After more than a year apart, BSCAI members finally met in person last month for the annual Contracting Success conference. The event, which took place in Las Vegas, proved to be a triumph, bringing members of the building service contractor industry together for education, networking and more.

The keynote speakers at Contracting Success were Jason Dorsey and Sara Ross. Dorsey discussed generational differences and considerations in the workplace, shedding light on trends and preferences among different age groups. Ross focused on leadership, energy management, and resilience, providing tools to help BSCs perform their best.

There were many other speakers and sessions during the three-day event. These sessions touched on a number of different topics. Some focused on the nitty-gritty of business. Claudia St. John, SPHR, SHRM-CP, the president of Affinity HR Group, delivered a talk on employee recruitment and training. Several different presenters touched on various aspects of marketing and sales, including strategies, storytelling, and specific success stories. Still other presenters delivered talks on topics like administration, finance, and business operations. These sessions shed light on the importance of data and numbers, an effective cybersecurity strategy, and compliance with various regulations and protocols.

Other sessions focused on so-called “soft skills.” Gary Collins, for example, emphasized the importance of strong and clear communication, the difference between logic and emotions, and methods for managing stress. Meanwhile, a group of presenters (including Diversey’s Rob Kohlhagen, Home Depot’s Robin Wilkerson, Lee Building Maintenance’s Jason Lee, National Service Alliance’s Michael Conrad, and GOJO Industries’ Thom Wojtkun) jointly discussed leadership and strategic management. In a separate session, Marc Vaughn of Team MJV explored the difference between coaching and managing employees. Other leadership sessions were delivered by Michael Herbst of DKI and Ecolab’s Tim Burns and Laura Swidorski.

In all, the three-day event proved to be a great success, shepherding in a new age of in-person connection again after the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.