“This is the partnership of two very successful companies,” said ProTeam President Matt Wood. “This strategic acquisition will strengthen and broaden Emerson’s line of products, while providing ProTeam with new growth opportunities and synergies through complementary product portfolios, channels and operations.”

“ProTeam’s outstanding reputation for products and service is a perfect fit for helping us build the Emerson Professional Tools platform,” said Tim Ferry, president of Emerson Tool Co., which manufactures wet/dry utility vacuums.

Headquartered in Boise, Iaho, ProTeam is a provider of innovative commercial backpack vacuums, and will become part of the globally operating Emerson Professional Tools platform.

Emerson sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion, placing Emerson 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. For more information, visit www.emerson.com.

UTSA to Offer Minor in Facility Management

The IFMA Foundation has announced that the University of Texas at San Antonio will offer a new Facility Management Minor program beginning in 2010. p>

The new offering will be part of the school’s Real Estate Finance and Development program in the UTSA College of Business.

“We’re very pleased that UTSA will be initiating the Facility Management Minor program in the fall of 2010,” said IFMA Foundation Director of Academic Affairs Charles Claar, P.E., CFM, CFMJ. “The private and public sectors in Texas alone need 775 new, competent facility managers each year, so this program will begin to fill a huge void that exists in Texas and nationwide. We look forward to the development of a Facility Management Major program at UTSA as soon as it can be accomplished.”

Established in 1990 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and separate entity from the International Facility Management Association, the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management.

PNC Gets LEED-CI Rating in SF

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has certified office space on both coasts occupied by The PNC Financial Services Group continuing an aggressive buildout of PNC facilities with the environment in mind.

PNC, which has more newly-constructed LEED-certified green buildings (66) than any company in the world, recently earned a silver level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) rating for its offices in San Francisco’s Financial District.

PNC also received the LEED-CI Gold rating for its Green branch location at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.

LEED for Commercial Interiors recognizes high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; less costly to operate and maintain and have a reduced environmental footprint.

PNC’s offices in San Francisco are the first LEED-certified commercial interior in the 40-year-old, 40-floor high-rise. PNC’s real estate finance, business credit and mergers and acquisitions advisory firm occupy the 34,000-square-feet space. Highlights of the space, which led to LEED-CI certification, include:
• PNC had its contractor divert more than 75 percent of construction waste from landfills. Materials such as cardboard, metal, plastic, glass, gypsum board and insulation were recycled;
• The offices’ lighting, HVAC and appliances comply with the New Building Institute’s Advanced Building Energy Benchmark for High Performance Buildings and Energy Star requirements to optimize energy performance;
• Flow restrictors help to save water;
• PNC purchases wind power to offset 100 percent of power usage; and
• Indoor air filtration was managed to reduce pollutants, and composite wood products and reduced chemical-emitting paints and adhesives were used.

“The projects represent PNC’s pursuit of innovation and cutting-edge technology to make these facilities leaders of sustainable design and healthy places to work,” said Gary Saulson, PNC director of corporate real estate. “Adding the San Francisco and Philadelphia spaces reflects PNC’s commitment to growing its portfolio of LEED certified facilities.”

PNC, which was granted a registered trademark for the term “Green Branch,” began its aggressive building program with the construction of PNC Firstside Center, the first building certified under LEED 2.0 in 2000. Starting in 2002, PNC was the first major U.S. bank to design and construct branches based on green building standards.

The company continues its ambitious green building plans with a number of projects in progress or planned for the near future. These include:
• A 6-story, 24 ton Green Living Wall, expected to be the largest in North America, was completed on Pittsburgh’s One PNC Plaza in September.
• PNC currently has 11 more branches awaiting LEED certification along with six Green Branch locations under construction with the goal of opening by the end of 2009.
• The 23-story Three PNC Plaza, a mixed-use building in Pittsburgh which includes a Fairmont Hotel, offices and condominiums, is near completion. The building is expected to be certified under multiple LEED categories; and
• PNC’s regional headquarters in Washington, D.C., 800 17th Street/PNC Place, is expected to be completed in 2010 with the goal of LEED Platinum certification.

KBM Recognized for Growth

KBM Facility Solutions, a provider of janitorial services in the U.S. and Canada, has been named the 38th Fastest Growing Privately Held Company for 2009 by the San Diego Business Journal.

An 81.33 percent increase in revenue growth from 2006 to 2008 helped secure KBM’s ranking on the annual list. KBM’s growth rate continued at a record pace in 2009 with an increase in revenue growth projected at 94 percent and a workforce of over 500 employees and 350 vendor partners across the United States and Canada.

