National Cleaning Week: Our Customers Say it Best

Expressing Gratitude for the Time, Talent and Tenacity of our Janitorial Crews

It’s National Cleaning Week, and we can tell you without hesitation that our cleaners are the best in the business. But you don’t have to take our word for it—we have it in writing, many times over, from grateful customers. Here is just a sampling of thank you notes we recently received:

“Your cleaning staff have been phenomenal lately! They are wiping down walls from when we previously had furniture and even dusting the lighting fixtures.”

“Our nurses would like to shout out to our UG2 team, as we know they always work hard creating a clean and welcoming environment and also turning over rooms quickly and efficiently to allow for patient throughput.” 

“Thanks to you and your team, I take pride in the cleanliness we see in all the areas of the building, and I know our customers are getting a good first impression as they walk through the door, enter a conference room, or walk down the hallways.”

“A heartfelt thanks to your team for all their efforts taken, not just recently but over the last two years, to raise the levels of cleanliness in the hospital.”

Given the wide range of contributions our cleaners make, it’s never a surprise to hear such words of praise. A day in the life of a UG2 custodian is nearly impossible to capture. In part, that is because every hour of every day is different, and packed with the highly detail-oriented steps, processes, and procedures specific to their individual assignment. It is also difficult to capture their impact because, as packed as their schedule can be with tasks, every one of our cleaners tends to go above and beyond in their duties, impressing not only our customers but their colleagues and supervisors in their efficiency, problem solving, and attention to the small things that have a big impact.

At any given moment, you might glimpse a UG2 cleaner: disinfecting the breakroom at an office park, restocking the patient-safe cleaning products at a veterinary hospital, wiping down row upon row of seats before the show in your favorite music venue, attending a university training on new campus safety guidelines, checking the portal for new workorder requests at a multi-family residential property, or one of hundreds of other tasks that make facilities shine.

And for every act that’s on their daily checklist, there is a quiet act of kindness, whether it’s holding a door open, making an extra recycling run to keep things spotless during an important presentation, calling a frequent visitor by name, or going above and beyond to help a new student’s family on move-in day.  

We recognize how fortunate we are to have such generous, hardworking, highly skilled problem solvers on our team. That’s why we are committed to supporting our people in every way we can, from remaining accessible and responsive when the unexpected occurs to equipping them with the latest innovation and technology. We offer ongoing professional development through our training academy, mentoring, and Learn with Leaders program, we take an active interest in their career plans and priorities, and we strive to offer pathways to a fulfilling and rewarding career.

So, cheers to the janitorial staff who do so much to keep us comfortable, safe, and healthy. We know we can never acknowledge them enough. You might not have time to send a note next time you notice a cleaner going above and beyond, but if you let them know it in the moment with a heartfelt thank you, you will be sure to brighten their day. 

Our Winning Game Plan Strategy

At UG2, we strive to be good citizens of every industry we serve, whether we’re helping a commercial property gain a competitive edge, curating a welcoming destination for higher education students, enabling groundbreaking research at a life science facility, or optimizing uptime for a manufacturer.

But we admit we find particular pleasure in working with our public venue customers, whether with a university arena, city civic center, or major league stadium. Part of the thrill comes from our own enthusiasm, as fans, for sports matchups and arts performances. But a major factor is that the joy of competition or celebration is simply infectious. We love seeing people of all ages revel in the excellence of their favorite artists and athletes. And we take deep pride in our skill at making their experience as joyful and memorable as possible.

What better time to examine our place in that history than on American Football Day? Fall and football are inextricably tied together in much of the country, from Homecoming games to Thanksgiving broadcasts. American Football Day is celebrated on November 5, honoring the history of American’s most popular spectator sport.

On American Football Day – just like any other day of the year – you will find UG2 employees maintaining the public venues entrusted to our care. Our roles vary and are tailored to the unique needs of each customer and facility, but the full-service, round-the-clock attention required generally involves our stellar Operations and Maintenance teams who are monitoring the entire facility and checking the plumbing, electric and HVAC.

Here are some of the ways we put our skills to work to enhance the overall experience at a public venue:

Janitorial Services. Our teams make sure fans are greeted by sparkling clean restrooms, concourses, vendors stations, and retail areas, all sanitized and serviced throughout the game using environmentally sound methods and supplies.

Stocking and Special Area Servicing. You’ll find UG2 employees unloading deliveries and stocking supplies like vendor equipment and paper goods, cleaning and supplying sky boxes, corporate boxes, suites, green rooms, VIP areas, and locker room areas.

Delivering Pre- and Post Event Services. Team UG2 is on hand toset up and clean up for pre-events such as team meet-and-greets or VIP receptions, manage giveaways, and support any added entertainment on the field or court. Along the way, we’re mopping up spills, wiping down seats, clearing away confetti, and returning the facility to pristine condition—over and over again throughout the day.

Taking on Special Services. We’re often tapped to reconfigure spaces for events and meetings, conduct an off-season deep cleaning, or manage specialized care and maintenance of tile, woodwork, carpets, and glass surfaces.

The aspects of preparing for events are broad and complex, and we work very closely with our customers to ensure we think of absolutely everything. Our teams use many types of detailed checklists to stay organized. But it is of course the interpersonal interactions that stay with us, from making sure a fan with accessibility needs enjoys a smooth experience to responding to security inquiries to simply making sure there is a fresh batch of supplies in the restrooms.

We put our public venue practices to work with the other kind of football too – as well as every other imaginable event held in a public arena. Today’s facilities are spectacularly outfitted and equipped to hold events like concerts, graduations, and commemorations, and we have niche expertise in the lighting, sound and other specialties such as parking and events that allow such celebrations to go off without a hitch.  

Whoever you cheer on this weekend, whether it’s the home team you celebrated growing up, the college teams that had you tailgating in your early twenties, or the squad you follow in your adopted hometown, know there is a secondary team like UG2 in the background making every first down possible.

How Our Teams Keep the Country Running

Facility services is about so much more than cleaning floors, freshening up the air, and replacing burned-out bulbs. Those tasks are, of course, essential — but they capture only the barest understanding of the role of facility services providers.

Although our front-line employees are some of the hardest working people you will meet, they are also among the humblest. You will never catch them seeking credit or acclaim – in fact, you are more likely to find them politely addressing concerns and issues for situations they have no control over.

But if you pay close attention, you will share in our awe for all that our teams accomplish in maintaining spaces that are accessible, enjoyable, and safe for the people who frequent them.

Every day across the country, our UG2 teams:

Protect people from injury and illness. We prioritize safety in all we do, and that takes many forms, from specialized employee training to an unmatched safety audit program to the exclusive use of proven tools, technologies and practices.

Provide employees with work environments that allow them to stay engaged, productive and happy. We strive to maintain spaces that help our commercial and corporate customers attract and retain talent, maintaining sleek, polished and inviting spaces with the amenities and technology that help people perform their best.

Make the difference between a living environment that is adequate and one that truly feels like home. When it comes to multi-family residential properties, we create open, inviting spaces that cater to health and wellbeing, with indoor and outdoor spaces that promote community and advance wellness.

Enable researchers to discover new treatments and innovations. World class universities, life science & biomedical firms and pharmaceutical companies are striving for a better future for all of us — and they trust UG2 to support their work with everything from HVAC and clean power supply to lab services, incubators, room pressurization and more.

Help healthcare providers to deliver the best care to their patients. UG2 works behind the scenes at some of the most respected medical facilities in the country, delivering the highest level of service through a combination of industry expertise and site-specific training.

Offer students of all ages safe environments to study, learn and grow into the next generation of leaders. From flourishing landscapes to pristine buildings to impeccable operations, UG2 brings a special touch to the complex challenges of running a higher education campus.

Make it possible for data centers and manufacturers to keep our industries successful and competitive. Our comprehensive services, including asset management and preventative maintenance expertise,help reduce or eliminate damage to physical assets and the costly repairs that accompany them, and lessen the occurrence of unscheduled downtime.

Support retailers in offering experiences that impress even the most demanding customers. From enclosed shopping malls to outdoor lifestyle centers, UG2 is the provider of choice for elite retail properties, ensuring pristine spaces, spotless surfaces, and an atmosphere designed to delight.

Deliver thrilling, safe, memorable sports and entertainment experiences. We bring the wow factor to a range of events at convention centers, concert venues, theaters and sports arenas, with comprehensive services that keep high-volume spaces operating flawlessly.

Develop and execute safety plans that protect people, pets and properties. We customize and continuously refine our safety and storm preparedness plans based on our customers’ evolving needs, safety drills and audits, and continuous integration of emerging best practices.  

That is quite a list, and it is still just the tip of the iceberg! Next time you are entering a college campus, shopping center, sports arena or healthcare facility, take a minute to think about the many, many people who make navigating those spaces possible. And if you have questions or concerns about your facility services solutions, get in touch with UG2 today.

Behind the Scenes at the NBA Finals

There’s nothing like hearing the final buzzer when your team has officially won the game—and you can be sure that feeling is over the top when the game happens to be the NBA Finals in your hometown, and you are the facility services partner caring for the beloved and storied arena where your home team holds court.

The Boston Celtics has been exciting to watch this season but especially during playoffs on their journey to the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy. Our facility services teams feel a sense of pride when they are putting a shine on every surface, buffing floors, and triple-checking HVAC, air filters, plumbing and lighting. We invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look at what a typical day is like for our teams.

While fans were cheering on the C’s Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, we were sweeping and restocking, communicating needs via phone and radio, and keeping every surface and floor sparkling clean. But long before fans began filing in, the UG2 team was onsite to prepare the facility.

With upwards of 125 UG2 employees onsite and on the job, here is a window into what happens in the typical 24 hours before, during, and after the big game.

First Shift: Pre-Game Warm-Up

The food services staff are arriving to prep their stations as their trusted suppliers bring by deliveries to unload. Team UG2 is fanning out across the facility, and leaving nothing out of place as we go through our detailed checklists of areas to deep clean, sanitize, and stock, coordinating our efforts as a team the entire time. Facility engineers are monitoring the chillers, HVAC and critical equipment for the entire venue to make sure everything will run efficiently and smoothly without a hitch. We are conducting continuous sweeps, flagging potential issues before they become a problem, and leaving in our wake sparkling clean restrooms and concourses.

The Celtics and Mavs are in the house! While the teams take to the pristine court floor for warm-ups, we do another pass through the rest of the arena, making sure there is proper air circulation with climate control, double checking all surfaces, and making sure walkways are ready for thousands of bodies in motion.

The energy is electric, and we catch the adrenaline buzz. There is nothing like being in an arena full of fans, and we soak up the excitement to keep us energized for the entire event.

Second Shift: Game On!

Showtime! Our teams are trained and cross-trained for the specific needs of every aspect of the venue, from the locker rooms to the concession areas to the VIP suites. We are continuously adjusting our focus to where it is needed throughout the event—monitoring restrooms for any issues such as plumbing, cleanup and supply needs; emptying trash and recycling and lining cans with a fresh bags; flagging and cleaning up spills; and communicating with team members to ensure every area of the arena is covered at all times.

Safety concerns override all others as we remain mindful of the fast-moving crowds and potential for slips and falls. Every team member is equipped with a radio to communicate any issue they see; a dispatcher gets the right person to take care of every need, in the moment.

We remain committed to attentive, five-star service and we go above and beyond to ensure every visitor has the most positive experience, win or lose—extending into the well-maintained stairways and escalators as they leave the game.

Third Shift: Post-Game Show

After the Celtics win, their jubilant fans eventually make their way safely out of the arena. We pass the baton to a fresh UG2 team, who arrive ready to transform the arena to its pristine state of cleanliness for the next event. They leap into action, attending to every seat, station, corner, and crevice. Arenas are busy facilities that often host multiple events in a day. Our work will continue with our teams working to meet every deadline and exceed expectations of visitors to the arena for every planned event. We are ready whenever they need us.

The Boston Celtics is raising banner 18 for their NBA Finals victory. Before they clinched the championship title, they tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles in league history. Known for their iconic green uniforms and shamrock logo, the team has a rich legacy of success. After the final championship game, Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP – the highest honor that is awarded to the top-performing player on the winningest team in basketball.

Honoring Our Cleaning Heroes

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is hosting the first-ever International Cleaning Week, March 24-30, 2024. Building on the success of National Cleaning Week over the past four years, this commemoration marks a significant milestone in recognizing the importance of cleanliness and cleaning professionals on a global scale.

UG2 supports raising awareness about the importance of quality cleaning and is privileged to celebrate the invaluable contributions of our dedicated cleaning staff nationwide, who work behind the scenes to ensure pristine clean, healthy, and safe environments for all.

As we honor this special week, we take a moment to celebrate the teams that embody UG2’s core values and commitment to cleaning excellence.

