IEHA HONORS THE ASHKIN GROUP

The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) has honored Stephen Ashkin, President of The Ashkin Group, with the 2006 William D. Joyner Achievement Award. The accolade, established in 1998, recognizes an individual considered by the IEHA to have helped the organization grow and who has contributed research, technical assistance, articles in Executive Housekeeping Today magazine and written books or guidelines.

The award was presented to Stephen Ashkin at the IEHA banquet during the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) 2006 convention in Chicago on October 5, 2006.

“I feel privileged and thankful to be selected for this award,” Ashkin said. “There is no greater accolade I could receive from managers of healthcare, hospitality, educational and other large facilities than to be recognized with an award that truly exemplifies the word ‘achievement’ – just as Dr. Joyner did throughout his life.”

During the awards ceremony, Ashkin met Dr. Joyner’s widow, Susan. “She brings honor and great integrity to her husband’s legacy and inspired me to work even harder to set a good a good example for the award and to encourage others – just as I believe IEHA members do – to follow in Dr. Joyner’s footsteps,” Ashkin said.

Dr. Joyner, a consultant, lecturer and motivator for the facilities management industry, enjoyed a long career as a manager of environmental services and housekeeping operations.

Through the years, he published hundreds of articles on facilities management in technical journals and trade magazines, presented papers and seminars at national conventions and trade shows, taught in the executive housekeeping certification programs at Harold Washington College and Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL, and taught graduate courses in the healthcare administration program at Governors State University.

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GREEN CLEANING PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS, PLEASE ACT NOW!

USDA Desigantes Biobased Cleaning Items for Federal Procurement - Public Comments Accepted Until December 11th

As part of the 2002 Farm Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed a requirement for bio-based products. Congress then instructed the USDA to develop a list of designated biobased products. Up until last week, none of the items on the USDA list specifically related to the professional Green Cleaning industry.

On October 11, the USDA announced that 10 more biobased product categories (representing over 480 biobased products) must receive special purchasing consideration by all federal agencies. The exciting news is that the new items include:

• bath and tile cleaners
• clothing products
• concrete and asphalt release fluids
• cutting, drilling, and tapping oils
• deicers
• durable films
• firearm lubricants
• floor strippers
• laundry products
• wood and concrete sealers.

The Ashkin Group Urges You Take Action To Affirm The New List!
The list of 10 additional biobased product categories is now under review. The USDA encourages interested parties to submit comments on the proposed rules during the 60-day public comment period following their publication. That means all comments to the USDA are due by December 11, 2006!

For more information, contact The Ashkin Group at info@ashkingroup.com.