Connex helps retailers impacted by coronavirus share information

Retailers across North America have implemented new procedures to protect shoppers and employees from the coronavirus (Covid-19). Connex, the multi-site facilities management network, is helping retailers and suppliers connect to share critical information.

DALLAS, TX – March 9, 2020Connex, the multi-site facilities management network, formerly known as PRSM, is helping retailers protect shoppers and employees from the coronavirus by providing them resources and the ability to connect, ask questions, share vital information, experiences and recommendations.

Protecting shoppers and employees is the number one priority for retailers.  While proven methods of cleaning and sanitizing are helpful, new methods and new products are introduced almost daily.

Connex helps multi-site facilities management (FM) pros by providing leading-edge information and resources, and an easy way for them to connect and share information.

“Factual, useful information, about how to protect shoppers and employees is the best weapon we (Connex) can provide our multi-site FM members,” said Bill Yanek, Connex CEO.

“And, the best, information comes from retailers and suppliers who have successfully managed programs addressing similar issues. We provide that conduit where retailers and suppliers engaged in this battle can share critical information, and ask the important questions, in our online communities.”

Connex has created two online communities. One where any Connex member can share information, ask questions and get advice. The second community is reserved for multi-site retail facilities managers only to provide them a private community to ask for recommendations from other retailers on how to best battle the virus. The association has also created a news and resources page dedicated specifically to facilities management news about the coronavirus.

More than 650 supplier companies are Connex members, along with 350 leading retail, entertainment, healthcare and financial companies. Connex also provides retailers a wide range of events and resources ranging from white papers to online tools and best practices.

Women in Action: Jessica Fumo, Tattoo Removal Partners

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Connex Women in Action Committee is launching an interview series of Connex Women in Action. The inaugural interview is with WIA Committee Co-Chair, Jessica Fumo, Manager of Facilities, Tattoo Removal Partners.

 

What led you to this career?
In college, one of my professors referred me for an internship in the “physical plant” of the college. I had no clue what that meant and was kind of scared of whatever I was getting myself into but I was honored to be referred and was happy to have the opportunity. I loved it and due to unfortunate circumstances in the office, after just a couple weeks I ran the office solo. I was forced to think outside the box, I planted my ideas, learned a lot (like what HVAC was ha!), built the BEST relationships, and learned how to deal with different personalities and still get my job done. It was an amazing experience, and where it all started 15 years ago! Thank you to Mrs. Longhi!

 

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
I am most proud (and not sure what can top it) of being awarded the 2019 Young Professional of the Year award for PRSM. From being nominated then actually winning the award, I have never been more humbled and proud.

 

What energizes you outside of work?
My kids. They have gifted me the best job and the only job I was meant to have and that’s being their mother. I enjoy coaching them in sports (and life!), being their support system (through the good, bad and the ugly!), teaching them and being real with them. They are my reason to keep going and also the reason I have bags under my eyes but they’re worth it!

 

What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Sincere, Competitive, Optimistic (I did take a poll for this question and one special friend gave me their 3 words to best describe me as “extremely high maintenance” and I cannot confirm or deny that statement! 😊

 

If you could only eat one item for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Filet Mignon!

 

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
I would venture to the business development world in our industry. I love connecting with people and who better to “sell” a service than someone who has been on the other side, doing it for 15 years and knows many in’s and out’s of the business. It would be natural to me (I think!)

                                        

Join the Women in Action Online Community to stay up-to-date with the WIA Community and connect with women in the industry.  

Connect with WIA at CONNEX2020

 

The Connex Women in Action Committee supports the advancement and introduction of women into the facilities management industry through Giving Back, Professional Development and Networking.

EPA releases disinfectants for use against Covid-19

The EPA-registered disinfectant products on our Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 list have qualified under EPA’s emerging viral pathogen program for use against SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product. The emerging viral pathogen guidance was triggered for SARS-CoV-2 on January 29, 2020.   

EPA strongly recommends following the product label use directions for enveloped viruses, as indicated by the approved emerging viral pathogen claim on the master label. If the directions for use for viruses/virucidal activity list different contact times or dilutions, use the longest contact time or most concentrated solution.

Application Information for Registrants Wanting an Emerging Viral Pathogen Claim

A company can apply for an emerging viral pathogens claim, even before an outbreak occurs, based on previously EPA-approved claims for harder-to-kill viruses. EPA reviews the supporting information and determines if the claim is acceptable. Once approved, a company can make certain off-label claims as specified in the policy in the event of an outbreak such as the SARS-CoV-2. For instance, the company can include an efficacy statement on:

  • technical literature distributed to health care facilities, physicians, nurses, public health officials;
  • non-label-related websites;
  • consumer information services; and
  • social media sites.