Working Behind the Scenes

Behind every tidy workspace, college campus, commercial building, public venue, or life science laboratory space lies a hardworking team that serves as the backbone of cleaning operations. From day porters and janitors to custodial managers and supervisors and every role in between, UG2 employees possess a deep understanding of the attention to detail needed to provide the best service to our customers.

Although these employees may work quietly or before/after operating hours, their impact on our customers’ facilities is tremendous. From ensuring smooth operations to mitigating safety hazards to assisting customers and tenants, or responding to timely concerns, they are truly the glue that holds every facility together. 

Building a Culture of Appreciation

We believe that a culture of appreciation is paramount in fostering motivated and engaged teams. From employee appreciation events to personalized tokens of gratitude to words of thanks, we ensure that our cleaning team feels valued, respected, and appreciated. We welcome honest and open communication to make sure every team member has the resources they need to succeed.

Empowering Our Teams

At UG2, we understand that investing in our teams’ growth and development is crucial to maintaining the highest standard of service excellence. That’s why we provide ongoing training, support, and opportunities for advancement within our organization. By prioritizing continuous improvement and learning, we equip our teams to stay on top of industry best practices and the latest innovations.

As we celebrate International Cleaning Week, UG2 reaffirms our deep gratitude and recognition for the commitment and professionalism of our cleaning staff. Their tireless efforts and ability to meet high standards are the driving force behind the success of every facility we serve.

By ensuring that every space remains clean, safe, and welcoming, they fulfill a vital role in our organization. Let us continue to embrace the spirit of gratitude and recognition, not only during International Cleaning Week but every single day.

Strategies for Building a Forward-Thinking Safety Culture

As a leader in the facility services industry, UG2 knows that facilities teams must be equipped to handle every possible scenario they may encounter. Mitigating risks that could lead to injuries is crucial for the safety of all building occupants, as well as ensuring smooth operations.

In a recent article in IFMA’s Facility Management Journal, Adam Rabesa, Director, Environmental Health & Safety at UG2, highlights the importance of expecting the unexpected.

Adam provides tips and strategies for facility services teams to stay prepared and limit the potential of risks, injuries, and liabilities.

It All Stems From the Brain

Our brains have two systems; one handles automated behavior, and one controls slower, more deliberate processes. Adam explains that sometimes the latter system can cause us to tune out the potential for danger. Injuries can arise when people are performing routine tasks, where they might not be as attentive.

Stress Exacerbates Mindlessness

In the facility services industry, demands and pressure to problem-solve quickly can cause stress. This can result in workers taking unsafe shortcuts, which could lead to injuries. Adam explains that when stress is frequently prevalent, cognitive functioning can be hindered, such as the ability to actively focus on tasks, which can put workers at risk.

Building a Proactive Safety Culture

Management teams must make it a priority to mitigate risky behavior by establishing a safety-first culture. Adam stresses that leaders must make it clear that safety is more important than doing things fast and not penalize workers who take longer to do a task if they are doing it safely.

Safety should also be incorporated into meetings or routine interactions to remind employees of best practices. It is also beneficial to remind tenants and visitors of safe practices to instill a safe environment.

Mitigating Slips, Trips, and Falls

Improving Floor Safety

Although facilities teams cannot prevent floors from being free of hazards 24/7, they can make an impact by being involved in the selection of a building’s flooring during construction or renovations. Facilities teams are also more familiar with the best cleaning agents for the material and if the flooring aligns with the needs of the environment.

Additionally, Adam explains that The Coefficient of Friction (COF) is another factor to consider. The level of friction an object has against a material will be determined by the chemicals used to clean it and the frequency of cleaning. COF meters can aid in measuring the risk of slips and falls.

Educating on Best Methods to Transport Packages

To prevent injuries when moving heavy loads, Adam suggests limiting the number of times packages are transported. Try implementing a system where recipients of large packages collect them at designated areas. Employees should also be trained on the suitable equipment for transporting packages in various settings.

Using Caution with Inclement Weather

Implementing signage for ice alerts, wet areas, and places where people should reduce speed can help mitigate risk in poor weather conditions. Additionally, encourage people to utilize umbrella bags and handrails, and keep walkways and parking areas clear of snow and ice.

Safely Interacting with Building Occupants

Although it might be facility workers’ instinct to respond to customers’ concerns immediately, safety should be the top priority. Adam suggests that staff ask customers to wait while they complete a task so that it can be done safely.

Be Extra Attentive in Back-of-House Spaces

Low-visibility areas, where customers don’t go, are sometimes less maintained than those in the front of the house. Janitorial teams must remember to pay attention to these spaces and ensure safety and cleanliness.

All in all, preparedness is key when it comes to limiting the number of risks facilities teams and tenants might encounter. By instilling effective strategies and habits, teams can proactively address the inevitable challenges that arise within the facility services industry.

Contact UG2 today to learn how we can prioritize safety and customer satisfaction at your facility.

How UG2 is Cultivating the Next Generation of Industry Talent

January is Mentoring Month, and we are reflecting on the generosity of our employees who share their skills and talent with one another, developing the industry’s future leaders through a wide range of formal and informal mentoring efforts.

When our founder Lou Lanzillo and his team set out to launch UG2 more than 10 years ago, they did so with a vision of cultivating the next generation of leaders and to set a new standard of excellence in facility services. They had themselves benefited from tremendous guidance and generous instruction from others throughout their own careers and had witnessed the impact that professional support can have on someone coming up through the industry. As such, Lou and team cared deeply about the industry and knew that strengthening the profession would be the best way to serve everyone.

UG2 boasts an immensely talented, diverse, and multigenerational workforce—all of whom bring unique skills and talents to their positions, whether on our O&M, janitorial, or corporate teams. Here’s how we’ve succeeded in tapping their talent and extending it across the company:

Hiring those willing to learn—and teach. Identifying employees who are motivated to grow professionally is a huge aspect of our recruitment approach, and a reason we have such a high retention rate. At the same time, we are looking for employees who want to share their own knowledge with their peers and coworkers.

Delivering on mentorship from day 1. Members of team UG2 benefit from our organizational and institutional offerings from the moment they are hired, from customer service training to dedicated professional development and more. We also invite new employees to share details on their own unique backgrounds and talents and find ways to give them a platform.

Building a best-in-class training lab. UG2 stands out from our competitors with our training and innovation lab. The lab’s virtual platform allows us to tap the knowledge from employees across the organization and share it with their peers in every corner of the country.

Knowing that one-to-one relationships work both ways. Mentoring relationships at UG2 are mutual. We believe every employee brings something unique to the table, and we know that one way we have remained leaders in the industry is by deeply listening to and learning from the new generation of talent.

Investing in career coaching and professional development. From our robust training programs and partnerships with educational institutions to our encouragement of continuing education and outside learning opportunities, we support our employees (and potential future employees) in identifying and pursuing all kinds of knowledge and skills building.

Imparting soft skills. As much as technology has enabled us to advance our work, it also stands as a temptation to reduce human interaction. At UG2 we make an effort to form genuine connections with one another, working toward an ability to make conversation with everyone we meet.

Hiring from within. Some of our most accomplished employees’ careers were homegrown! By recognizing the talent every team member brings to the organization, and knowing their goals as professionals, we are able to prepare and leverage our internal talent to fill key positions.

Learning from our customers. In a relationship-based company like UG2, we recognize that learning works in every direction. That’s why we work hard to learn from our customers and become citizens of their industries.

Strong mentoring makes for smarter and more productive teams, and we witness that every day at UG2. We are so proud of our employees and of the ways they embrace opportunities to learn and advance their careers—and especially of the many ways they build each other up along the way.

Recap from Facility Executive Article Featuring Armando Lezama

Prior to COVID-19’s emergence, green cleaning was gaining traction as more people grew concerned about the environmental and health risks associated with toxic products. When the pandemic struck, green cleaning was no longer prioritized, as disinfection and deep cleaning took precedence. 

In a recent article in Facility Executive, Armando Lezama, UG2’s Vice President of Operations, highlights that green cleaning is coming back stronger than ever, especially as companies focus on Environmental Social Governance (ESG) initiatives.

Armando explains that to be successful in their endeavors toward a green facility, facility services organizations need to focus on four main areas: training, communication, tools, and documentation.

Make Training Count

Green cleaning should be part of all training curricula. Foremost, employees must learn about the products they’re using, how to perform their duties safely, and what best practices to abide by. They also need to understand that green cleaning is ever evolving and crucial for the health of every person in a building. A recent study found that those who work in green buildings are more productive and even score higher on cognitive functioning scales than those who do not.

Additionally, employees should be trained to communicate expectations with tenants so they understand that their facility will never be 100% green. Armando explains that If products are 90% green, the company will make a positive impact and still be green-certified.

Communicate

It’s crucial that building occupants are also informed of the facility’s green cleaning practices. This includes establishing clear communication about guidelines, expectations, and the green cleaning products and processes utilized. Studies show that most tenants are aware of the benefits associated with green cleaning.

Become the Tools Expert

According to Armando, it is the facility services team’s responsibility to stay informed about the various new and enhanced green cleaning tools that are constantly emerging and evaluate if they are beneficial for the facility’s needs. These tools might be more costly or difficult to maintain, but they provide extended capabilities. Teams are also responsible for upholding relevant certification requirements.

It’s recommended that teams should consider attending International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) shows and building working relationships with green suppliers/manufacturers to stay ahead of the game.

Demonstrate

In order to demonstrate green cleaning adherence, facility services teams should document everything via logs. This includes employee training, green equipment maintenance, recycling rations, purchases of equipment and consumables, and more. This also allows for the centralization of data, so teams can be prepared for recertifications.  

Ultimately, Armando states that green cleaning is here to stay. Facilities are not only going green for the sake of tenants but also for the health of employees who handle chemicals and equipment daily. Plus, it’s a smart business decision that helps reduce health issues, which means more people can work together to provide the best service to tenants and visitors.

Additional sources:

^{https://www.cleanlink.com/cp/article/Survey-Outlines-BSCFacility-Sustainability-and-ESG-Goals–29192
https://cmmonline.com/articles/the-cleaning-industrys-path-from-green-cleaning-to-sustainability}

As a leader in the facility services industry, UG2 knows that keeping employees and building occupants safe at all times is a must. When mitigating risk, there are different methods, but one of the most effective is the use of signage, signals, and labels. 

In a recently published article in Facility Safety Management, Adam Rabesa, UG2’s Director of Environmental Health & Safety, explains how these tools can be used to successfully bring attention to potential hazards and instruct people on how to stay safe.   

Oftentimes, individuals tune out possible hazards when performing routine tasks, since the more times a task is completed successfully, the less one has to think about it. Not only do signage and labels bring attention to the present tasks and potential hazards, but they are fairly easy to implement. 

Here are Adam’s Best Practices for Optimizing Results: 

1. Make Them Readily Understandable  

There’s no point in using signs and labels if they’re not easily digestible. Clear and concise messaging is a must. It may be necessary to translate your signs and labels into additional languages or use universally understood symbols/images.  

2. Help Them Get Noticed

Signage needs to be clearly visible, so it does not blend into the background. Sometimes people don’t even notice new signage or labels because of “change blindness”. Make your designs bold and change them up on a regular basis.  

3. Keep Them Handy

Make sure signage is easily accessible and clearly labeled for employees. For example, store “Caution Wet Floor” signs in every trash barrel. Adam mentions it is also a best practice to incorporate QR codes in places where spills might occur so people can notify the facility services team from their phones.  

4. Follow Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has three sign classifications. Be sure to follow: 

5. Conduct Inspections

Routine inspections should be conducted to evaluate signs and labels that can become less visible and fade over time. Adam recommends that they are cleaned regularly and that letters be replaced if they become too faded.  

Ultimately, signs, signals, and labels are cost-effective and reliable methods to warn people of dangers and guide them on the correct safety procedures. To be effective, plan in advance, pay attention to details, and collaborate with service providers, vendors, property managers, tenants, and others working at your facility.  

Deep Dive in Delivering Exceptional Facility Services

Think back to the last time you scored tickets to see your favorite team or seats for a great concert. Whether you were hanging out in the VIP suite, doing the wave in the bleachers, or grabbing a drink at one of the premium bars, you were in the company of tens of thousands of others who were also there to relish every moment of the action. Along the way, those throngs of fans were swarming vendor booths to buy a beer or hot dog, rushing to use the restroom, and tossing empty cups and wrappers in the general direction of the trash can. They also may have been tracking in dirt, mud, slush, or snow (or possibly all four at once if you were attending an event in my hometown region of New England).

I’m a lifelong sports and music fan – and I was lucky enough to attend a few memorable events growing up including the Patriots Snow Bowl in ‘03, Celtics vs Lakers ’08 Finals Game 1, and more Disney on Ice shows than I can remember with my whole family.  When I was younger, I was always focused on what was happening on the field, court, or ice. It was only in the last few years, growing through the ranks of the facility services world did I appreciate what it takes from the venue itself to deliver the end user product. Similar to the teams that are competing in between the lines – the venues themselves are also game planning, coordinating & executing to make these events run smoothly so fans can enjoy a spectacular experience.

