Convention veterans who attend year after year say they can’t afford not to attend. – by Ernie Hartong
We’re just a few short weeks away from our 14th Annual Convention and Education Conference Oct 24-28 in Chicago. Again this year our Convention will be part of the ISSA InterClean trade show, the largest show in the cleaning industry. While our 24 plus hours of education will cover a variety of cleaning and general business topics, featuring outstanding presenters from both within and outstide of our industry. The primary focus will be on “Customer Service.” I can hear the sighs now, you all think your customer service is great, “it’s the best part of our business.” I will tell you now, the line up of speakers we have starting with Elaine Beaubein of Management Training Seminars, and Dave Murray of the DiJulius group will open your eyes and redefine customer service for you. You will also here from successful, hands-on cleaning business owners like ARCSI Past Presidents Alonzo Adams and Debbie Sardone.
While the education and the 700 plus vendors on the trade show floor are great, the week is really the “Ultimate Networking Event” for anyone in the residential cleaning business. It is the one time a year people renew old friendships and make new ones. Convention veterans who attend year after year repeatedly tell me it is not about the cost of attendance. They feel they can’t afford not to attend. It’s the conversations in the members lounge, the hospitality suite, the elevator, the hallway that is the real value of the convention. Think about it. If one conversation with another cleaning business owner gives you just one idea that saves you $5,000, or makes you an additional $5,000 next year, or makes your operations more efficient because they have already solved a problem you have been having, then the cost of attending is priceless. I have had the privilege of being the ARCSI CEO for the past seven conventions. I can tell you the greatest strength of this association is the willingness of our members to share information, programs, experiences and policies with other members. I have never met a member who sincerely did not want to help make the business of another member better and raise the level of professionalism in our industry.
For the 168 of you that have already registered (as of this writing), thank you, your business foresight will pay off. For those of you who have been thinking about registering, stop procrastinating and get registered. For those of you who are saying, “I’m too small or I’m too big to really get anything from the convention,” think again. It doesn’t matter if you have been in business 25 years, 5 years or 5 months, your business will be better off if you attend. So see you in Chicago. Learn more about our Convention and see the entire schedule and list of speakers at www.cleaningconvention.org.
Ernie Hartong has served as the Executive Director of ARCSI since 2009. His background includes 25 years of association management as well as jan-san sales.
