Speakers

Speakers are being confirmed daily! Check back soon for updates.

Brittany Babbs, RBSM, Chief Operations Officer, ESS Clean

Brittany has been with ESS Clean since February of 2009 and worked her way up through the company to Branch Manager in 2019 and Chief Operations Officer in 2022. Brittany is from Oblong, IL and loves spending time with her two sons, Tucker and Bryar, and her husband, Jeremy. Her other hobbies include fishing and coaching/watching a variety of sports. Brittany has an Associate’s Degree from Lincoln Trail College in Science and Arts and has recently received her RBSM and LMI certificates.

Michael Fitts, Executive Vice President, 4M Building Solutions

In July 2017, 4M added Michael L. Fitts to its Executive Leadership Team as Executive Vice President. He oversees the Gateway Division, a portfolio of accounts spread across a multi-state market including Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and the 4M Healthcare Division in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Before 4M, Michael had a distinguished 24-year career in the United State Marine Corps. He served numerous deployments in the Middle East and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Michael has a master’s in Management (Finance) and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Barney Gershen, Founder and CEO, Gershan Consulting

Barnett (Barney) Gershen is the founder and CEO of Gershen Consulting LLC in Houston, TX. Since 2005, Gershen Consulting has specialized in providing industry specific advisory, recruiting, and investing services to clients across the country (and beyond).

Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Barney was Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of Associated Building Services (ABS), a company he grew from 2 employees to over 13,000. The company grew to over $230 Million in yearly revenue (the industry average being $5-10 Million) – making it one of the top 5 independent building maintenance firms in the U.S. Known for being an innovative, results oriented company, specializing in state-of-the-art management leadership, a successful sale of ABS was completed in 2004 (even though it was “never for sale”).

Barney completed his undergraduate degree in Management with honors at Texas A&M (while appointed as the executive officer of his Corps of Cadets unit), and earned his MBA in finance at The University of Texas (his dissertation was on the building services industry). He served in the U.S. Army (retiring in 1978 as a captain) and completed Owner/President/Management certification at Harvard University later in his career. Barney was later honored as a distinguished graduate from Texas A&M.

Community involvement is an important part of Barney’s life. To name a few, he is a founding member of Crime Stoppers and the Holocaust Museum in Houston, as well as the Building Service Contractors Association International (where he won the 2015 Presidents Award and the 2014 Walter L. Cook Award for Distinguished Service). He also has served on the board of advisors for the Holocaust Museum and YMCA (including the founding of the downtown Houston YMCA youth program). Through endowed scholarships at Texas A&M (focusing on the Corps of Cadets and the business school), as well The University of Houston, Barney is involved in giving back to the educational community as well.

Connor Haas, Regional Manager, Merchants Building Maintenance, LLC

Connor Haas is a Regional Manager at Merchants Building Maintenance, where he oversees operations for hundreds of cleaning staff and numerous floor crews across multiple counties and states. A third-generation janitor, Connor has deep roots in the building maintenance industry, which have shaped an extensive understanding of the field and his effective management skills.

Merchants Building Maintenance, a family-owned and operated company since 1961, prides itself on its commitment to excellence and its robust workforce of 5,000 employees. The company is headquarter in Los Angeles CA and operates out of 13 branch offices across 9 Western states, maintaining a reputation for high-quality, self-performed work.

Charles Keenum, CBSE, Vice President, The Budd Group

Charles has over 25 years of service and proven success in facilities management. Prior to joining the Budd Group, Charles worked for another facility service provider as a Senior Group Manager, providing housekeeping services to public school systems throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Charles has been with The Budd Group since June of 2001. As Vice President with The Budd Group, Charles has demonstrated a history of success working in the facilities services industry. He possesses strong professional skills in Communication, Strategic Negotiation, Business Planning, Operations Management, Coaching, Client Retention, Employee Engagement, and Sales. Charles delivers executive leadership for all custodial services for Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida regions of The Budd Group. Charles is a graduate of Liberty University and holds a BS in Business Management.

Duane Knight, Chief Financial Officer, KG Facility Solutions

With expansive experience at the intersection of finance and operations, Duane Knight is a seasoned Operational CFO at KG Facility Solutions in Denver, CO focused on effectively bridging the gap between financial strategy and company objectives. KG Facility Solutions’ core services include top-notch janitorial work, construction cleaning, and power washing, always prioritizing customer satisfaction and employee welfare. KGFS is dedicated to maintaining our legacy of responsive, quality service and strong customer relationships.

