According to a 2012 study by the Freedonia Group, a market research group based in Cleveland, Ohio, revenues for commercial and residential contract cleaning companies are expected to rise nearly five percent annually and reach more than $68 billion by 2016. One big reason for this projected growth, specifically in the commercial side of the industry, is an improving economy.

Chances are good that you have used specialty mold- or moisture-resistant wallboard for interior wet areas. You probably thought that it was money well spent to avoid the health hazards and legal liabilities associated with mold. If you don't use mold-resistant drywall compound and joint tape, you may not be getting the protection you paid for.

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, just announced at its North American ISSA/Interclean trade show that Pacific Maintenance Company (PMC) has certified to the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and CIMS-Green Building (CIMS-GB) criteria, with Honors. PMC is a Santa Clara-based company that provides facilities maintenance services throughout the United States.

The success of a business is defined by the strength of its management team. Because typical building service companies have a bottom-heavy business model—a concentration of unskilled labor delivering service at the bottom of the organization and a few managers at the top—it is even more critical for leadership to be well skilled.