Since I love spending my free time cheering on the home team, you can imagine how I was filled with pride when UG2 added prominent public venue customers, the storied TD Garden in Boston and, more recently, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

Every stadium or arena has its own precarious ecosystem. The challenges in maintaining these facilities—and maintaining them well—are steep, and our solutions must be tailored to each site’s unique and evolving needs. Fortunately, UG2 has refined our responses to those challenges and developed our team into the public venue’s perfect facility services partner. So, what have we learned working behind the scenes?

Here I will share some of the most difficult aspects of managing a facility in public venue spaces, and the solutions UG2 has mastered to overcome them.

Challenge #1: Manage High-Volume Crowds

The sheer volume and density of foot traffic in a public venue makes for a completely different—and uber-challenging—environment. Huge numbers of people are on the move, and your ideal facility services partner needs to stay on top of, and ahead of, the crowd.

UG2 Solution:

Our specially-trained teams are assigned to designated areas at key intervals—as the arena is getting set up, deliveries are happening, and food stations are prepping—and as fans are entering, exiting, and rushing to vendors and restrooms at halftime or the end of the period. UG2 has our teams highly trained and crossed-trained to deal with the specifics of each area, from the general concession areas to the locker rooms to the VIP suites. Our facility operations teams are in continuous communication and constant flux, ensuring that our attention matches the crowd’s energy and movement and that we are well prepared with proactive measures as well as the ability to respond quickly in the moment to always-emerging issues.

Challenge #2: Nail the Timing

Public venues operate on the opposite end of the spectrum from a typical janitorial model. In many spaces you cannot rely on nightly down time to tackle projects like deep cleaning, shampooing carpets, stripping and waxing of floors, or squeegeeing the glass. The building may go dark on an ever-changing schedule that makes it even more difficult to fit in the upkeep.

UG2 Solution:

The timing issue is a complex one that requires both established expertise and frequent fine-tuning. The key ingredients for success include deep familiarity with the venue and a highly trained, nimble staff. UG2’s ability to attract and retain the best talent is essential here. We have employees who are specialized but also trained to pivot, on a dime, from a sporting event to a concert to a corporate fundraiser. Our facility managers are on-site, bringing their familiarity with the unique timing and staffing needs of each event and the resources to quickly scale up for double headers and find windows of time for deep cleans and preventative maintenance projects. We understand there’s no room for a lapse in quality and we are proactive in maintaining supplies and top-of-the-line resources so that there’s never a moment wasted.

Challenge #3: Eliminate Health and Safety Hazards

The fast-moving, enthusiastic crowds that pack our public venues are vulnerable to injury hazards from displaced floor mats to food spills, as well as health hazards like faulty refrigeration and unsanitary restroom conditions.

UG2 Solution:

UG2 incorporates both leading and lagging indicators into our safety planning for a comprehensive approach to safety that’s woven into all we do, from our health and safety program to our industry-leading efforts around quality control. Employees complete extensive safety training before their first day on a site, and ongoing safety planning and training is customized to every venue we serve. We routinely conduct job safety analyses and hazard checks, and safety-related communication is ongoing and consistent. Every team member is working to identify issues as they emerge and is equipped with a radio to call in reports to a dispatcher who immediately sends out the right person to respond.  

Challenge #4: Fine-Tune Management Team Handoffs

Supervisors and management must be available for a warm hand-off with every shift, to ensure ownership and accountability on every level and through every phase of our public venue facility services.

UG2 Solution:

UG2’s team leaders take tremendous pride in being onsite and accessible with every shift. Our stellar supervisors never leave a venue or station unattended. Team leaders will not leave until they have tagged in the next supervisor and provided a comprehensive status update. Seamless communication makes for seamless coverage, and those are hallmarks of our unmatched service record—and our 98% customer retention rate. It helps that we attract top talent, promote from within, and boast an enviable employee retention record.

Challenge #5: Meet Outsized Operations and Maintenance Demands

A major event has many opportunities for major problems to occur if issues arise with lighting, alarms, scoreboard function, plumbing, HVAC…the list goes on.  

UG2 Solution:

UG2 offers comprehensive, integrated operations and maintenance services. We leverage our management team’s 350-plus years of experience, alongside our highly skilled engineers’ proficiency with the latest technologies and innovations. We bring in the most skilled and committed employees, and keep them at the top of their game with ongoing education and professional development through UG2’s Training & Innovation Lab. With an unwavering focus on service, our employees are committed to ensuring the public venue operates efficiently and effectively throughout every single event.

Challenge #6: See the Devil in the Details

Visitors to public venues expect a pristine environment, hassle-free access to food and beverages, and highly visible janitorial staff who are actively engaged in five-star service. Those expectations have only increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. And word spreads fast when things are left unattended—the last thing a venue needs is a complaint posted on social media.

UG2 Solution:

Our teams are preparing the public venue long before fans begin to arrive, and we are committed to delivering a great first impression—and second, third, and fourth. Throughout the event, visitors can count on gleaming floors and elevators, freshly emptied bins, and well-stocked and sanitized restrooms. At the clubhouse level, we understand that customers have paid a premium for an elevated experience—and we are ready and waiting to exceed their expectations. We conduct regular walk-throughs, share information across teams continuously, and benefit from carefully curated checklists of tasks we complete before, during, and after an event.

Challenge #7: Recognize There’s No Off Season

Just as elite athletes who play professional sports have to maintain rigorous fitness regimens and practice schedules year-round, the stadiums where they play are “on” all the time, and they require a rotation of crews who operate just as effectively, regardless of whether there’s an event underway.

UG2 Solution:

Public venues have a dynamic calendar, with many days on the schedule requiring you to attend to the events themselves, but it is essential that facility managers maintain a robust rotation of people and projects year-round, to ensure we take advantage of the off days. We understand that non-event days are actually the prime opportunity to build up a quality program as your FM team tests and upgrades systems, undertakes preventative maintenance, tackles special projects, and ensures equipment is functioning optimally. At the same time, we run a tight ship in terms of efficiency. Public venues are never understaffed—but they also aren’t paying for staff to stand around and wait to be called into action.

Challenge #8: Perfect VIP Treatment

Today’s public venue guest expects all the perks of a modern facility, and those attending an event in a luxury box, corporate suite, or VIP seating will arrive with an especially high set of expectations when it comes to hospitality services.

UG2 Solution:

The demand for five-star customer service is reaching new heights as corporate and private functions are becoming an important revenue source in all kinds of venues. Fortunately, UG2 teams excel at 360-degree VIP customer service. From ensuring a flawless audio-visual experience to knowing which products to use with high-end fixtures and finishes to handling sticky situations with aplomb, our dedicated teams of specially-trained employees—like those luxury suites themselves—are counted among the best of the best. That unmatched level of customer service carries over into our interpersonal interactions, too. In fact, we frequently get thank you notes from customers and guests about a UG2 team member going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure every guest is getting the most out of their experience.

Challenge #9: Embrace Emerging Technology

From digital experiences to security protocols to parking systems, public venues are relying on the latest technology even as it’s rolling out.

UG2 Solution:

Facility services is fast-becoming a technology-driven industry—and it has a profound importance in our daily operations in public venues. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed technology and innovation to the forefront when it comes to maintaining excellence, and UG2 is unmatched in our successful adoption of emerging but proven technologies. UG2’s vice president of information technology Samar Kawar and her team work continuously to investigate and implement advanced technologies for our customers and public venues as well as the internal systems that allow our employees to operate effectively and efficiently.

Challenge #10: Optimize Amenities and Managing Special Events

Even before the pandemic denied people the opportunities to gather and enjoy blockbuster events, fans and visitors to public venues had upped the ante on their expectations. If they were paying to attend an event, they wanted a luxury experience. That sentiment is truer than ever today.

UG2 Solution:

UG2 operates at the head of the pack when it comes to offering unexpected touches and an amenity-rich experience. These can include a smooth, tech-driven priority parking process;  sparkling clean railing keeping fans safe overlooking the field; high definition screens across the venue (including at individual seats and in restrooms); fast and reliable wi-fi; exciting giveaways held during an event; and more. UG2 maintains a cadre of experts to ensure our teams are trained in every area of importance.

Challenge #11: Advance Sustainability

In the current climate, public venues face steep pressure to go green—and sustainable practices can actually be more efficient and promote cost-savings, but only if they’re done right.

UG2 Solution

UG2 has a long record of integrating successful environmental stewardship practices. They include relying on safe but effective cleaning chemicals, reducing noise pollution with quieter machines and equipment, maintaining efficient and high-quality filters, conducting energy audits, ensuring compliance with sustainability regulations, and promoting green waste management practices and recycling programs. New technology is emerging all the time, and UG2 prides itself on being at the forefront of the latest innovations with time-proven best practices that promote a pristine, clean, healthy, safe, and comfortable environment across the public venue.

Outstanding People and Teamwork

Delivering exceptional facility services in public venues and stadiums is a multi-faceted job but UG2 has developed best practices and strategic programs that help us thrive in challenging environments. I am thankful to all our on-site personnel who work in these challenging operations and take immense pride in their job day in and day out. Our managers, supervisors and workers embody the passion, hard work and dedication that lead to continued success in these very demanding venues. Our customers and partners do an exceptional jobs of empowering us and giving us a seat at the table to help them achieve their business goals. I love the excitement and complexity of working in public venues. Every day presents a new challenge and I work with the best people in the industry!

Do you have questions about our public venue services? Contact UG2 today. I promise we will over deliver for your fans and customers—even if they are cheering on our opposing team!

Taking apartment operations to new heights

A luxury apartment turns over, and our expert team leaps into action. Every inch of the unit is inspected, updated, repaired, or replaced, from paint and flooring to energy-efficient appliances and A/C units. But that’s just the beginning of our unmatched customer service delivery model.

In contrast with a commercial building, where tenants typically leave at the end of the workday, multi-family residential buildings can bring questions, issues, and work order requests any time of day or night. Facility services for multi-family residences is a niche market—a highly complex undertaking that requires a deep bench of experience in areas ranging from facilities engineering expertise to five-star customer service delivery. UG2’s ever-expanding roster of multi-family residential customers includes luxury buildings whose apartment dwellers have the highest of expectations. We have built a reputation in that space for excellent, responsive customer service that goes above and beyond, exceeding the demands of even the most discerning residents. The commitment of our individual employees and the seamless nature of their work as a team are critical to ensuring the premier service that has earned UG2 the highest customer retention rates in the industry.

Our Talent Sets Us Apart

At the core of UG2’s success is our ability to recruit and develop the most dedicated, hardworking employees in the market—professionals who care deeply about their work and embrace every opportunity to learn, well beyond their best-in-class training. Our teams work seamlessly with contributions from several key positions:

The superintendent or resident manager acts as a chief engineer, overseeing day-to-day operations—the mechanical aspects of the building such as boilers, chiller plants, cooling towers, A/C, and heat pumps. They know the building and residents well, and run a tight ship 24/7.

The front of house team consists of the door attendant and concierge/front desk attendant. They greet you when you arrive, receive your catalogs and packages, and input work orders on your behalf.

Also reporting to the resident manager and keeping things running smoothly are the mechanic or handyperson, maintenance technician and janitorial team, while the day porter, cleaners, gardeners and landscapers maintain a pristine, inviting environment, outdoors and in.

Of course, we scale up the number of employees for each position based on the size and unique needs of each building. As amenities become increasingly important to curb appeal and residents’ satisfaction, we add team members with specialized training to manage the related upkeep. In the background—and always available—are our own in-house experts and the team overseeing budgeting, staff management, training, HR compliance, and more.

Combining regular training on front-of-house best practices, standardized concierge services, and adherence to residential engineering standards makes for comprehensive service delivery that sets UG2 well apart from the competition.

Expertise and Partnerships Make All the Difference

Because of our breadth of expertise and deep relationships in the industry, UG2 knows who to partner with for the services that are necessarily outsourced, from elevator and fire pump maintenance to oversized chillers and water treatment. In fact, our regional supervisors are engaged members of the local guilds and associations for building managers and owners in their city.

On a more personal level, the effort we put into understanding every property adds ease and comfort to the day-to-day lives of the residents. We know their needs and preferences inside and out, from how they prefer to be addressed to when they like to receive their packages. At the same time, we are earning the trust of our customers’ asset managers and property managers.

As much as any other customer base, our multi-family residential building customers demand that UG2 put our best foot forward. We are incredibly proud to go the distance for them, every time.

Risk Management in facility services includes developing rigorous, effective, across-the-board training around hazard recognition.

Like all aspects of safety, hazard recognition must be part of every employee’s job description and inherent to the way they go about their day. A training program’s design, and a company culture that supports its effectiveness, are key to success.

