First Ever Maintenance Managers’ Meeting Big Success!

Forum Gets Rave Reviews from Members

Amid the usual bustle and excitement of Starnet’s Fall Meeting, something brand-new was in the works…Starnet’s first ever Maintenance Managers’ Meeting. The gathering, which was conceived and developed by the Starnet Maintenance Committee, was a huge hit and proved to be extremely beneficial for attending Members, providing them with great ideas, knowledge and professional contacts.

The meeting, themed “Bright Ideas for a Profitable Maintenance Business,” touched on such varied topics as meeting environmental objectives, proper resilient, hardwood, concrete and rubber maintenance, and green cleaning products to address indoor air quality issues. There were also round table discussions, along with a group project, that got everyone connected and involved.

According to one participant, “Maintenance is the single most important growth and recognition opportunity for Starnet and its individual Members. Continual training is important for staying current about new product offerings and ever-changing technology.” Another added, “This has been an excellent meeting, and I’m honored to have been here for the first one. It’s very exciting because this group is so positive and willing to share information. There’s a considerable amount of information and best practices that we can all bring to the table. This information alone, and the ability to network, is worth everything — and a key to Membership in Starnet.”

After the welcomes and introductions, Stan Hulin of Future Floor Technology, Inc. kicked off the meeting with a discussion about new cleaning methods, especially as they relate to the resilient flooring segment. “Stan is an incredible source of knowledge, delivered with passion,” commented one Member, clearly impressed with the presentation. Bob Deweese, of Rite Rug also gave an excellent talk on jobsite quality assurance, as well as serving as facilitator for several round table discussions. “Bob’s the Man!” an enthusiastic attendee raved about Bob’s presentation.

Several Preferred Vendor Partners also contributed with exceptional talks. Director of Microbiology, Dr. Daniel Price and Ed Sisk, from XL Brands, presented on two timely topics: indoor air quality and the EPA-approved antimicrobial disinfectant Vital Oxide, which is widely used in combating the MRSA virus. Gerry Mueller and Bret Ker of BonaKemi USA led two discussions about wood maintenance and helping clients to meet environmental standards. Last, but not least, Mike Harrington of ProTeam Vacuums talked about cleaning for health and efficiency. “These are great speakers with a vast amount of knowledge,” commented one Starnet Member about the top-notch slate of presenters.

Attention also turned to the challenges of attracting and keeping high quality technicians during the active round table discussions. Attendees brainstormed and came up with ways to define superior technicians, effective motivational strategies and tried-and-true places to look for quality job candidates. They also wrestled with the question of square footage that one would reasonably expect a technician to clean within a certain time frame. (Answer: don’t commit to any pricing before you’ve seen the job!) The group also came up with several inventive ways to use evening assets during the day for greater profitability.

A big part of what makes Starnet so special is the spirit of helpfulness and cooperation amongst our Members; during the group activity, participants worked together to develop three useful forms for technician evaluation and trouble-shooting. (Starnet Members can also download these through S-Net: Click on Business Templates, then Documents) We’d like to thank Re:Source New Jersey, Rite Rug, Floors & More, Bonitz and Bob Deweese, for sharing their evaluation forms with us.

Many “bright ideas” were shared during Starnet’s inaugural Maintenance Managers’ Meeting, and participants left excited, with plenty of great ideas for increasing profitability. One attendee summed it up this way: “I found the whole experience to be very engaging. I feel energized as I return to my business. I’ve learned many practical things — for both saving and making money! I’ve learned tips for building my business, and I know that I am bringing something back to my employees that can benefit them as well!”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Thanks again to all who participated and made this venture so successful.