Straight Talk – an ISSA Podcast

What does it take to build a restoration company that stands the test of time?

What does it take to build a restoration company that scales across multiple states while maintaining a strong culture and family foundation?

Krystie Reeves, the owner of BioteamAZ, shares the story behind the company’s growth from a family-owned startup to a statewide provider of biohazard remediation, trauma cleanup, and specialty restoration services. 

Artificial intelligence is no longer the shiny new toy it was a year or two ago. Most business owners have experimented with it, many use it daily, and some are already building AI-powered workflows into their operations. As adoption has matured, so have the mistakes.

But they won't save a business that doesn't know its numbers.

What does it take to keep one of the nation’s largest university facilities and housing systems running smoothly? 

Most organizations invest significant time and effort into winning new customers, but far fewer focus on what happens after the contract is signed. 

America turns 250 years old this year, but according to today’s guest, one thing hasn’t changed: Small businesses still carry the water.

Experience can be a powerful advantage—but it can also become a liability when professionals stop adapting. 

The conversation about the labor shortage in cleaning and facility services usually sounds the same: “Nobody wants to work anymore.” Add to that, “Turnover is at an all-time high.” But what if the real issue is that cleaning companies are competing against entirely different industries, POWERFUL industries, for the same people—and losing? 

What does it take to prepare a cleaning company for long-term success? In this episode, Paul Greenland, CEO of Ikigai Management Consultants and an ISSA Consulting partner, discusses how organizations can strengthen leadership, improve operational performance, prepare for CIMS certification, and build systems that support sustainable growth. 

The future of facility management is becoming increasingly connected, automated, and data-driven. To help cleaning and facility professionals navigate this changing landscape, ISSA has partnered with Smart Building Bootcamp to provide practical education focused on smart buildings, artificial intelligence, robotics, workplace technologies, cybersecurity awareness, and more.

In this conversation, Derek Oliveira, ISSA's Associate Director of Education, Training, and Field Services, shares insights from a career dedicated to professional development, industry advancement, and supporting cleaning professionals at every stage of their journey.

As the world prepares for the largest FIFA World Cup in history, the focus extends far beyond the stadium gates. With 48 teams, millions of fans, and thousands of support personnel moving through hotels, airports, training facilities, transportation hubs, and public venues across North America, cleanliness, infection prevention, and operational resilience will be critical to the tournament's...

Grassroots advocacy is no longer just a conversation happening in Washington—it’s happening at the state level, and restoration professionals are being called to participate. 

Most companies believe they have a hiring problem. In reality, many have a hiring process problem.

Steve Ashkin, founder of The Ashkin Group, discusses the key themes from his article about advocacy and sustainability.  

Just how smart is artificial intelligence these days? It depends on whom you ask. And when it comes to resilient flooring, AI may not be as smart as some people think.

Laurie Sewell, president of ISSA, shares insights and strategies for C-Suite professionals.

Autonomous cleaning is everywhere right now—but what actually works in the real world? In this episode, Chris Ford, EVP of Robotics and Innovation with KBS, shares a grounded, provider-side perspective on how robotics and AI are being deployed in cleaning operations today. 

Most business owners have experimented with AI—but many walked away frustrated by generic answers, weak output, and complicated prompts. In this conversation, Dean Mercado explains why the problem usually isn’t the AI tool itself. It’s the missing foundation behind it.

A great proposal should build confidence—not confusion. In this conversation, we explore why clarity often outperforms complexity in cleaning and restoration proposals, how overloaded estimates can hurt sales, and what business owners can do to create proposals customers actually understand and trust. 

What does it take to develop effective enzymatic detergents for today’s healthcare environments? In this episode, we explore how detergent manufacturers validate cleaning performance, differentiate their products, and support healthcare facilities searching for safer, smarter cleaning solutions.

Winning a contract is only half the battle—executing a smooth transition is where the real pressure begins. In this episode, Randy Burke and Jason Little at DCS Global break down one of the biggest hidden challenges in the cleaning and facility services industry: transition anxiety. 

What happens when a university engineering project turns into a global technology company helping major facility service organizations digitize operations?