MSN’s Interview With ISSA President Laurie Sewell

Laurie Sewell

Laurie Sewell, President and CEO at Servicon, of Culver City, CA, — a privately-held provider of facility maintenance solutions and cleaning for complex and critical environments — will begin her second year as ISSA President during the ISSA Show North America 2025. The event is scheduled for November 10-13, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, in Las Vegas, NV. Sewell will serve a second year as ISSA President to fill an unexpected vacancy.

The following is a recent interview with Sewell, who discussed her background, past involvement within the cleaning industry, her first year as ISSA President, and her vision for the future.

MSN: Please provide your background as it pertains to your professional life in the jan/san and/or related industries.

Sewell: “I have basically been in this industry my entire career, starting as a college intern. I joined Servicon full time after college and became involved with payroll, contract negotiations, marketing, the supplies division, sales, quality assurance, and procurement. I eventually left Servicon to work for a chemical manufacturer, running its newly acquired distribution company. That is where I learned a lot about manufacturing. I then came back to Servicon and became involved with the custodial maintenance side of our business. My work has included contract negotiations, sales, and logistics. I also started our green cleaning program.”

MSN: How long have you been affiliated with ISSA, both from a company and a personal perspective?

Sewell: “Servicon’s membership history with ISSA dates to 1987. On the personal side, I was fortunate during the early stage of my career to serve a three-year term on the ISSA Board of Directors as a Distributor Director from 2000 to 2002. I was also involved with the ISSA Young Executive Society (YES), holding various board positions including chairperson. In 1999, I earned the YES Industry Special Achievement Award. And, I have been active with the ISSA Hygieia Network and received the ISSA Hygieia Special Honors Award in 2016.”

MSN: What plans do you have in the second year of your ISSA presidency? What would you like to see accomplished?

Sewell: “During the past year, the ISSA Board and staff have been working on a strategic plan to help carry the association through 2030. We have been finalizing that plan and look forward to seeing the results of its implementation. The goal of the strategic plan is to help ISSA focus more on its core competencies. That includes learning how we can better engage with our membership and find their true needs. As an association, it’s important for us to become like a partner with our members, focusing on a much deeper understanding of who our members are and what they are trying to accomplish. Our focus is also about being more accessible and valuable to people and companies involved in every type of membership classification.

“It helps that our ISSA staff is phenomenal. They know their mission is to grow membership value that includes certification, education, and advocacy. It’s also important to continue fostering the global community that involves cleaning and facility solutions. Part of that is identifying programs which will move the industry forward and better meet the needs of all member categories. We are also going to continue strengthening relationships with other associations.”

MSN: How will your past leadership experience help lead ISSA in the coming year?

Sewell: “I think my background as a CEO has allowed me to become more involved in different aspects of the supply chain, leading to a better understanding of manufacturing, distribution, contract cleaning, building services, and facilities maintenance. In the process, I have developed better communication, collaborative and shared-vision skills across all levels of the cleaning industry. That has involved work with frontline employees, trade people, and mid-level and senior management.

“The ability to communicate across various levels of the industry is important as ISSA becomes more inclusive and reaches out to different organizations and people within the supply chain. For example, ISSA recently launched its Healthcare Platform, where professionals in healthcare, cleaning, and facility solutions work side-by-side to confront pressing challenges involving healthcare environmental hygiene. At Servicon, we specialize in critical cleaning services including healthcare EVS. As ISSA President, I will continue to lend my experience involving that important field.”

MSN: What, from your perspective, is the current role of ISSA in the cleaning/maintenance industry?

Sewell: “A lot of times when people think about a trade association, they think of an organization that basically provides some programming and a convention. However, there are several other key roles that ISSA fulfills. For one, ISSA is the voice of the entire cleaning industry and the leading resource for information. It’s where you go when you have questions about the industry, are starting a business, or when you ‘hit a wall’ in your business. ISSA has been incredibly helpful to me through the years as a business professional.

“Then there’s the education and certification opportunities available through ISSA. That includes CIMS (Cleaning Industry Management Standard) and other training certifications. Such focus helps raise the value of cleaning and the value of the work that is done by all types of professionals in this industry.

“Also, networking has always been an important part of ISSA activities. For example, while the ISSA Show provides a great opportunity to further commerce, it’s also always been great for networking.

“And, ISSA is the voice of our industry when it comes to government issues. For example, the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit is where participants can meet with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for issues important to the cleaning industry. I feel what ISSA accomplishes on the advocacy front is phenomenal.”

MSN: What are some of the most prominent challenges and opportunities in the cleaning/maintenance industry today, and how can those issues be addressed by ISSA and its members?

Sewell: “One of the most important aspects to any association, partner and leader is to understand how to manage change, remain flexible, and pivot. It’s an area that has always impressed me about ISSA and its staff. That has included tackling such matters as industry-related regulations, labor shortages, and evolving technologies such as AI.

“Those issues and more not only bring forward many challenges but opportunities. For example, labor shortages help spur greater technological advancements. As my husband, who is a big hockey fan, likes to say, ‘You have to skate to where the puck is going.’ I feel that ISSA leadership and staff are very talented when it comes to meeting new challenges and focusing on the resulting opportunities.”

MSN: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Sewell: “I’m excited about the different programs that ISSA continues to introduce for a variety of members. That now includes the ISSA Emerging Leaders Program, which was created to foster professional development and recognize up-and-coming talent within the cleaning community.

“There is also the ISSA Hygieia Network, which provides programs, tools and support that enable all women in the cleaning industry to accelerate their careers and achieve their full potential; and ISSA VEO, designed to unify, support, and elevate Hispanic professionals within the cleaning and facility solutions industry.

“I’m also a big supporter of the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, an annual fly-in event where our members meet with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the cleaning industry, its people and businesses. Along with advocating for our industry, the event provides great networking opportunities for those who are new to the industry. It helps them understand just how valuable and sophisticated the cleaning industry really is within our country and entire world.”