UG2 works continually at refining our approach with input from our field managers and line-staff, led by Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Adam Rabesa. Below are some of the critical lessons we have learned in striving for  incident free facilities for our team members and tenants—and achieving the highest safety ratings as a result.

Master the basics. The core practices of hazard recognition and mitigation involve:

1. Conducting routine job hazard analysis (JHA) and risk assessments (RA).
   • Identify and mitigate the risk(s) before they lead to an incident.
2. Incorporating a safety observation program at the site level. Empower and engage site level staff to notice unsafe acts and environments, then act on those observations. Again, mitigate the risk before an incident occurs.
3. Developing and revisiting safe operating procedures based on JHA and RA. The staff who performs the task frequently will have the best insight on the hazards and how to mitigate them. Make sure to include them in the JHA and RA process.
4. Including ergonomic assessments to protect against muscles strains and repetitive motion injuries.
5. Conduct a daily safety briefing to identify potential hazards and ways to eliminate them.

Practice real-world training integration. The American Society of Safety Professionals’ webinar on incorporating technology in hazard recognition discusses the problem of variation in identifying hazards. Different people viewing the same scene will see hazards differently or may even find themselves focused on hazards that don’t actually exist. The solution lies in understanding how hazard recognition training plays out in practice, and ensuring that training is available, that its content is understood and absorbed, and that trainees have ample opportunity to practice the lessons learned.

Create and sustain a culture of mitigating risks. Employers must build organizational and systemic support for safety processes at every level. UG2 was forged on a foundation of safety, and we prioritize safety as one of our core values. Essentially, “safety” is baked into our operational process. We encourage our field supervision to conduct field audits to ensure our training processes are being implemented in the field, further cementing our safety culture and mitigating risks. Safety is within our operational process, not a side item or task.  

Don’t get too comfortable. Some elements of hazard recognition in safety planning might seem counterintuitive. For example, while knowing your workspace well is essential, operating in familiar surroundings can make us normalize, or become desensitized to, the hazards that exist in our work environment over time. We tend to fall into patterns and routines that can make us complacent and less tuned into our surroundings. Continually remind your teams of the hazards around the jobsite and the task at hand.

Engage and communicate. A successful program begins with a commitment from company leadership and extends to the working reality of every employee. Communication cannot be top-down—you have to direct traffic on a two-way street that enables leadership to fully hear from employees on their observations and perceptions of hazards. Our Field Technicians witness safety deficiencies directly and are our best source for hazard mitigation information. An effective approach to communication includes training employees on the soft skills they need to raise issues of safety with customers, coworkers, supervisors, and visitors.

Optimize emerging technology. Advances in technology are allowing for virtual safety training that use immersive environments like virtual reality-based training for practicing hazard recognition without the risk. These are much more effective than simply powerpoints or short videos because they place the learner in a virtual operating environment. As with UG2’s groundbreaking Training and Innovation Lab and its virtual offerings, emerging technology can make practice more accessible and more effective.

Mitigate and prevent. Reducing potentially hazardous situations is as critical as learning to identify existing hazards. Your checklist of mitigation tasks should include addressing inadequate lighting for the facilities—indoors and out—eliminating tripping hazards, and using clear and attention-getting signage to call attention to hazards like changes in floor elevation.

Finally, effective safety programs not only have formal plans for responding to and documenting hazards, but they also reward proactiveness and practice transparency. Do you have questions about incorporating an effective hazard recognition practice in your workplace? Get in touch today—we’d love to explore how we can make your space safer.

Increase Efficiencies While Protecting Our Planet 

The benefits of running a facility that focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency are countless. Not only does a green building attract visitors and tenants, but it can also save your facility unnecessary costs. Building a facility management program that emphasizes sustainable practices might be less time-consuming and costly than you think, and your return on investment can make a huge impact. By implementing these tactics, you can run a more efficient facility while protecting our planet.     

1. Implement Occupancy & Motion Sensors 

Smart technology can play a major role in boosting sustainability in your facility. Sensors allow facility managers to detect the traffic of people coming in and out of a room or area without physically being present in the space. These sensors provide information to an automated system that informs an action. Occupancy or motion sensors can be incorporated in:  

Indoor Climate Control 

HVAC sensors make accurate adjustments based on whether they detect occupants in a certain room or space. This allows for a more accurate approach to reducing the energy consumption used for heating or cooling. For example, sensors could prevent energy from being used to blast air conditioning in an empty conference room. 

Lighting Fixtures 

Sensors also work in tandem with lighting fixtures by triggering lights to turn on/ off or dim in a space based on occupancy and movement. Not only does this save energy and costs, but it also prolongs the life of your bulbs or equipment so fewer replacements are needed.  

Cleaning and Disinfection  

It’s a given that your facility should be safe and clean at all times, but it’s also important to not overuse your resources and personnel when it’s unnecessary. Motion sensors in spaces like bathrooms allow for devices to detect movement and use this data to decide when cleaning and disinfection is needed. The more people that come in and out of a bathroom, the more often disinfection is automatically triggered.  

2. Switch to LED Lighting 

A simple, but reliable way to make your facility more sustainable is to switch to energy-saving LED lighting. Not only do these bulbs use less power, but they also last up to 12 times longer than typical bulbs, which means less waste and replacement. They even contain less harmful materials and are overall the most sustainable choice. 

3. Use Green Cleaning Practices 

Swap out your old cleaning products with green cleaning solutions made without harsh chemicals such as nonylphenols, phosphates, or sulfuric acid. Work with a facility services provider that complies with OSHA regulations and is consistent with the U.S. Green Building Council LEED specifications. Your facility is cleaned on a daily basis and by using green practices, you can better manage your resources and improve the well-being of those in your space.  

4. Schedule a Complete Energy Audit 

A complete energy audit can help facility management uncover problems that weren’t visible before, which can make a huge impact on your energy expenses. Issues with insulation, equipment functioning, or air quality can be tricky. Audit teams can help you create the best plan of action while considering the usage and occupancy trends in your space. This will allow your team to implement a tailored energy program that uses innovative solutions to help you optimize the operations of your facility while saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.  

Partner With UG2 to Create a Sustainability Plan 

At UG2, our teams are trained with the goal of treating our customers and the planet with the utmost respect and care. Our experienced staff can help you create and execute a plan for your facility that combines industry best practices with the latest innovations to ensure a clean, healthy, and sustainable space for all. Contact us today to learn how we can transform your facility.  

Our Operations & Maintenance and Janitorial Experts Share Insights

Conversations with members of Team UG2 reveal broad expertise in sustainability practices— a perspective and approach that goes beyond jargon and buzzwords. For many who have been in the industry for decades, “green” is simply a new way to describe the sensible, creative problem-solving that has always been a demand of successful facilities management (FM).

That perspective, combined with UG2’s commitment to embrace innovation and data-informed practices, makes for an approach to sustainability that is both a longstanding core value and an area where we are continuously working on the forefront of change.

Sustainability can be accessible, practical, and impactful.  Aspects of technical expertise, such as in the operation of electric motor controls, have been a core contributor to sustainability efforts since long before the language of sustainability entered mainstream lexicon. For example, regularly scheduled retro commissioning—fine-tuning a building’s systems to ensure they are running at optimal performance—is a vital part of an ongoing operations and maintenance strategy that delivers continuous return-on-investment.

Headaches and hassles can reveal new solutions. Battery load shedding and rolling blackouts can often wreak havoc on building and business operations—but these hassles have also yielded important innovations. From a technology and infrastructure standpoint, load shedding has pushed businesses to advance more efficient solutions which will benefit their bottom line in the long term. FM teams have found success by introducing battery backup systems and redundant power sources such as solar power and generators.

Advanced water conservation strategies are going mainstream. Facility engineers are well aware that a seemingly basic shift to auto faucets and auto flush can have a tremendous impact—for example, one high rise facility saw their water consumption reduced by half by introducing auto technology throughout the building. Now the industry is  striving  toembrace strategies like water saves, which recycle the water used every time you clean a cooling tower.  

The COVID-19 pandemic elevated the importance of facility services. We all experienced firsthand how facility services led the way in making spaces safer during the pandemic, from ensuring cleaner surfaces to enabling fresh air exchanges. The importance of partnering with skilled FM teams was underscored in a report from the consulting company Deloitte.  It  analyzed the impact of COVID on FM and identified a major shift in focus to performance over speed, resulting in an increasing number of key performance indicators related to operational excellence, quality, and overall outcomes. The same study found that the facility manager’s contributions and importance have gained prominence as the role shifted from an operational to a strategic position.

Getting tenant buy-in can take some creativity. The return to in-person work and the effort to strike a balance with remote work has had a tremendous impact on how built spaces are used, and facilities managers are key  sages when it comes to introducing efficiencies in line with those adversities. Essential to success is a proactive facility services approach that includes a strong communications plan that allows managers to work hand-in-hand with tenants on smart energy practices—especially when buildings are at lower occupancy.

It is no exaggeration to say that our cleaners have moved our customers and their guests to tears. The stories hit our inbox all the time.

We frequently get notes and e-mails calling out a particular member of Team UG2 for going the extra mile. Many times, those incidents involve our front line cleaners coming through with some unexpected kindness in the act of performing their day-to-day duties. For example, our employees working at a higher education campus went above and beyond when an anxious mom, moving her son into his dorm, discovered a moldy refrigerator. In another instance, our cleaners helped, waited with, and comforted, a woman whose husband had a medical incident in the mall parking lot. And there was the time when our cleaners whose stellar work caught the attention of a business owner, who then wrote to us crediting them for his ability to keep his business going during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Cleaning Week is an annual opportunity to recognize the value and importance of our janitorial employees—but of course, at UG2, we are reminded of their excellence and their contributions every day of the year. We couldn’t succeed without them, and we are often humbled by their commitment to our company and customers.

When we talk about our 2023 focus or our customer-centric approach and try to distill down the basic tenets behind our mission, we often find ourselves discussing the examples set by our people on the front lines—everyday acts that truly demonstrate our principles in real time. In the face of an incredibly demanding field, at a time when the stakes have never been higher in terms of health and safety, the members of Team UG2 just keep knocking it out of the park. And for every story that’s brought to our attention in a word or note of gratitude from a customer, there are thousands of similar gestures that happen quietly, without pomp or circumstance or any recognition at all.

For our part, UG2 leadership commits to continuously supporting our teams in every way we can conceive of, from being attentive and responsive when it comes to communication to equipping our employees with the latest innovation and technology. We protect them—and our customers—with the most rigorous safety planning and protocols in the industry. We offer ongoing professional development through our training and innovation lab, and many training courses and resources, and we take pride in offering real career paths and promoting from within.

We are grateful for the relationships our cleaners build with their coworkers and customers—and we are incredibly proud to have each and every one of them in the UG2 family.

Account Manager, Joshua Dannan, built his janitorial team from the bottom up through accountability, honesty, and kindness. 

UG2 was founded on a culture of excellence, and I stress the importance of culture, community and teamwork with all of our account managers. In a short period of time, Joshua Dannan has been able to transform the culture and increase collaboration within his team at a higher education campus.

Joshua recalls when he joined UG2, he had his work cut out for him because it was clear there were several areas of opportunities to improve. He noticed that there was a lack of collaboration even though many team members had even been with the university for 10 to 20 years. Through engagement with employees, Joshua noted that many felt undervalued or that they weren’t listened to by previous employers, which inhibited their ability to perform at their best. There was also a lack of cohesion since they have been through multiple facility services providers and management over the years. 

Joshua had a purpose of turning the culture on campus around by finding the root causes and creating a reliable team that was ready to problem-solve and work together. It was crucial that a relationship based on transparency and honesty was established with the university community from the get-go. Joshua began by walking through campus and talking to basically anyone who would listen, from students to staff, faculty, and university leadership. He emphasized UG2’s goals and core values while addressing any potential concerns so they could be handled with a plan of action.  

There are five leadership values Joshua focused on to build a passionate, dedicated, and hardworking (PHD) team: 

1. CARE

For many students, the university is their home away from home. This means that attention to detail and responsiveness is key. Issues should be prioritized and addressed promptly. Having a team that treats everyone and every situation with a caring attitude goes a long way to establishing a positive and respected reputation. 

2. CONSISTENCY 

Regularly talking to the university leadership team about concerns and how to address them builds trust in the community. If consistency isn’t a priority, issues can build up without being brought to attention, which can create unnecessary chaos.  

3. FOLLOW-UP 

Following through and circling back on work order requests creates a trustworthy team. Revisiting issues or concerns ensures that nothing is left unresolved, and relationships can blossom with different community members.  

4. COMMUNICATION 

A team cannot function properly without communication. Whether it’s interacting internally within the team, or talking with people within the campus community, good communication is one of the most important skills a team can have.  

