REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION INTERVIEW
Clean focus With the COVID spotlight on effective sanitation technologies, demand for janitorial services also changed
David Hammond CEO – CSI International have opted for the International Sanitary Supply Association’s GBAC building or corporate certification to ensure they are sanitizing the right way. We have to have at least 5% of our workforce trained in proper sanitation procedures. We anticipate this certification requirement will become permanent down the road, considering sanitizing regulation is in the works after the observation that several companies out there are not doing it the right way. We’re positioning ourselves at the forefront of the sanitization game.
What were the most complex COVID-19 challenges you had to navigate? We had to renegotiate every single contract with every client because every client’s needs changed. We managed to make the adjustments that fit their needs. Now that people are reopening, those needs are still changing. There is more attention being paid to day services because of the touch points, ensuring all those touch points are getting cleaned much more frequently. We do a lot of electrostatic spraying/disinfection and use the Clorox 360 system. We’re now working toward getting our GBAC (Global Biorisk Advisory Council) certification as a GBAC service provider and will be one of the first companies to be a Certified Service Provider. Several buildings and airlines 70
| Invest: South Jersey 2021 | REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
What new opportunities have arisen from the concern over cleanliness and sanitation? Electrostatic spraying/disinfection became huge. That has been a sizable part of our extra revenues and services over the last 10 months and it will continue to be. It’s one of the best technologies in helping battle the pandemic and kill the virus. We really have only been doing it for our primary clients. Part of the reason is because of the supply chain issues. Our clients come first; they’re priority No. 1. We now have plenty of storage and plenty of supplies, which enables us to cater to outside clients, which we had not done in the past. What are your near-term goals? Our growth goal for 2021 is 12%. We remain on target to continue to meet or exceed that goal. Bids were put on hold over the last year and we’re now beginning to see things start to move. Whether they had good or bad suppliers, companies are well aware of the critical necessity of effective janitorial services to restore consumer confidence. Every month is a different renegotiation of every client contract. We will continue to provide the flexibility and nimbleness required to meet our clients’ needs and help them through these trying times.