Companies with EPA-registered disinfectants that want their products added to List N, should provide the information as outlined below to disinfectantslist (disinfectantslist@epa.gov).

  1. Ensure that the product has a previously approved emerging viral pathogen claim.
  2. Provide the product name and EPA Registration number.

Note: There may be additional disinfectants that meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. EPA will update this list with additional products as needed.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

Report Reveals Effective Cleaning Solution for Newly Named Coronavirus

February 11, 2020

As human coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), can remain active on surfaces for up to nine days, professional cleaners have been concerned about finding an effective cleaning solution to eliminate it. A study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection found using a solution that is 62% to 72% ethanol, .5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within one minute of contact will kill the virus. In contrast, the scientists found that solutions containing 0.04% benzalkonium chloride, 0.06% sodium hypochlorite and 0.55% ortho-phtalaldehyde were less effective.

To determine the correct cleaning chemical formula, investigators with University Medicine Greifswald and Ruhr University Bochum in Germany looked at 22 studies that dealt with disinfection techniques for human coronavirus such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, or endemic human coronaviruses (HCoV). The researchers looked at studies that provided original data on coronaviruses including their persistence on surfaces and materials and their inactivation due to biocidal disinfecting agents.

Investigators stressed that using the proper solution is only one part of the equation and that cleaning and disinfection procedures must be followed consistently and correctly to be effective.

Regarding the new name for the coronavirus, which was announced Tuesday, WHO officials said they were careful to choose a name that was easy to pronounced and did not inspire stigma, as it did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, or a group of people.

Source: https://www.issa.com/media/news/report-reveals-effective-cleaning-solution-for-newly-named-coronavirus

Two more Ferrandino employees earn ProFM credentials

Ferrandino and Son, Inc. continues to add employees to the ProFM ranks. Natalie Walchonski, Vice President of Business Development and Jessica Saile, Director of Program Management for Ferrandino have both earned the coveted ProFM credential.

 

Natalie has been in facility maintenance for almost nine years  and Jessica has more than a decade of FM experience. She chose to pursue the ProFM to further her career. “As my career has progressed I have realized the importance of continuing education. It has played a major role in my success and I knew achieving ProFM certification would be a challenge, informative and relevant,” she said.

 

Jessica wanted to test her existing knowledge, strengthen her existing skillset and add new knowledge and skills. “ProFM provides a great guide and network for continuing FM education that assists you in diversifying your industry knowledge. It also sets you and your company apart from the competition, ” she said.

 

Both cite the books provided by ProFM as great tools for preparing for the exam and expanding FM knowledge. “It made it easy to study anywhere, anytime and you could make notes and the books became a valuable resource you could use to solve daily FM challenges,” commented Walchonski.

“The ProFM course would be beneficial to all facility and construction professionals. It helps you better understand multiple aspects of facilities management, which generates respect for your peers and enables you to better serve your customers,” she concludes.

 

Kevin Smith, COO, Ferrandino & Son, also endorses the ProFM credential program. “We are extremely proud of Natalie and Jessica earning the ProFM credentials. It is easy to support high quality FM education programs that advance the FM profession in and help our teams excel. Plus, ProFM is recognized across a wide spectrum of experienced industry experts and proven educators,” Smith concluded.

Connex launches new Career Connexion service

Whether you are looking for new employees or a new job, Connex can help.

Employers can post jobs on the new Career Connexion site and job seekers can post confidential resumes. Jobs posted will appear at the bottom of Inside Connex, Connex Weekly and the Connex Canada newsletters each week. A link to online resumes will also be included in each newsletter.

Career Connexion will be your most affordable, direct link to hundreds of potential new employees and to the hottest jobs available. Details are outlined below:

Free job postings for Connex Multi-Site FM members Connex Multi-site FMs can post jobs on Career Connexion for free. 

Connex Suppliers pay only $100 – for a single 30-day job post and only $200 to post three different jobs for a 90-day period.

Non-Connex member Multi-site FM rates $100 for a 30-day job posting and $200 for three job postings for 90-days.

Non-member Supplier rates $200 for a 30-day job posting and $300 for three, 90-day job postings.

Job Seekers no charge to post a resume, search jobs or set up email alerts.

Employers must register by clicking here and complete the registration process. Once registered, employers may post jobs, manage applications, search resumes on file with Career Connexion and set up email alerts.

Employers also have access to branding solutions, job posting videos and the ability to bulk post more than 10 jobs at a time.

Job Seekers must also register and can do so here. Following registration job seekers have two options to display their resume documents. They can create profile or upload their resume document. Based upon the privacy level, selected by the job seeker, the site will either not show their information (private setting), display a profile without contact information (confidential), or display all information (public). Posting resumes or profiles is free.

