Chase Carlson is president of Pioneer Building Services. He has served as president of the Mid Atlantic Chapter of BSCAI, and is serving as a national Board of Director for the association. He graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in facilities and property management and business management, and has occupied a number of positions within the BSC industry.

1. How did you get your start in the BSC industry?
   
   From the time I was in middle school all the way through high school, I was window washing, car detailing, landscaping and maintaining buildings. My passion for “service” led to a degree in facility and property management from Brigham Young University. Coincidently, I met my wife while attending BYU and soon discovered that her dad was a founder/principal of a small BSC out in Washington, D.C. During the summers of my undergraduate work, I worked with Pioneer at night as a special projects technician. After graduating, I was hired by my father-in-law as a quality assurance manager overseeing the experience of their entire client base. Fast forward eight years: We’ve successfully completed a succession plan allowing my father-in-law to transition to chairman of the board for Pioneer and for me to step up as president of Pioneer.
    
2. What changes or trends do you suggest professionals in this space keep an eye on in the year ahead? 
   
   While robotics is a hot topic that is buzzing in nearly every industry, I feel that the cost of that technology will take longer to make a significant splash for BSCs. What we are focused on are technologies that impact the customer experience (our processes and service delivery) on a daily basis. That may be through project management, human capital management, reporting or other avenues that allow you to differentiate yourself from the competition.  
    
3. What do you value most about your BSCAI membership? 
   
   Personal and corporate brand enhancement. BSCAI is a platform by which individuals and companies not only show their commitment to the industry but partner together to create standards of excellence and advance the industry as a whole. Networking with first-class professionals from other companies is a huge advantage to share best practice and create synergistic opportunities.