5. HONESTY 

Honesty is always the best policy. Being transparent about timelines, prioritization, or areas that need improvement leads to better productivity. It also shows dependability and encourages others to be open to sharing their thoughts or ideas. 

Core Values in Action

In addition to the five leadership values Joshua draws inspiration from, he highlights the importance of UG2’s Core Values. Our values are what make us unique among other facility services providers. Joshua expressed that many of his team members were unaware of the core values and were excited to learn about how UG2 puts people first, which includes our customers and our teams.

While keeping these five leadership values and UG2’s Core Values top of mind, Joshua went above and beyond to get involved in the university’s community. After learning more about the campus community, he sprang into action and went to local churches to get donations for students in need, provided school supplies, attended sports games, and learned about campus events.   

He sought out employees who wanted to grow in the industry and develop their skills and responsibilities. Joshua believes in the power of mentorship and setting a good example. Shift leader, Anthony Gabby, caught his attention from the start. Joshua has been mentoring Anthony and having him handle complaints in order to develop his problem-solving, accountability, and customer service skills. Joshua describes how everyone on campus loves Anthony; his friendliness and hard work do not go unnoticed.  

Making his team feel valued is also important to Joshua. He has implemented an employee of the month program, frequently points out UG2 benefits with his team, and plans team lunches and appreciation events. 

It is clear that Joshua Dannan has made an incredibly positive impact on the university community and his team. Anthony calls Joshua “lucky number seven” because he is the 7^th manager who genuinely cares about the janitorial team. Of course, Joshua emphasizes that the team still faces challenges and difficulties, but there has been extraordinary improvement since he started. He said the janitorial team is even ahead of schedule for the first time in almost a decade.  

We are so grateful to have Joshua Dannan and his team as part of the UG2 family. We are certain they will continue to make a positive impact on the campus community.  

Optimize efficiency and lower costs by combining services

Over the past three years, as colleges and universities confronted the realities—and lingering impact—of the COVID-19 pandemic, many found that even with well-established in-house facilities management teams, turning to an outside facility services provider made sense. Campuses with hybrid in-house/outsource programs or multiple outsourced providers also found operational synergies in consolidating service contracts under one partnership. The right partner could respond with agility and innovation to a constantly changing environment.

UG2 has been privileged to deepen our relationships with those institutions as they’ve turned to us for additional support, like buildings and grounds or mechanical services. As in other industries, our higher ed customers are seeing that the benefits of combining services into an integrated facility services or full facilities management program go well beyond the cost savings:

An agile team. With a bundled approach, employees across multiple service areas get to know your needs, practices, and preferences. They can share information, respond immediately to issues flagged by another service line, and often are cross-trained to step in and support one another in a pinch.

Leading-edge tools, technology, and innovation. Collaborative problem-solving across teams drives innovative thinking and improves decision-making. Your management team has a big-picture view of your needs and challenges, and can cooperate on ideas, strategies, and solutions.

A bigger ROI. Working with a single, established partner for multiple services often allows you to make your budget go further. Streamlined operations can bring cost savings through labor efficiencies and a stronger self-performance model, and avoid waste and duplication of services.

A package tailored to your needs. Maybe you want to add mailroom services to your janitorial contract, or perhaps you are finding you have gaps in document management, event support, or stadium services. With a full spectrum of offerings available to choose from, you can work with our expert solutions team to identify priorities and map out the ideal combination of services.

Streamlined relationships and communication. With bundled services, you won’t waste time communicating the same messages to multiple vendors. UG2’s communication strategies mean that everyone is on the same page, always.

Consistent service delivery and superior customer care. With UG2’s team always working to set the new standard of facility services, our customers can count on employees who go above and beyond expectations. A single partner integrates into the fabric of your campus and becomes an extension of your leadership and mission.

Motivated, invested team members with a stellar record of retention. We take great pride in the talent of our employees. They bring a tremendous level of commitment to every customer. When a customer works with multiple service lines, that investment is magnified as our team gets to deepen their understanding of your goals, challenges, and priorities—inside and out. We become an integral part of your campus community.

Maximize efficiencies, overall experience, sustainability, performance and much more

Samar Kawar serves as UG2’s Senior Vice President of Information Technology. In Facility Executive’s recent article, she highlights the numerous benefits Facility Managers can reap by utilizing The Internet of Things (IoT). 

In “The Cost of NOT Investing In IoT”, Samar explains that too few facilities are using IoT to its fullest potential. With the data, insights, and automation it offers, it should be the obvious choice. But, in many cases, managers are intimidated by the concept of rapidly changing technology and the cost of implementing it. But, in reality, NOT investing in IoT can create much more damage than any potential costs or risks. 

START WITH THE STRATEGY

IoT can be used in many different ways, so it’s important to establish which areas are most aligned with your facility’s goals. Samar breaks down some common IoT uses:

1. OCCUPANT EXPERIENCE: COMFORT AND SAFETY

It’s not surprising that Covid-19 has affected how comfortable occupants feel about returning to office spaces on a regular basis. One study showed 87% of employees don’t want to return to their workplace full-time. Samar highlights that facility management must do everything possible to make spaces more inviting to occupants.

With fewer people occupying facilities, technologies like sensors and QR codes can help minimize the possibility of risks. Samar provides some examples:

• Automatically alerting janitorial staff about restocking needs
• Triggering heating and cooling systems
• Controlling lighting based on occupancy
• Detecting air quality levels
• Submitting service request tickets via cellphones
• Requiring QR codes to access specific areas

2. ENERGY SAVINGS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Not only does 35% of electricity used in the U.S. go towards commercial buildings, but roughly 30% of the energy buildings use goes to waste. Samar explains that IoT can help eliminate waste and costs. 

• Smart thermostats can control temperature and lighting based on occupancy and trends.
• Internet-connected window shades can be triggered by light levels to open or close. 
• Sensors can help regulate indoor climate control in order to lessen power consumption.

Reducing emissions both helps the planet and marketability since many tenants consider sustainability to be an extremely important factor when leasing space. 

3. WORKFORCE ALLOCATION AND PERFORMANCE

The daily occupancy of a facility can be unpredictable. Because of this, facility managers need to be able to make efficient decisions about workforce allocation. In today’s world, workforce shortages are prevalent, so making the best use of talent is key.

Samar tells us that IoT allows facilities to adjust to real-time needs and enhance performance. An example of this is sensing the occupancy of areas to ensure janitors are not over or under-cleaning. Also, when equipment is connected to the internet, it can be monitored remotely so engineers can report to more urgent needs. 

When in-person attention is required, janitors and engineers can use Near Field Communications (NFC) tags that time/date stamp and log their location into a system so managers can track it. NFC tags can also track employee movement to measure productivity. 

4. PROLONGING EQUIPMENT LIFE

Samar explains that preventative maintenance is fundamental to minimize costs and keep equipment healthy for as long as possible. IoT helps monitor equipment, analyze trends, predict when components need replacing, and send alerts to technicians. 

Partner With an Innovative Facility Services Provider

With more extensive use of IoT comes a larger set of data which poses the risk of information overload. AI tools can sort through data to locate relevant points and generate suggestions. Data analysts or facility service partners can also assist in managing the data.

All in all, Samar reiterates that the smartest choice for facility management is to invest in IoT in order to lower costs, increase efficiency, and attract/retain tenants. Finding the right service partner with IoT knowledge and experience is the first step in creating a successful plan for your facility. 

For more information about how technology plays a crucial role in facility management, read the full article at Facility Executive, or get in touch with TeamUG2.

Resources

rs.ivanti.com/reports/ivi-2663-everywhere-workplace-report-2022.pdf

www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/about-commercial-buildings-integration-program

Facility Services Experts Share Insights

Sounds affect people in many different ways. A song that energizes one person drains another. Background music may be comforting or annoying. Some noises are so unsettling that they make us want to run for cover.  

When it comes to facilities management, guessing what sounds occupants and visitors may or may not like is an exercise in futility. That’s why the best approach to sound is to minimize it.  

The Impacts of Sound 

People are in your facility for a purpose, whether they are working, holding meetings, studying or shopping. Noise gets in the way of this. In fact, a Radius Global Market Research study showed that noise negatively impacts concentration levels, productivity and creativity for 69% of employees.  

Quality of work also takes a hit. Consider a study published by the British Journal of Psychology that asked workers to perform two tasks – the first in a quiet environment, the second with background noise. The accuracy of work decreased by almost 67% for the second task.  

It’s worth noting that these studies took place prior to COVID-19. In today’s post-isolation days – with so many people used to working remotely, and shopping and socializing online instead of in person – being around noises they can’t control might produce more detrimental effects. Many people find it more difficult to work onsite now than before. Even if they can tune some noises out, they must work harder to complete tasks because so much energy is spent on ignoring the sounds.  

Then there are loud, excessive noises that no one can tune out, such as ongoing building works and equipment noises. These can put people’s bodies through unnecessary stress responses, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels. 

How to Minimize Noise 

Facility services providers are responsible for helping create spaces that are as free of noise intrusions as possible so occupants can focus on the job at hand. This means making sure ceiling air vents don’t rattle, equipment doesn’t clang, vacuums aren’t humming, and hammers aren’t banging away.  

Facility services teams should think of themselves as guests in their occupants’ environment, where respect for their audio privacy is paramount. After-hours cleaning is a good way to help deliver a distraction-free environment. When that’s not possible, and cleaning and repairs need to be done in occupied areas, make every effort to notify occupants in advance and accommodate their needs.  

Alarms are another big source of noise pollution. Preventative maintenance can help minimize the chances of them going off. Proactively look for signs of failing electrical equipment. Take regular readings during daily rounds so you can identify potential issues and schedule fixes before they become problems. 

In addition to the above, the CDC suggests these ways to reduce loud noises: 

• Purchase low-noise tools and machinery 
• Maintain tools and equipment routinely (such as lubricate gears) 
• Isolate the noise source in an insulated room or enclosure 
• Place a barrier between the noise source and the employee or occupant 
• Isolate people from the source in a room or booth (such as sound wall or windows) 

For more tips on how to provide a more quiet, welcoming environment for tenants, students, and visitors, reach out to TeamUG2. 

How to Prevent a Negative Impression

First impressions are important so it is wise to pay attention to the sensory experience in your facility. That experience begins the moment they arrive at your property. Everything must be clean and pristine, from landscaped grounds, spotless walkways and orderly lobbies to elevator buttons, table tops, hallways and bathrooms. Customers must have the sense that their comfort is your goal.

Every encounter customers have with facility services staff must also be excellent. Those team members are the face of your organization. They probably have more interactions and make more impressions on guests than anyone else. Whether occupants are signing in, asking for directions, submitting a request or reporting a spill, they need to be treated with the utmost courtesy and respect, and have their issues addressed immediately, sincerely and professionally. 

The last thing you want to hear them say, or cause them to think, is, “Wow, that left a really bad taste in my mouth.” Bad impressions of any kind can wreak havoc – especially if they cause people to leave your facility or, if they’re not able to leave due to their work or studies, avoid certain areas. Some might voice their displeasure on social media where everyone can hear about it.

Literal Bad Tastes

Facilities can also leave actual bad tastes in people’s mouths.

Think food. If you’re eating chicken, pasta with pesto sauce, fried rice, or a spicy burrito, you want the food to taste like you expect. Not like the equipment it was cooked in in the cafeteria, the smell lingering in the air, or the last dish that was heated in the break room microwave.

Properly maintaining equipment, including air exchanges, is critical. Recycling fresh air pulls out occupant-generated smells that can affect how food tastes.

Improperly or infrequently cleaning food preparation and storage equipment can also affect how food tastes. That’s why it’s so important to pay special attention to how and when food areas are used.

When people visit your facility, their senses give them a gut feel about how they perceive your organization. And whether literally or metaphorically speaking, you want them to leave with a good taste in their mouth.

Find out how UG2 can help you create experiences that keep people coming back and enjoying their environment – and their food.

Get in touch with TeamUG2.

UG2 Selected for Its Innovative Solutions and 5-Star Level of Excellence

PRESS RELEASE

October 18, 2022 – BOSTON, MA – UG2 today announced that it has been awarded the contract to provide janitorial services at Gillette Stadium, home of the six-time world champion New England Patriots and New England Revolution. The leader in integrated facility services was awarded the engagement based on its innovative solutions and proven ability to deliver a pristine environment with a 5-star level of customer service.

“Everything UG2 delivers, from our unique approach to our carefully curated solutions, is focused on ensuring exemplary facility services in a “post pandemic” world. We’re thrilled and extremely proud to partner with Gillette Stadium to deliver the superior janitorial services their world- class destination venue deserves,” said Louis J. Lanzillo, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of UG2.

