in North Carolina to receive this certification and sixth in the nation.

Ada received her Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Virginia Tech and her Masters of Arts Degree from Central Michigan University in Business Management. She served in the United States Air Force maintaining secure air to ground communication for the White House, Pentagon, State Dept. and other governmental agencies. Ada has served on committees for national and international organizations while also holding key positions.

Ada is a certified John Maxwell coach, trainer, and speaker. She has spoken at several national and local conferences and written articles about leadership and best practices.

Ada strives to ensure that staff members know they are respected, valued, and appreciated. She believes that cleaning for health and providing a safe and sustainable environment are top priorities for the campus community.

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Luciana Paulise

Leadership Coach
WeCulture

Luciana Paulise (a.k.a Lucy) is a leadership coach, speaker and author of We Culture, Millennial and Latina. She is an MBA, Quality Engineer, Agile Coach and Scrum Master. She coaches employees to identify their superpowers and address barriers to becoming their best selves, overcoming imposter syndrome, perfectionism and lack of self‐confidence. She has helped from small to Fortune 100 corporations. Luciana has recently published the book We Culture, 12 skills to growing teams in the future of work. Other books published by her: 5S Your Life and SOS pymes. She is also a regular contributor to Forbes, Quality Progress and other international media outlets.

Luciana has served various non‐profits as chair and advisor and co‐founded the SETX Hispanic Women's Network.

Luciana is Argentinian, lives in Texas, USA and is bilingual English‐Spanish.

Luciana was the 2014 recipient of the Deming grant and elected as one of the 40 global leaders of quality by Quality Progress. She is Argentinian and bilingual English‐Spanish.