Having honed expertise across consulting, accounting, and finance, Duane brings a wealth of knowledge from both public accounting and public and private industries. He possesses a comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks and reporting standards and is an adept navigator of admin, HR, and business issues. He is also recognized for his strategic acumen in finance, specializing particularly in companies in growth sectors.

In addition to financial prowess, Duane is known for his strong written and verbal communication skills, coupled with exceptional interpersonal abilities. His specialty lies in aligning financial strategies with operational demands, including regulatory affairs, quality assurance, and managing cash flows to drive growth opportunities.

Scott McClymonds, Owner, Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services of Northwest Arkansas

Scott McClymonds is Principal of CEO Velocity Coaching and owner of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning of Northwest Arkansas. After earning his MBA from Ohio State he worked as a banking executive until 2013, when CEO Velocity was formed. Scott and his wife Cindy opened Office Pride in 2016, and the company has blossomed into a full-service commercial cleaning company serving more than 70 buildings throughout Northwest Arkansas each week.

He began applying Business Made Simple (BMS) and Storybrand frameworks to Office Pride in 2021, and became a certified coach in it to help other business owners increase profitability and build wealth. Outside of work Scott serves as an elder in his church, where he frequently teaches.

Tony McMillin, CBSE, Vice President of Operations, Vonachen Group

Tony McMillin has been with Vonachen Group since 2013. As the VP of Operations, he is responsible for the janitorial and industrial operations throughout IA, IL, NE, WI, MI with over 1000 employees. Prior to his VP position, Tony was the Director of Operations. During Tony’s tenure with Vonachen Group, he has demonstrated what it takes to build great operations teams while successfully growing the business which includes several fortune 100 companies.

Before Vonachen Group, Tony was at KIMCO from 2001-2013 and held the positions of Area Manager, District Manager, Regional Manager. These positions focused on commercial, retail, healthcare, school accounts throughout 6 states. These were pivotal years for Tony as they offered him a wealth of knowledge within this industry.

Tony served 4 years in the Marine Corps Infantry/Security Forces and currently resides in the Quad Cities with his wife and is a proud father of 5 children.

Owen O'Mahony, CBSE & CIMS, I.C.E., CBSE, Senior Vice President, Direct Clean Service Solutions

A Food Science graduate from University College Cork, Ireland Owen has been with Direct Clean since 1994 & currently holds the role of Senior Vice President. he completed his CBSE IN 2015. His spare time is spent with his wife Silvia & their 3 daughters Brianna, Brenda & Eileen Sofia.

Josh Richards, COO, Puritan Commercial Cleaning & Services

Josh has been in the building maintenance industry for over 20 years. During that time, he has worked in many different roles ranging from technician, supervisor, manager, and executive. He has extensive experience in operations, human resources, and sales. Josh is passionate about helping build a company that cares well for its team members and fosters an environment where they can thrive.

Michael Diamond, CBSE, Solutions Expert/Partner, Pritchard Industries

Michael has dedicated his career to the facility service industry since 1986. Joining his family business, he has worked in all levels of the industry from Operations, Finance and Business Development. Premier Maintenance was founded in 1966, United Services was founded in 2002 with his partner Paul Senecal and in 2012 all companies were merged to form Affineco, LLC. In 2022 Affineco was acquired by Pritchard Industries and Michael along with his partner Paul managed the northeast region. Pritchard Industries footprint spans 30 states with approximately 16,000 employees. In 2024 Michaels role shifted to focus on strategic national accounts.

Dean Siegel, Owner, Ascent Building Services

Dean began his career in building maintenance in 1993 as an operations manager for a specialty services contractor in the Dallas multi-tenant sector after a nine year stint in the US Navy. He developed his expertise in the Building Services Industry in roles as Sales Rep., Account & Regional Manager, and Director of Business Development. Having spent his entire building services career in Dallas he's had the pleasure to be a part of North Texas' commercial building boom. Dean started Ascent Building Services in early 2020 to create a business that services clients with customized building solutions and with an opportunity for team members to succeed at their goals.

Claudia St. John, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, President, The Workplace Advisors

Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors™, a leading HR consulting and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow. She is an SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional), and Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor™, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry.

Renard Tallushi, RBSM, CWLS, Director of Operations, Safety and Sustainability, Direct Clean

Renard Tallushi is the Director of Operations for Direct Clean Service Solutions. In the industry for about 10 years, has successfully initiated strategies focusing on employee and client retention. Renard has demonstrated his skills on developing talents and fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, empowering his team to be successful in their roles and achieve overall company success.