“We want everyone who visits Gillette Stadium to have an amazing and memorable experience. Janitorial services are key to making this happen,” said Jason Stone, Vice President of Site Operations, Kraft Sports + Entertainment. “UG2’s commitment to excellence was apparent from the start. Their fresh approach with employee and customer focus, innovative equipment and solutions, and hands-on management style set them apart. Already, they’ve clearly elevated the level of janitorial services at Gillette Stadium, with facilities that are noticeably clean and pristine.”

UG2’s engagement with Gillette Stadium began April 1, 2022. UG2 also provides janitorial services for Patriot’s Place, an open-air shopping center adjacent to Gillette Stadium.

About UG2

UG2 sets a new standard for excellence in comprehensive, integrated facility services. We deliver innovative solutions, pristine environments, and a passion for customer service from a team with more than 350 years of experience in the facilities maintenance industry. Our suite of solutions includes Janitorial Services, Operations & Maintenance, and Workplace Solutions for clients in Commercial, Corporate, Education, Healthcare, Life Science, Public Venue, Retail, and Industrial markets. We use advanced technologies to deliver efficient service, constantly refine our processes to ensure our team continues to lead and emphasize a culture of excellence throughout our organization. Founded in 2012, UG2 is headquartered in Boston, MA with regional offices in Washington, DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Sunnyvale, West Palm Beach, and Chicago. UG2 has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately held organizations in the industry. For more information, please visit www.ug2.com and follow us @UG2IFS.

How to Keep Your Campus Safe and Running Smoothly

Matthew Randall, UG2’s Director of Facilities, recently published a timely article on facilitiesnet discussing back-to-school season—and the key components to earning stellar grades in facility management on campus.     

In “Get Ready For Back-To-School With A Facilities Management Score Card,” Matthew offers a checklist of items to keep in mind that is tailored to the unique circumstances facility managers face in the current climate. Students, faculty, and staff are navigating a complete return to campus while COVID-19 continues to hover and, potentially, cause disruption. Still, facility managers can leverage the expertise gleaned over the past two-and-a-half years to earn top grades across the board—and finish the semester with high marks.  

Safety is at the core of Matthew’s guidance, which touches on a number of considerations and strategies:  

Health and the Community Nature of Campus Life 

Creating and maintaining connections has never been more important to students, faculty and staff. Encouraging community while keeping people safe involves particular attention to disinfection protocols. Matthew highlights best practices to consider. 

• Give common spaces a break. When possible, close off common spaces for 24 hours to allow HVAC systems a chance to mitigate airborne particles.   
• Stagger the schedules of mission-critical employees. Assigning alternating shifts for key staff will decrease the possibility that essential players will be waylaid by an outbreak at the same time.  
• Track visitor activity with sign-in stations. This practice allows you to follow up with someone who tests positive by targeting appropriate disinfection protocols.  
• Continue to prioritize disinfection. Make sure teams are systematic about cleaning and consider leveraging digital tracking technology such as Near Field Communication (NFC) tagging. 
• Stay well-stocked. Keep supply chain challenges top-of-mind and at a minimum, store a month’s supply of key custodial supplies.   
• Broadcast your care and attention. There is a public relations aspect to facility services. Use signage, targeted communications, and even “Disinfection Team” t-shirts for custodial staff to let visitors know their safety is your priority.

Optimization of Operations and Maintenance

Your O&M team relies on you for help with the challenge of keeping equipment up and running while keeping costs in check. Matthew shares the strategies that have worked for him.

• Prioritize preventative maintenance. Don’t let your plan fall through the cracks.
• Tweak equipment for efficiency. Make sure equipment is operating within its design specifications and monitor for emerging issues.
• Track equipment lifecycle. Base replacement decisions on historical data rather than waiting for something to go awry.
• Optimize energy consumption. Leverage your Building Management System, follow schedules and use motion sensors.

Worker Safety as Top Priority

Packed, busy campuses can make for added safety hazards. Matthew shared some of the safety strategies he has refined over his career.

• Guard against distraction-related injury. Remind workers to pause the task they are engaged in if someone interrupts.
• Avoid injury from repetitive motion. Organize equipment, systems, and schedules to minimize risk.
• Conduct Job Safety Analysis. Make sure your existing JSAs are aligned with your current environment.
• Be strategic about signage. Use signs to mitigate risk in appropriate locations without overwhelming the space.

Like all members of our leadership team, Matthew is happy to share the wisdom he’s gained with experience. Are you looking for more guidance on earning top grades in facility management this semester? Read the full article at facilitiesnet, or contact Team UG2

Helpful Reminders from UG2 Facilities Experts

Facility managers can barely say goodbye to summer before they are looking ahead to “the most wonderful time of the year,” a.k.a. the havoc of winter. Even in states that don’t typically get much snow, the potential for extreme weather is real, and that makes preparation key for everyone.

While winter preparedness activities span all our service areas, UG2’s janitorial and landscaping teams face particularly demanding challenges. Team UG2 experts have pulled together some tips to get you moving on your own preparations. It’s never too early to start!

1. Schedule a walkthrough. Stroll the property with responsible stakeholders and note potential problem spots, areas in need of repair, and safe places to stow plowed and shoveled snow.
   
2. Get your plan in place. Meet with your team, review lessons from last winter, and update your plan accordingly.
   
3. Stock up on supplies like fuel and de-icers. Take inventory and making sure there are abundant amounts especially since there are still supply chain delays plaguing the country, so ordering early is key.
   
4. Designate a weather watcher. Identify a forecast master who is  responsible for monitoring the weather outlook and triggering plans.
   
5. Set up snow removal. If your facility or campus can’t handle the snow from a major storm, establish a contract with professionals who can handle it—well ahead of time.
   
6. Clear away debris. Every walkway, entry area, parking lot and rooftop should be cleared of clutter, trash, and potential hazards large and small.
   
7. Trim trees and mulch landscaping. Tag overgrown or unhealthy tree branches for removal, winterize your irrigation systems, and layer three-to-five inches of mulch over vulnerable garden areas.
   
8. Protect your greenscape. Make sure to give grass and gardens a wide berth when preparing to pile up snow that could contain harsh additives like ice melt, salt, and sand.
   
9. Repair cracks and potholes in pavement. This goes for concrete structures of all kinds.
   
10. Survey your rooftops. Flush gutters, secure flashings, clear drains, examine tar seals, and check for cracks and dips wherever snow and ice could accumulate.
    
11. Inspect every piece of equipment. Make sure blowers and plows are in tip-top condition, and order replacement parts for any items that require frequent fixes.
    
12. Winterize windows and doors. Arrange for an energy assessment, inspect your facility for gaps cracks, and install storm windows, weather stripping, and weather-appropriate entry mats.

This serves as a reminder and isn’t an exhaustive list even though it is quite long!

Partner with facility operations & maintenance teams to make sure you are fully prepared. Learn about inspecting equipment, maintenance, pipe insulation and other recommendations for O&M teams: https://ug2.com/winter-prep-strategies-operations-and-maintenance/

Why You Should Pay Attention to the Human Sense of Touch

We’ve all experienced the “yuck” factor that happens when pushing elevator and microwave buttons or door handles and coming away with sticky, dirty fingers. Not only do we feel a bit disgusted, but we also worry what germs we may be catching. After all, if one or two things are dirty, everything is suspect.  

Facility services teams should always be focused on keeping their buildings clean and pristine. Now, with so many people back in offices, on campus, and returning to restaurants and entertainment venues –new COVID-19 variants are still circulating so you need to be even more vigilant.    

One survey found 42% of workers are worried about returning to the workplace for fear of contracting COVID-19. Combine that with peoples’ strong (76%) preference for working from home, and it’s clear what janitorial mishaps can be costly: low occupancy, lost tenants, and lost revenue.  

More People in Fewer Spaces 

And what about the impact of hybrid work, which seems to show no signs of slowing down? Many people who come into the office just a few days a week will no longer have their own desk. About 52% of companies expect to shrink their office space over the next three years, largely because of remote and hybrid work. This is sure to increase the amount of hotel desking, with people using any available desk.  

You may be surprised to learn that desks are one of the germiest places in the office. They have about 21,000 bacteria, viruses, and fungi per square inch. That’s 400 times more than a toilet seat. The more people share desks, the more germs there will be.  

Frequent, Proactive Cleaning 

Clearly, frequent and proactive surface cleaning is a must. Facility services teams can determine just how often based on occupancy levels, highly trafficked areas, and by simply observing.  

As a result of COVID-19, many custodial organizations are now using high-level disinfectants on high-touch areas. While this is good for maintaining healthy environments, it can also create a residue that feels strange to the touch. To avoid this, follow-up with another lower-level disinfectant that smooths out the surface and feels clean.   

To alleviate concerns and help people to feel more comfortable while in your facilities: 

• Keep hand wipes at the ready. Have them available at building and room entrances so occupants can grab them to wipe desks, door handles, buttons, café tables, and other surfaces. 
• Put door hangers on every office door that say “Please Disinfect” on one side, and “Space is Clean” on the other. Employees leaving the room can flip it to the “Please disinfect” side. When they return, they’ll see “Space is Clean” and feel better using the facility.   
• Be visible. Have your custodial staff clean areas and wipe down surfaces when occupants are present. As the old adage “seeing is believing” infers, people will feel more confident that you’re working hard to keep them safe. 
• Use signage. Don’t be afraid to post signs suggesting occupants and visitors wash hands and wipe surfaces. Studies have shown that diligent washing, wiping and sanitizing can help office workers reduce their rates of cold, flu and stomach illness by up to 80%.  

To learn how UG2 is making facilities across the country clean and pristine, get in touch with TeamUG2. 

Key Factors for Success in Facility Services Outsourcing

Outsourcing facility and janitorial services can bring tremendous benefits to any organization, including streamlined business processes and reduced long-term costs.

But a multi-tenant building filled with real estate firms, law offices, and investment funds have very different needs than a life science company that has much more stringent protocols, specialized equipment, and sensitive lab areas.

When it comes to facilities and janitorial management, life science stands apart. That makes it even more crucial to find a partner that understands these major focus areas:

Maintenance of Sensitive Environments

Unlike offices and public spaces, life science encompasses areas like clean rooms, vivariums and labs with complex biological safety levels. These require not just the correct combination of cleaning products, but also the correct standard operating procedures and protocols.

For example, janitorial services can’t just be “extra careful” in lab spaces. Those individuals must be trained and follow precise protocols with personal protective equipment, utilize cleaning solutions and equipment that will not have a negative effect on ongoing projects, and work at a pace that emphasizes precision over speed.

That leads to maximization of product or research yield, so risk of contamination is mitigated. Errors made in this environment could lead to massive loss of time and/or money from the potentially significant negative impact on human health care and ongoing projects.

Collaboration and Communication

Working with life science organizations requires a high level of teamwork with a customer’s facilities team to ensure adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), as well as a proactive approach to ensuring uptime. Just as the industry itself is unique, so too is every organization within that industry.

Because of that, communication is key. Not only does that help prevent problems, but better collaboration creates a basis of risk reduction. For instance, perhaps a piece of equipment seems askew from where it’s usually placed. Alerting lab managers immediately could prevent disaster—but that’s only possible if you have a team that knows where that equipment should be in the first place.

Training and Safety

Spaces like labs and clean rooms don’t just have different equipment or furnishings than other places, they require specialized understanding and professionals who can set up, maintain, and clean them correctly.

That involves upfront training and certifications, but that’s just a starting point. Those facilities and janitorial professionals must receive ongoing training, including extensive safety protocols, and that training must include specific needs for each type of life science customer. Just as important is continuous knowledge of industry trends through conferences and seminars.

At UG2, we see each life science customer engagement as an opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise in the industry, and to maximize the resources already in place, so customers can develop strategies that are proactive and meaningful.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you.

It Could Make or Break a First Impression

When people enter your facility, there are many things you want them to notice. You want them to see how clean it is, how orderly the lobby and rooms are, how surfaces sparkle. There are also things you don’t want them to notice. Topping the list? Smells that make people wrinkle their noses.

Smells are one of the impactful senses we have. But too often, buildings smell stale, musty or, in some cases, pungent. Even cleaning products can be off-putting when their odors are overpowering. And as the CDC has noted, some can be hazardous to health.

Strong smells may make people avoid certain places in your facility. Or, in today’s world when everyone is hyper-aware of cleanliness and health risks, they may leave the facility and choose not to return.

The Most Common Problem Areas

Odors can impact every part of your facility. For instance, carpets or even nearby dumpsters can infiltrate the air with bad smells. But certain spaces – like bathrooms – are more common offenders.

In one study, 77% of respondents said smell is the first thing they notice when they go into a bathroom. In men’s restrooms, urinal cakes are one of the biggest culprits. Custodial staff sometimes pile them up to mask the smell, but the high-perfume scent can be overwhelming.

Other areas where smell can be an issue are custodial closets. If used supplies and buckets of dirty water are stored there, their smells can seep into the hallway. In older buildings, sewer smells can also come up through custodial closets and from other sources.