KBM CEO Maureen Gray attributes KBM’s growth to creating long-term partnerships with clients and a workforce that directly shares in the success of the company.

 “KBM establishes Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) with customers to align objectives and formally measure service delivery” said Gray, “Employees of KBM play a leading role in meeting KPI’s, and directly benefit from KBM’s success through the company’s profit sharing plan.”

Gray also believes that the company’s investment in delivering the world’s only scientifically verified cleaning process has set it apart from the competition.

“More and more our clients from aerospace, bio-tech, high-tech and manufacturing, to commercial office and educational institutions, are looking for a scientifically verified and sustainable cleaning process that delivers quantifiable results.”

KBM offers this sustainable and scientifically verified cleaning solution to their clients by delivering Operating System One or (OS1) by ManageMen.

In 2009 KBM achieved success in green certifying four accounts: Gen- Probe, Biogen IDEC, Takeda and Intuit through independent third party audits, and received the (OS1) Users Group national awards for “Safety and Health Program of the Year” and “Training Program of the Year.”

Rankin Names Head of Contract Services

Rankin Commercial Properties has hired James Harding to be superintendant of RCP Contract Services, from which he will focus on Facilities Services and Property Maintenance.

He will also be overseeing all RCP construction construction projects.

Rankin Commercial Properties is a full service commercial real estate firm and specializes in property management, facilities services, and brokerage services in the areas of office space, retail space, industrial, flex, warehouse, land, and mixed use.

Jim is a former sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. In the Marines, he was a supervisor for Regimental Maintenance (Police Sergeant), and assisted outside contractors with on-base remodeling.

His years of experience make Jim, the versatile, know-all, do-all maintenance and construction supervisor Rankin Commercial Properties needed to fill the position.

Harding holds an EPA HVAC technician certification as well as a commercial pool operator license. As superintendant of RCP Contract Services, Jim will oversee all facilities services to all properties serviced by RCP Contract Services, the Maintenance and Construction Division of Rankin Commercial Properties. RCP Contract Services offers landscaping, cleaning, janitorial, maintenance, and construction services.

Rankin Commercial Properties corporate office is located in North Raleigh with a branch office in Cary, NC. RCP Contract Services is currently located in Raleigh, NC, but will be relocating it’s facility to Cary, NC in the near future.

Emcor Expands Ops to Oman

EMCOR Facilities Services Group’s Middle East branch, has announced the launch of its operations in the Sultanate of Oman for the delivery of integrated facilities, estate and property management solutions.

The move is part of EFSG’s sustainable facilities management (FM) model, to position business locally and enable the provision of FM services into the heart of each country in which it operates.

EFSG CEO, Christian Roberts, said that Oman is an emerging facilities management market and a market in which EMCOR is keen to be a part of.

“Oman is a wonderful country; it is attractive, friendly and welcoming. Nonetheless it will give rise to new challenges and opportunities; the market is still very young, hence it will require nurturing,” he said. “Development within the Sultanate is controlled and well planned; however, it is expected to expand in the coming years and as it continues to grow, the need for quality facilities management expertise will grow with it.”

EFSG is already providing consultancy services for two major developments in Oman - Al Madina A’Zarqa and Safana Plaza - as well as bidding on two additional projects.

“There are a number of large-scale developments planned for Oman including Al Madina A’Zarqa, The Wave Muscat, commercial areas around the airport as well as modern shopping malls,” said Richard Burl, EFS Regional Managing Director. “These will drive the development of the facilities management industry in Oman. The market size was estimated to be around $100 million in 2009, however the sector is certain to experience significant growth over the next ten years.”

Earlier this year, EFSG signed a partnership with International College of Engineering and Management in Oman to sponsor two under-graduate third year facilities management students to develop and enhance local management expertise in this field.

With annual revenue of more than $100 million, EFSG provides total facilities services and property management solutions throughout the Middle East with operations in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait City, Manama and Muscat.

Stratus Expands on Long Island

Stratus Building Solutions, a building services and maintenance franchiser, has expanded the company’s successful operations in New York by awarding a new Master Franchise to Rick Baran in Melville called Stratus Building Solutions of Long Island.

“Stratus Building Solutions of Long Island will exclusively serve Suffolk and Nassau counties and surrounding boroughs,” said Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. “Rick Baran is an accomplished business executive and team leader whose expertise will complement our successful New York operations in Hudson Valley and Buffalo, expanding our network of franchisors across the U.S. and Canada,” Jarrett added.

Baran is hiring five employees immediately and plans to establish 50 new Stratus Building Solutions unit franchises to serve building owners and facilities managers in the Long Island territory by year-end 2010.

