From The Editor's Desk: Buzzing With Excitement BY Dan Weltin, Editor-In-Chief From The Editor's Desk: Buzzing With Excitement When Physicians are Found Liable for Noncompliance in Elmira,NY,14901 - ACS Facilities Services Go To http://www.acsfacilities.com/ for free articles. Just a few weeks back from BSCAI’s Contracting Success Conference and my enthusiasm still hasn’t subsided. The excitement radiating from the 550-plus building service contractors about the direction of the industry was palpable and quite a welcome relief after all the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and Irma leading up to the show. From start to finish, it was an event I won’t soon forget. I especially enjoyed the Welcome Reception, a room packed full of friendly faces excited to reunite with colleagues. The New Attendee Booth Party was clearly the place to be on the last day of the ISSA/INTERCLEAN exhibit hall. BSCAI’s booth was overflowing with association members both new and old, sharing stories and insight, and clearly demonstrating that this industry and association are all about personal relationships. There is good reason to feel positive about the contract cleaning industry. According to Contracting Profits and BSCAI’s “2017 Report on the BSC Market,” 75 percent of BSCs expect business conditions to improve. In addition, 40 percent of BSCs expect cleaning frequencies to continue to increase. Facility executives are moving on from the Great Recession and realizing that cleaning is important. Attention and money are returning to cleaning contracts. However, the opportunities available to BSCs in this business climate can come with challenges. That’s why attending an event like the Contracting Success Conference is so valuable. There were so many relevant and informational sessions for BSCs navigating their newfound growing pains. The TED Talk-inspired General Session was particularly relevant. Growth typically brings new hires and Tom Kruse of Marsden Holding shared takeaways on how to be a company that employees want to stay at. New legislation can make business easier or tougher, and with today’s tumultuous political landscape, the need to get involved has never been more immediate. Kathleen Bands Schindler of My Cleaning Service shared her experiences that helped influence legislation that addressed her business concerns. Finally, Jason Lee of Lee Building Maintenance covered relationship building, which is a vital component of success in this industry. I already mentioned that relationships matter among fellow BSCs, but they are also crucial with business partners, distributors and clients.