And what about food areas? People don’t typically think of them as places that give off unpleasant odors. But nobody wants a cafeteria that smells like grease or when break rooms and surrounding office spaces smell from the microwaved fish or popcorn. Not only can the smells be offensive to the point where people start to eat and congregate elsewhere, they can also distract people from their tasks at hand.

Fresh Smells Have Far-Reaching Impacts

Facility services teams should aim for the highest air quality with a fresh-smelling environment that is free of pollutants. Not only is this comforting to occupants, it can positively affect their moods and performance.

For instance, studies reported in Scientific American show that odors affect how people think and behave. They found that people who worked in the presence of a pleasant-smelling environment reported higher self-efficacy, set higher goals and were more likely to use efficient work strategies than participants who worked in a no-odor environment.

Pleasing smells were also found to improve vigilance during tedious tasks, whereas foul odors impaired people’s judgments and lowered their tolerance for frustration.

Preventative Maintenance Eradicates Foul Odors

Preventative maintenance and frequent cleaning go a long way towards helping your facility stay odor-free. Here are a few of the practices UG2 staffers are adamant about following:

• Cleaning bathrooms regularly so you don’t have to use urinal cakes to mask smells, and taking care to use strong – but not potent-smelling – cleaning products everywhere in the facility.

• Containing and eliminating odors that would otherwise seep out of custodial closets by emptying pails of dirty water, adding water back into sewer traps, and ensuring appropriate air filtration systems are in place.

• Paying special attention to maintaining HVAC equipment, using MERV 13 filters, and scheduling frequent fresh air exchanges.

• Maintaining kitchen equipment, filters, and ducts so the mechanicals don’t break down, and keep air circulating so that cooking smells can be whisked away.

Fresh-smelling facilities are inviting. They provide a sense of cleanliness and can even help lift people’s moods and make them more productive and energized. 

Want more tips on how to make your facility even fresher? Contact Us

Best Practices for a Proactive Strategy

Adverse weather events are of increasing concern among our customers. Fortunately, UG2 has a deep bench of expertise when it comes to preparing our people and properties for major storms like hurricanes. Our approach includes a tiered response that we adapt to the unique needs of our customers, and continuously refine based on incident reviews and emerging best practices.  

Leadership and listening are both important tools in any facility management situation. While Team UG2 excels at operations, maintenance, and janitorial services across the board, hurricane preparedness demands that we look at all of those services through a different lens.

Our customers in hurricane zones benefit from UG2’s strong emphasis on planning, communication, and coordination. Our managers and supervisors continuously follow the weather and share information, updates, and evolve plans with our employees and with customers.

Employees are prepared to take action well in advance of an oncoming storm, ready to store and secure property and the many objects that can quickly become projectiles like umbrellas, outdoor chairs and tables, trash cans and equipment.

A Safety-first response

Since forecasts generally provide three to four days of advance warning for inclement weather, UG2 supervisors’ first move is for management to step in and enable our employees to first take care of their own personal needs, from evacuating family and pets to safety to securing their personal property and belongings. Then, supervisors identify the employees with the expertise and availability to staff the front line for the response, often arranging for them to stay in a nearby hotel to ensure both safety and accessibility.

Preparedness tasks are varied, from storing and securing property to monitoring flooding potential, arranging sandbags, clearing drains, checking equipment and batteries, conducting review of the properties for unexpected debris, fueling vehicles, and filling gas cans, all while carefully monitoring the path of the storm.

We tap the expertise of different teams by keeping employees on standby and maintaining continuous communication, with plans and alternative actions lined up depending on how the storm evolves. Of utmost importance is our ongoing communication with our customers, both to inform and update them on the situation and to gather new information and emerging concerns to pass on to our employees leading the response on the frontlines.

Safety and preparedness depend on advance preparation, which is why they are key topics integrated into all our meetings and trainings, with several layers of management involved in developing protocols and deploying action steps when a plan is activated.

Do you have questions about preparing your facility for adverse weather events? Get in touch with us today, and we will happily connect you with one of our on-staff experts.

First impressions form quickly, last long and are very hard to overturn. Studies have shown that it takes less than 27 seconds of meeting someone to create an impression. The same thing happens when people walk into your facility.

Impressions are formed through 5 senses: sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. A positive encounter can contribute to your success. These days, everyone expects facilities to be clean and comfortable so it’s important to take all the measures you can to keep your facility feeling pristine clean and safe.

In our 5 senses blog series, we’ll look at each of the senses and how to make them shine, starting with Sight.

Seeing is Believing

What do people see when they drive onto your campus, walk into your building, and step into your restrooms? Are the lawns manicured? Is the parking area well-lit and free of debris? Are floors sparkling? Is signage clear?

When it comes to sight, lots of little things can add up to create a positive or negative impression. One piece of trash on the floor may go unnoticed, but four or five won’t. Smudges on a glass door may be forgiven, but not if they’re followed by overflowing trash bins.

Your facility’s appearance can have larger impact on visitors or occupants than you may realize. For instance, one study found that in offices where employees thought cleanliness was lacking, 72% said their surroundings made them less productive. Nearly half (46%) took longer lunch breaks and spent less time in the office, and a quarter said they took sick leave because their surroundings were depressing.

Remember also that tenants and visitors may adjust their behavior to fit the environment they’re experiencing. Seeing your facility service team mopping spills right away, wearing fresh, clean uniforms, or straightening out a chair as they pass through a room, may inspire others to keep their surroundings clean and orderly.

Here are just a few of the ways UG2 ensures our team continually creates the best visual impression for your facility:

• We communicate regularly so everyone understands what each of our customers expect in terms of facility cleanliness and staffing.
• We discuss how to best interact with your facility’s occupants and visitors, including how to listen and react to their feedback.
• We encourage our team to take their jobs personally, to care about the smallest details, and we recognize and reward them when they do.
• We are proactive in order to deliver the highest standard of facility services.
• We adjust schedules based on your occupancy and traffic.
• We conduct cleaning and landscaping inspections, review results with our team and yours, and course correct whenever needed.
• We provide staff with the best-suited cleaning and landscaping tools and technologies, so they have everything needed to make your facility shine, inside and out.   

How Each of the 5 Senses are Important in a Facility

John Harris, Director of Facilities Management and one of our resident experts, recently shared some intriguing insights in a recent issue of FMJ.

UG2’s stellar reputation for customer service is no accident. We consider every aspect of customer experience on both the micro and macro levels, including some details that might surprise you. In the article, John discussed how customer experience begins the moment a person steps onto a property and takes in a space through their senses.

A customer’s sensory experience of a space can lead to a range of reactions from lingering and recommending the space to others, minimizing time spent there, or avoiding the space altogether. John explained the key points for facility managers to keep in mind:

Sight: It’s all in the details. As you would expect, a facility’s appearance makes a huge impact. In one study, 72% of employees said they were less productive in an office environment where cleanliness was lacking. Nearly half took longer lunch breaks and a quarter said they took sick leave because their surroundings made them feel depressed. What helps? Details like fresh flowers and potted plants, orderly lobbies and green water filter lights demonstrate a level of care that resonates with every visitor.

Smell: Fresher is better. Stale-smelling environments and those emitting too-strong scents of fragrance or cleaning products are all a turnoff for visitors. Air quality matters now more than ever, and people prefer spaces that smell naturally fresh and free of pollutants. Frequent cleaning, well-maintained HVAC equipment, the use of MERV 13 filters and frequent fresh air exchanges all make a major difference. Special attention to cafeterias, restrooms, and custodial closets is essential.

Sound: Strive for quiet. Research has found that noise negatively impacts concentration, productivity, and creativity. FM teams should take a broad approach to reduce unpleasant sounds. That means ensuring air vents do not rattle, equipment doesn’t have any loose parts, vacuums don’t disrupt, and hammering isn’t happening while people are trying to work. Managers can help by scheduling cleaning off-hours when possible and prioritizing preventive maintenance.

Touch: Keep it smooth. Surfaces like elevator buttons, counters and desktops are an immediate turnoff when they are sticky. That makes frequent cleaning a must. Facility managers should be aware of the cleaning products in use, and ensure they aren’t leaving behind sticky residues that collect dust and grime. Effective ways to counter the problem include keeping hand wipes at the ready and using door hangers that say “Please disinfect” on one side and “Office is Clean” on the other.

Taste: Consider the literal—and the metaphorical. No one wants their meal to taste like the equipment it was cooked in or the last dish that was warmed in the microwave. Properly maintained equipment, including air exchanges, makes a difference in food preparation and the overall experience of visiting a facility. And, in a literal and figurative sense, facility managers don’t want customers, visitors, tenants or employees leaving a space with a bad taste in their mouths. For more guidance on keeping customers happy in your facility, read the full article at FMJ, or get in touch with TeamUG2.

Prevent Workplace Injuries

UG2 emphasizes safety in all we do, which makes National Safety Month an ultra-important tradition for highlighting all the measures we can take to protect TeamUG2, including employees, customers and residents or visitors.

This year, Week One of National Safety Month focuses on preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A leading cause of workplace injuries, MSDs can creep up on you because they often build up over time.

A safe work environment is crucial to reducing MSDs. When you are at home and spend an hour changing the drain trap under the sink, you might experience some soreness afterwards. But if you are putting your body into a strained or vulnerable position day after day as part of your job, even if your positioning is just 10 percent wrong, the impact is cumulative—and the damage is much harder to undo.

For UG2 employees, risky, repetitive motions might take the form of someone dragging a heavy trash barrel or pulling storage items off a high shelf without taking proper precautions. Whether an employee is working with us as an engineer, mechanic, janitor or technician, the risks and behaviors that can contribute to developing MSDs are ever-present.  

The Current Risk Factors Compounding Vulnerability to MSDs

Spreading awareness of evolving risk factors is an integral part of prevention. In the current climate, added risk factors include:

• An aging workforce means cumulative job effects are catching up
• Pandemic precautions that asked employees to keep distance from each other, leaving people less likely to get a coworker’s support for a team lift.
• Interventions like back braces that offer a false sense of security and lead employees to take more risks. Using braces or other personal protective equipment should be a reminder that there is hazard you are trying to mitigate.

Regular Training + Routine Reminders

AT UG2, we know the remedy for these risks is multi-layered. Our approach incorporates:

• An unmatched training and safety program that every employee completes before their first day on the job
• Annual refresher trainings that reflect our evolving best practices and a data-informed understanding of risk and prevention
• Reminders communicated at every opportunity, from morning check-ins to weekly meetings to one-on-one reviews
• Access to well-maintained equipment from carts and dollies to forklifts and power jacks.

We are also at the forefront of adopting tech innovations such as injury prevention systems that use video to record employees performing tasks to allow them to assess how their skeletal system is functioning and identify stress points in jeopardy.

Safety is at the forefront of every conversation we have at UG2, and we incorporate it into all we do—every staff meeting, every site visit, every decision we make. That is what we mean when we talk about putting people first.

If you’re considering making the move toward outsourcing facility services, here’s a key checklist.

When considering the move toward bringing in an outsourcing partner to a life science company, the fact is that it can take time to build trust.

In large part, that’s because life science is unique as an industry. It requires maintenance of sensitive environments, a high degree of collaboration, ongoing communication, specialized training and safety, and knowledge of industry trends.

Because of those factors, it’s crucial to find a partner willing to earn that trust and take ownership. Here are some key things to consider when you’re assessing whether an outsourcing partner will be a good fit for your life science organization:

• Expertise in life science, with a list of customers to prove it, and knowledge of the processes unique to your industry.
• Certifications and experience that go above and beyond the bare minimum; an outsourcing partner should have a strong emphasis on ongoing education and training.
• Customer-centric provider that understands the needs of life science environments and a company with a well-articulated mission statement that puts customers first.
• Desire for collaboration as a driving focus, with examples of the results  from collaboration for life science customers.
• Labor relations experience is crucial. An engaged, productive workforce doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the result of informed and proactive measures that significantly reduce the risk of labor problems.
• Alignment with existing leadership infrastructure and the ability to add to that leadership in meaningful ways that maximize the power of an organization’s knowledge base and strategic direction.
• Established strategy for a pandemic or unforeseen circumstances. An outsourcing partner should have a proactive mindset, rather than a shorter-term, reactive process that doesn’t anticipate changing needs.
• Depth of resources for emergency response when needed, in order to maintain operational continuity.

Most of all, a partner should be exactly that: a partner. Collaboration and trust are an essential element for this, and an outsourced facility services provider should be able to detail the ways in which processes and procedures will be shared, not replaced.

At UG2, we see each life science customer engagement as an opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise in the industry, and to maximize the resources already in place, so customers can develop strategies that are proactive and meaningful.

Outsourcing facility maintenance and janitorial services are about creating a partnership that advances efficiency and drives strategic thinking, while also employing risk mitigation and established protocols.