Job seekers also have access to career coaching, resume writing and reference checking services. The cost of these services varies and are clearly stated on Career Connexion.

Payment – Paying for job postings is easy – simply use a credit card.

CoolSys to Rebrand All Operating Businesses Under Its Name

CoolSys™, a parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC companies nationwide, announced it will be rebranding all of its operating businesses under the CoolSys name over the next 12 to 18 months. Its foundational brands, Source Refrigeration & HVAC (Source) and Service Refrigeration Company (SRC), have changed their names to CoolSys as the first step in a multi-phased brand transformation.  Other CoolSys companies, including CRM, Legacy Air and Ron’s Refrigeration, will gradually transition to one unified brand identity this year. Newly acquired companies, Tech Mechanical, BRR Refrigeration, Agape, ABC Refrigeration, Building Air Services and RSI will take the CoolSys name within 18 months. 

 

“Our rebranding represents a shared long-term vision for CoolSys – to improve the customer experience by providing a seamless, end-to-end solution for all HVACR, engineering, installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization needs,” comments Adam Coffey, CEO of CoolSys.  “It also addresses the needs of our commercial customers who increasingly rely on national brands with nationwide capabilities.  We are combining all of our business units under one CoolSys brand to strengthen our presence, convey a consistent message and increase our power in the market,” he adds.

 

The company’s rebranding of its operating units and subsidiaries has been part of its long-term vision that began when CoolSys first established its name over two years ago to bring together its growing family of businesses under one corporate umbrella.  CoolSys has recently identified a growing demand among its customers to have access to a unified national brand, and a preference to consolidate their service providers to fewer, larger companies.  Its customers span across national and regional grocery, retail, convenience store and restaurant chains, as well as telecom, healthcare, and education.  

 

“In any market where we operate, our goal is for the CoolSys name to signify the consistent level of service, skill and expertise that our customers can rely on,” comments Mike Ochoa, executive vice president, sales and marketing.  “As we undergo this rebranding process, we are communicating with our customers, vendors and suppliers to ensure they are informed and fully on board with the changes that are coming.”

Over the course of this year, CoolSys will be unveiling a new website and new branding guidelines for its business units.  All vehicles, building signage, uniforms, forms and other materials will gradually be converted to the CoolSys brand.  To acknowledge its heritage as a company formed from many different brands, CoolSys will honor all its current and future acquired brands in a “Heritage” section on its newly designed website.


About CoolSys 

CoolSys is the market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services company, specializing in a full spectrum of best-in-class service experiences and solutions for customers in the retail, foodservice, commercial and industrial market segments.  CoolSys and its operating businesses cover every stage of mission-critical systems through engineering and design, installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization. Headquartered in Southern California, CoolSys currently has 14 operating companies, and over 2,500 employees, 1,700 of which are field-based service and installation experts serving the daily needs of more than 4,000 customers throughout North America.  For additional information, please visit www.coolsys.com.

 

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Loeb Electric Announces New Website and Rebranding

Loeb Electric, an independent electrical distributor and service provider, recently rebranded and announced the launch of its new website focused around electrical and lighting services and supplies for both national account and contractor customers.

The new branding includes a modern aesthetic with a nod to their history and industry expertise. While blues and grays are the backbone of the brand, a secondary palette including ‘amped aqua,’ ‘power yellow,’ and ‘charged orange’ have been added to complement. Current conductor lines have also been added as a design element with an homage to the electrical industry.

The newly launched website features customer case studies and testimonials, detailed service and industry pages, and defines the ‘Loeb Difference,’ allowing prospective customers to understand the value that Loeb can offer to their business. Current customers can access their account for product, order, and account management, in addition to searching electrical and lighting supply inventory and integrating e-procurement.

“To ensure we built the new site around our customers’ needs, we invested in a customer research study, completed competitive analysis, and utilized third-party industry research from Channel Marketing Group. Customer focus is at the heart of everything we do, and we work every day to be essential to their success. We’re excited to now demonstrate this on a digital platform.” – Charles Loeb, President, Loeb Electric.

Loeb Electric is the destination for all your electrical and lighting needs, across every stage of your project. They offer an expansive line card with access to the brands and products you trust, all competitively procured. Starting with understanding your needs, they’ll build a custom solution through their service portfolio: professional project management; lighting and energy solutions; inventory management and logistics; wire and strut services; and electrical maintenance through their partner network.

For more information, visit loebelectric.com.


About Loeb Electric

Loeb Electric (loebelectric.com) is the innovative electrical distributor of quality materials and an expert service provider, committed to be the partner you can trust. You can connect with them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Connex Announces Women in Action Committee

Connex is proud to announce the Women in Action Committee, which supports the advancement and introduction of women into the facilities management industry through Giving Back, Professional Development and Networking.

