Discussions about a comprehensive three-year plan and re-election of the national committee were the main focuses at the National Cleaning Suppliers Association annual general meeting held on 21 August at Dooley’s Waterview Club in Silverwater (Sydney).
Re-elected by his industry peers, Gerry Goldberg continues his reign as national president. In that position he delivered a few hard truths about the association and how the NCSA should be more than “just a trade show and a website”. There is the need to focus more on the move forward towards encompassing the organisation’s vision, said Goldberg.
“In essence, the last few years have focused on pulling the NSCA back from what in truth was a decline towards extinction, on reinvigorating it and re-establishing its base,” noted Goldberg.
“But now we need to take a far boarder view into the future, to determine where we are going and what issues will move us forward. If we’re to go beyond a website and trade show, we need a vision.”
Goldberg highlighted a few roadblocks or issues he sees must be addressed in order for the NCSA to achieve its goals:
• National branches are the NCSA’s lifeline and require successful development with active committees to serve their members’ needs, and have the confidence to inspire their members.
• Suppliers should be more actively involved in training and education – who knows the equipment and product better than those who are manufacturing and supplying it?
• The need to get away from price-driven decision making and move towards driving the productivity of cleaning staff that use the equipment. As the supplier representative, NCSA should educate suppliers as a whole to promote profitable use of their products in order to cope with the ever increasing demands of property owner/managers. That in turn will help reduce costs.
But what exactly is the vision for the NCSA’s future? Goldberg pointed out the last May board meeting’s focus was to ask the question… but now the platform has now been set. It is time to put in place a comprehensive plan.
“This will start with a gathering of the branches to seriously debate this issue, of which resultant concepts and issues will be brought in front of the national board where they can be considered, debated and from that a national plan established. I see this as a way into the future,” emphasised Goldberg.
The AGM concluded with the executive national committee election. It consists of national presdient Gerry Goldberg, Vice president Ian Hale, chief executive Terry Fraser, treasurer Ivan Imerman, office bearer Stuart Nicol, and Kristine Collins as an additional executive committee member.
With general business completed, guest speaker Nesso’s Ross Mitchell took the floor and spoke about cultural change within the cleaning industry. He sparked a dynamic discussion about client-contractor-supplier collaboration, and some of his key points included:
• Know your clients, their drivers, issues, their clients and them.
• Don’t wait for others, be a leader, take the initiative.
• Find the solution to the problem and create an action plan by taking responsibility.
For Ross Mitchell’s full article, see November/December issue of INCLEAN