Straight Talk, an ISSA podcast, presents a curated playlist of the hottest topics facing the cleaning industry today—from health and safety to infection prevention to innovative products to business development and much more. ISSA, the worldwide cleaning association, brings together the top experts and decision makers give our listeners and members the most up-to-date information for their businesses.
From Industry Marketing Leader to ISSA Executive: Laura Craven's Vision for Members
Laura Craven joins ISSA as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, bringing years of industry leadership and a passion for building strong member relationships.
How Bedside Manner Can Become Restoration's Competitive Advantage
Insurance has always been about managing risk, but many restoration professionals believe the claims process has become increasingly difficult to navigate.
Inside RIA's Fight for Restoration Recognition
For decades, the restoration industry has played a critical role in helping property owners recover from water damage, fire losses, mold contamination, storm events, and other disasters. Yet despite its specialized expertise, restoration has never had its own dedicated federal industry classification. That may soon change.
The New Rules of Winning Customers in an AI-Driven World
Artificial intelligence isn't just changing how service companies operate. It's changing how customers buy. Companies that rely on outdated sales tactics or slow follow-up may lose business before they even know they were being considered.
Growing Faster but Making Less? Here’s Why
Growth is exciting. More customers, more employees, more trucks on the road all look like success. But behind that growth, many building service contractors are discovering a harder truth: revenue doesn't automatically translate into profit.
The Industry We Are Becoming
As ISSA President, Laurie Sewell has had the opportunity to connect with professionals from every corner of the cleaning and facility solutions industry.
Your Employees Are Using AI. But Are They Still Thinking?
AI is transforming the workplace, but is it also changing the way employees think?
Meet the Youngest-Ever Female IICRC Certified Restoration Technician
At just 12 years old, Olivia Haynes accomplished something few people in the restoration industry can claim: She has earned dual IICRC certifications in Water Damage Restoration (WRT) and Applied Structural Drying (ASD).
KB Building Services — Building Growth on People, Not Just Process
What does it take to build a cleaning company that thrives for more than 40 years? See how KB Building Services made it all work.
Restoration’s Biggest Opportunity May Come Before the Emergency
Disaster preparedness doesn't begin when the storm arrives—it starts long before the first warning is issued.
Healthy Buildings Movement Puts Cleaning at the Center of Public Health
In this episode, Allen Rathey, founder and executive director of the Indoor Exposure Index (INDEX), discusses why ISSA's leadership role within the Healthy Buildings Workgroup through WELL could help elevate the cleaning industry's influence in the broader conversation about occupant health, wellness, and building performance.
New Technology Platform Targets the Hidden 90% of Cleaning Budgets
How much does your facility really spend on cleaning—and are you measuring real costs?
AI in Hiring: What Works, What Doesn't, and What Employers Need to Know
Can AI really help cleaning companies hire better employees—or is it just another overhyped technology?
Dayspring Restoration: In the Restoration Journey, Success Rises and Falls on Leadership
What does it take to build a restoration company that stands the test of time?
Southeast Restoration: Family, Faith, and Forward Thinking Build Success
What does it take to build a restoration company that scales across multiple states while maintaining a strong culture and family foundation?
BioteamAZ: A Company Refusing To Be Everything to Everyone
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.
AI Mistakes: The Risks, Costs, and Realities
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.
Paid Ads Can Work!
But they won't save a business that doesn't know its numbers.
Michigan State University: The Invisible Workforce Behind an Outstanding Spartan Experience
What does it take to keep one of the nation’s largest university facilities and housing systems running smoothly?
The Startup Window: Where New Cleaning Accounts Are Won or Lost
Most organizations invest significant time and effort into winning new customers, but far fewer focus on what happens after the contract is signed.