 

The Committee’s initiatives will be highlighted at CONNEX2020 National Conference.

  • Join the Committee for a special Women in Action Networking event, Monday, April 20 at 1:30 – 3:00 PM.
  • The Women Action Committee and Connex Foundation will be selling Flower Brooch Pins to fundraise for the Woman In Action Scholarship to be awarded in 2021.

 

Join the Women in Action Online Community to stay up-to-date with the WIA Community and connect with women in the industry.  

 

Committee

  • Co-Chairs

o   Jamie Delli Santi, Rubicon Global

o   Andrea Fish, Service Repair Specialists, Inc.

o   Jessica Fumo, Tattoo Removal Partners

  • Members

o   Cathy Frantz, National Maintenance Services, Inc.

o   Jason Miller, The Buckle, Inc.

o   Alex Pegnato, Pegnato Roof Intelligence Network

o   Angeli Cabreros, Tapestry, Inc.

 

Networking Taskforce

  • Taskforce Leader

o   Connie Jon, Industrious

  • Members

o   Jill Woodside, Cushman & Wakefield

o   Stacy Brown, Global Facility Management & Construction

o   Alexandra DiPietro, Herc Rentals

o   Nicki Frank, Thoreau Services, Inc.

 

Professional Development Taskforce

  • Taskforce Leader

o    Stefanie Driscoll, Ferrandino & Son

  • Members

o   Kiira Belonzi, Branded Group, Inc.

o   Deanne Barker, Best Buy Canada Ltd

o   Dana Dicintio, ALDO Group

 

Give Back Taskforce

  • Taskforce Leader

o   Tom Kay, ENTOUCH

  • Members

o   Ashley McConnell, Officetrax

o   Shannon Prato, SMG Holdings

o   Susan Hecht, SMS Assist

o   Kim Whittemore, Construction Specialties and Design, LLC

Cutting edge field service management technology, bringing value to clients at DAVACO

DAVACO, the North American leader in project management for high-volume remodels for global brands, announces ON Demand project management and execution services for multi-site owners with multi- construction trade services. Utilizing a development collaboration partnership with ServiceDemand, DAVACO utilizes field service management software, to offer real-time technology to its multi-site client base.

 

Managing and scheduling field service work presents numerous challenges for project management teams, including identifying suitable skilled technicians, arranging availability of local work forces, and effective time management. DAVACO’s client solution resolves these issues, dispatching skilled and trained technicians when and where they are needed. Recognizing these challenges, DAVACO is deploying the latest technology to optimize its scheduling capabilities using the most up-to-date SaaS technology.

 

DAVACO’s solution is a cloud-hosted platform enabling end-to-end management of service requirements. It offers intelligent management of all projects, from one-time requests to large, complex multiphase/multisite rollouts. From its mobile application, project managers are able to more effectively manage their workforce by allowing them to more efficiently schedule assignments based on site location, the current location of available and qualified technicians, and required travel time. This benefits all stakeholders, by closely integrating them into the work execution workflow. The mobile application also enables payment of third-party service providers and real-time automated communication between internal and external recipients directly from the application.

 

“In addition to its automated work force management, our solution provides business intelligence features that provide insight into asset utilization,” adds Keith Winters, CEO of DAVACO.

 

“This cutting-edge technology allows us to record an asset, why it required repair and how the issue was resolved, in real time. In this way, we can provide a clear picture of any reoccurring issues that our clients may be facing at their businesses.” he adds.

 

Licenses for the SaaS software are now available to DAVACO’s clients, who also oversee complex field management services, in both the SaaS model and through systems integrations via an application programming interface (API).

 

“Having implemented the technology successfully, we are now extending its value to DAVACO’s clients,” adds Paul Hamer, Executive Vice President Business Development of DAVACO. “Many of DAVACO’s clients manage complex programs utilizing multiple vendors and would see great benefit from on-demand technology, consolidating vendors and efficiently scheduling their field workforce. Its asset management capabilities would also provide further insight into identifying the root cause of any break/fix issues.”

 

“Automated, real time technology with a user-friendly interface is the way forward for many industries, if you are struggling to understand labor costs and travel times, skillsets and technician availability,
ServiceDemand will provide you with an automated solution to optimize your performance and bring significant cost reduction as a result,”  he adds.            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

About DAVACO:
DAVACO is a leading total solutions provider of high-volume remodel, reset and rollout programs for global brands throughout Northern America. Services include: program and project management, fixture equipment and graphic installations, digital signage and technology upgrade, hard and soft-line merchandising, site, marketing and pre-constructions survey, logistics and consolidation, design coordination, facilities maintenance programs and ADA, safety and quality audits and remediation. Founded in 1990, DAVACO is headquartered in Dallas, TX.  https://www.davacoinc.com/