Pete Frese, president of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “Our company’s fast growth is a plus for new Master Franchisors like Rick Baran who are committed to establishing a thriving business. All Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchisors receive top-down support to help ensure their financial success.”

Baran said, “This is an exceptional opportunity to create new jobs and contribute to the Long Island economy by establishing new unit franchises in the recession-resistant building services industry. Stratus Building Solutions has a great business model and a reputation for excellence.”

Baran was previously Senior Vice President/ Director of Communications-Networking at Donovan Data Systems, a leading information systems and technology provider for advertising industries in the U.S. and Europe. His senior management responsibilities included providing large-scale, business-critical solutions for clients in media and financial operations by managing teams of IT engineers, technical support staff, software designers and data communications associates.

Financial terms of the agreement with Stratus Building Solutions of Long Island were not disclosed.

Stratus Building Solutions currently has Master Franchises in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In May 2009, Stratus Building Solutions of Canada was established to serve all ten provinces in that nation. In September 2009, the company awarded a Master Franchise in Lithuania to establish a model for European expansion.

Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different building service franchise plans providing “environmentally green” cleaning systems, products, services and marketing support. These include the “Stratus GreenClean” program which uses environmentally- friendly products and services to help sustain healthier, more productive facilities.

Green Screen for Hand Sanitizers

With rising concerns about infectious diseases causing public service providers to rely heavily on hand sanitizers to protect human health, EcoLogo is releasing its first draft of the EcoLogo Hand Sanitizers Standard to stakeholders.

“This new standard will allow purchasers to select hand sanitizing products with reduced environmental and health impacts,” says Scot Case, executive director of the EcoLogo Program. “Stakeholders play such an integral role in the standard development process, as well. Representatives from environmental NGOs and other not-for-profit organizations, academic experts, manufacturers, industry associations, government representatives, and purchasing professionals who take part in this process will help ensure environmental leadership is achieved.”

Hand Sanitizers is a new product category for EcoLogo. As the third step in the standards development process, the EcoLogo Program is calling for stakeholder comment on the first draft standard to ensure fair, transparent and broad participation.

IEHA to Test, Validate Green Cleaners

To promote cleaning products that are both green and effective, the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) and the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) have launched a program to test and validate high performance products.

The fee-based program will test soil removal efficacy of hard-surface cleaning products — both those certified as green by third-party organizations such as Green Seal, EcoLogo, and EcoForm, as well as products with green attributes — and recognize products that perform well in standard and customized cleaning tests.

“While it is accepted that lower-toxicity, environmentally-preferable or green cleaning products are better for human health and global ecosystems, the question remains: Do such products clean well when compared to conventional or even other green products?” said Beth Risinger, CEO and executive director of IEHA.

 Products accepted into the program will be tested using a variety of scientific methods and devices producing a detailed analysis of product performance. Manufacturers can use this information to improve their formulations as well as promote their products.

“For institutions and consumers, the value we provide is unbiased performance testing to enable product selection based on objective data rather than on anecdotal information,” says Jason Marshall, laboratory director of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell. “For vendors, products that are effective cleaners will have a clear scientific basis for associated marketing claims.”

Manufacturers of cleaning products that qualify after testing will be entitled to display the IEHA “High Performance Cleaning Product” designation and logo.

“The logo will mainly serve as a way for purchasers to determine at a glance those products that clean well, but it also may be used by manufacturers for marketing purposes with certain restrictions,” says Risinger. “This is really about performance, not marketing, but products that are validated in this program have a powerful marketing tool at their disposal.”

IEHA and TURI are now accepting applications from manufacturers who wish to have their products evaluated.

For more information on test procedures, performance benchmarks, or to apply for testing, contact Allen P. Rathey, President, InstructionLink/JanTrain, at (208) 938-3137 or (208) 724-1508, or arathey@jantrain.com.

Seybold to Lead Pro-Link Strategic Accounts

Pro-Link Inc., a jan-san marketing and buying group, has announced the addition of Russ Seybold to lead their Strategic Accounts division.

Seybold has a long and successful history in the professional cleaning industry. For more than 15 years, he has held various sales, sales manager, and account manager positions with Minuteman International, a leading manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment.

He also has an extensive background in distribution sales in the professional cleaning industry.

“We are very excited to have Russ come onboard,” says Brian Slack, Pro-Link’s vice president of sales. “He is well-known and well-thought of throughout the industry and we know he is the perfect person to lead our Strategic Accounts growth.”

Pro-Link, Inc., which was founded in 1984, is a national full-service janitorial supply, marketing, and buying organization. Based in Canton, Mass, this jansan-focused organization currently has more than 70 members and over 100 distribution points throughout the United States.