Want to learn more about what UG2 offers? Let’s have a conversation about what you need, and most of all, where we can provide value for your organization.

Key Advantages in the Short Term

Although outsourcing relationships bring notable long-term benefits, that doesn’t mean you won’t see some shorter-term ones as well. Particularly when you bring on a knowledgeable, insightful partner with experience in your industry, you’ll likely find two key advantages:

Cost Savings

One of the biggest sticking points for many organizations considering outsourcing for the first time is the perception that it will be a budget buster. That may be especially true if you’re envisioning bringing in several different companies that specialize in certain parts of facilities management.

Good news: It doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, you can save money with the right outsourcing provider.

In-house operations and maintenance (O&M) programs often add up to 30% or more to program costs due to overtime charges and inefficient subcontractor arrangements. You may be bringing in professionals in a piecemeal fashion—a plumber for one issue, an HVAC company for another, electrical experts for yet another—and paying the price, literally, for addressing emergency problems that could have been avoided through more strategic planning.

The same scenario can happen with janitorial services, especially if you’re relying on partial outsourcing for those tasks. Much like O&M, taking a more strategic approach that’s proactive can give consistent results that drive up tenant and occupant satisfaction.

With an experienced outsourcing partner, all of these ad hoc costs can be wiped out by moving away from an out-tasking model. Not only do you save money by eliminating vendor calls, but you also significantly cut down on overtime, and tap into the benefits of volume discounts, lower equipment purchasing totals, and much more streamlined—and affordable–maintenance procedures.

Improved Service Delivery

Addressing issues as they arise is a problematic approach. Although some degree of reactive maintenance will always be necessary, conducting root cause analyses when these issues arise will proactively prevent them from happening again.  That’s what turns your facility services program toward a strategic approach, leading to much better operations overall.

With experienced facility management teams, service delivery isn’t about simply tweaking a few procedures here and there, and dealing with minor problems as they arise. Instead, it relies heavily on process improvement, implementation of best practices, thorough inspections, removing productivity roadblocks, anticipating cleaning and disinfection needs, and more.

Although a full facilities management approach provides extensive long-term benefits, shorter-term gains can also be notable. That’s especially true with a facilities company that can tailor services based on your unique needs. When those are addressed, you get traction toward process improvements that deliver ROI and a seamless transition.

Learn more about UG2 facility services. Let’s have a conversation about what you need, and most of all, where you can go from here!

Introducing Joe Lettiere, Engineering Manager, UG2 Subject Matter Expert

As UG2 expands opportunities for new and existing customers across the country to benefit from our services, we are thrilled to have Joe Lettiere helping to lead the charge in Chicago and the Midwest region. Joe brings incredible depth of expertise to our commitment to deliver the highest level of facility services along with engineering, janitorial, workplace solutions and mission critical support.

A lifelong Chicagoan, Joe’s early background in sales as an account representative was a foundation for his dedication to providing stellar customer service. Once in the trades and completion of his apprenticeship, he rose through the ranks to his current position as an engineering manager. He’s overseen as many as 28 properties and 140 union and non-union employees at a time—and won the admiration of virtually everyone he worked with along the way.

What keeps you so invested in and passionate about this work?

I am passionate about the relationships that I’ve built over the past 20 years. My customer retention since day one in the industry has been 100 percent. I still have relationships with partners I started with 20 years ago.

There is a small community in this industry. That means that any respect you get is earned by your word, how you treat people and what you have done. Mutual respect and friendship keep those relationships going, and because of those relationships I have a plethora of help—experts to reach out to, whenever I run into something new, I can turn to those relationships with industry experts to assist with any challenge.

What have you found is the key to maintaining those strong relationships?

From my perspective, I’m always a guest wherever I go. I’m a guest in a building. I’m a guest to a customer. I’m a guest to an owner. I have to make them comfortable enough to trust me with their multi-million-dollar properties and have faith that I can help run it appropriately with the engineers who are in the building day in and day out.

It’s also about being present, in front of the customer and employees, making sure they get the support they need. It’s about building that relationship with each individual person you encounter.

My mom said when I was a kid, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” I just have to listen to what the customer and staff needs, so that we can provide the best service possible.

How do you stay current with your expertise?

I’ve had many mentors and colleagues that have helped me along the way. They may have a different approach and I am constantly picking their brains to get to the best practices out there. I’ll never know everything and it’s a strength being able to ask for help.

I’m involved in Chief Engineers of Chicagoland and I attend all the industry events. I am active in Local 399 and I’ve recently gone back to school. I continue with industry courses, seminars and have continuously tried to further my education.

What’s your out-of-work life like?

I spend most of my free time chasing my kids around to all the sporting events they are involved with. I’ve been married for 14 years and have 4 children. We love to travel and experience the country through road trips with the kids. When I’m not traveling or chasing my kids around, I just enjoy having a drink or two with family and friends.

How Commercial Buildings are Leading the Way

Commercial office buildings and properties are the pulse of our cities and suburban centers, and, after two years of upheaval and uncertainty, their robust return is delivering communities a much-appreciated sense of normality and optimism.

Visitors, tenants and employees are back, and they deserve to be welcomed by pristine workspaces, gleaming conference and kitchen spaces, neatly kept trash and recycling areas, and well-stocked and sanitized restrooms. Ensuring that even the highest-traffic areas remain squeaky clean builds confidence, comfort, and a competitive advantage for our customers. TeamUG2 account managers, porters and janitors are out front and ready to ease concerns about safety in the workplace.

Day after day, long before visitors arrive and well after the last employee has gone home for the night, TeamUG2 professionals are taking expert care of commercial properties, from Class A office buildings to office parks and lifestyle centers.

Our teams bring the benefit of having worked on the frontlines through the pandemic, adapting to new information and refining best practices. As thought leaders, we take pride in sharing our insights so that the industry and larger community can benefit from all we’ve learned.

Here’s how TeamUG2 is making commercial building maintenance better than ever: 

360-degree cleaning services. We continuously refine our cleaning practices to respond to changing conditions and to your evolving needs. We excel at everything from core services like restroom, conference room and kitchen disinfection to specialized offerings like green cleaning/LEED Compliance and quality management reporting, and waste stream and recycling.

Stellar operations and maintenance. Our O&M track record is unmatched, and we have an expansive menu of services to meet your needs, from plumbing and electrical to wastewater treatment and critical alarm monitoring. We hire and train top talent, provide ongoing professional development, and boast an employee retention record that outshines our competitors — so our front-line employees and their managers know their role inside and out.    

Responsive tenant services. We know that today’s environment demands that you maintain a competitive advantage as you work to attract tenants or employees and keep them happy. Our à la carte menu of services allows you to tailor our expertise to your precise needs, from event coverage and moving services to snack wall provisioning to concierge and workplace services to porter services.

Meaningful adoption of innovation and tech. Data and technology are becoming more and more integrated with building management systems. Staying on top of our game means understanding how data analytics can drive preventative, corrective, and predictive maintenance. We know that different customers have different levels of in-house expertise when it comes to using data, and we prioritize taking the time to interpret and communicate an understanding to tenants, property managers and stakeholders.

Elevated services for a higher level of confidence. UG2 ReNew was developed to keep everyone safe by minimizing risk of infection and ensuring that we are taking every measure to protect our customers and their visitors, tenants, and employees. The program delivers heightened levels of cleaning and disinfection along with maintaining adequate levels of staffing with employees who are specially trained in the services our customers rely on.

When it comes to the big picture, what makes these services work is our willingness to work with you. Together, we can come up with an effective plan to give your property the attention it requires, so that you can focus on your core business.

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The past two years brought into sharp focus the essential role facility services and janitorial staff play in our economy, and our health and well-being.

Those of us in the industry already knew of the incredible behind-the-scenes dedication demonstrated by our TeamUG2 pros. The pandemic gave us a crystal-clear reminder of how fortunate we all are that our essential workers have our backs —and it also magnified our gratitude for our customers who partner with us and entrust us with this critical work.

Our cleaners are the best in the business.

You don’t have to do the math to know how much value our teams bring to our customers’ (although we are always happy to show you the numbers!). It works out because we provide our janitorial teams with industry-leading training, resources, professional development, and support — while they bring a level of care, commitment, tenacity, and unflappability that frankly leaves us in awe.

Working for TeamUG2 means mastering all of our own best practices as well as the processes and practices we tailor to individual customers’ needs. Being on our team also requires the ability to pivot and re-train to meet the demands of ever-changing protocols.

Our management teams gain their experience from the ground up.

UG2 prides itself on hiring from within. Developing talent at every level benefits our employees and our customers, because it means that the professionals running your project or site bring first-hand knowledge to their roles.

These opportunities for advancement allow us to attract and promote top-tier talent, leading to exceptional leaders who outshine the competition and go the extra mile to surpass your expectations.

We deliver state-of-the art technology and innovation along with proven practices.

We strike the right balance with a “keep it simple approach” that is accessible and scalable – and informed by the latest innovations and technology. Our data-informed, transparent services give customers exactly the level of insight they require to be confident their facilities remain safe, welcoming, and squeaky-clean.

From deep cleaning and disinfection to waste stream and recycling to green cleaning and quality management reporting, our processes and practices set the industry standard. And every move we make is driven by rigorous safety standards informed by ongoing training and the latest research.

We’re incredibly proud to partner with you.

Our people-centric approach means that our employees and our customers tend to stick around for a long, long time. That allows us to learn your organization and your industry, to excel at what we do, and to build the strong relationships that make us so proud to be on TeamUG2.

UG2 Takes Pride in Delivering the Highest Standard of Facility Services

Pitchers and catchers are all warmed up, fans are excited to be back in the stands, musicians are rescheduling tours postposed due to COVID, and college seniors are getting ready to toss those caps in the air. As fans and families get ready to gather and celebrate, UG2 is the team behind the scenes, keeping every surface safe, secure, welcoming, and gleaming. 

Our Public Venue work is an enormous source of pride for UG2 employees (and for their sports-and-arts-minded family members!). From convention centers and concert venues to theaters, sports arenas, and campus gathering spots, we have the inside line on everything it takes to keep high-volume spaces operating flawlessly.

Delivering unmatched services around the clock

Our customer-first focus means we can service your venue 24/7—which is essential for industries where maintaining the flow means working in the off-hours. Our efforts begin well before an event as our teams spread out to wipe down and disinfect seats, get restrooms sparkling clean, unload deliveries, and stock supplies.

During your events, we stay ahead of the supply game, making sure your guests have everything they need before they need it. We are always on-hand to mop up spills, empty trash receptacles, and clear away debris.

When the event comes to an end, our clean-up crews are already on the floor, returning your facility to pristine conditions—all ready for the next event.

Because public spaces endure a lot of wear and tear, our teams are experts at building customized, adaptable schedules to ensure ongoing maintenance, prevention, and deep cleans.

Leveraging exceptional teamwork and training

At UG2, we recruit strong team members and support them with specialized training to make them even stronger. Our level of training is unmatched in the industry—from ensuring every employee knows the best practices for their specific role inside and out, to cross-training teams to prevent any gaps in service, to tailoring our trainings to your specific needs as an industry and institution.

We have an incomparable retention rate because we treat our employees like family, which means you benefit from skilled, committed professionals who care about the work they do every day.

A scope of work that goes above and beyond

We often get notes of gratitude about our employees going “above and beyond” in the moment. That attitude encompasses our overall approach to our work. In fact, our vast experience allows us to continuously revisit and refine our services, and to offer customers specialized support from fan engagement and giveaway facilitation to emergency response and tailored support for special international events.

Our partnership with you means you can count on communication and transparency – and know that we are equipped to handle whatever needs arise in the moment.

PRESS RELEASE

March 10, 2022 – SUNNYVALE, CA UG2 today announced it has opened a new office in Northern California.  Following on UG2’s recent West Coast leadership announcement, today’s news includes the hiring of five additional industry experts to meet increasing demand for UG2’s integrated facility services. The office, based in Sunnyvale, expands the company’s West Coast presence, and comes on the heels of UG2’s recent launch of its Los Angeles Center of Excellence.

“UG2’s client successes have led to tremendous demand for our services by organizations throughout Northern California. Customers are attracted by our unique approach to facility services as well as our industry leading platform and resources to support the delivery of pristine and healthy facilities in a post pandemic world. In addition, they are excited by the integrity and passion we bring to their engagements, and our commitment to going above and beyond for our clients,” said Louis J. Lanzillo, Jr., CEO of UG2. “I’m excited to welcome our new team members, each of whom bring extraordinary experience to UG2 and will be invaluable in enabling us to support our clients.”

UG2 provides Northern California organizations with superior engineering, janitorial, life science support services, production maintenance, mobile maintenance, workplace solutions and critical environment support services. UG2 is thrilled to announce the addition of these new team members, who bring extraordinary experience to the company and the Northern California market.

• Steve Collins, Senior Director of Business Development Operations
• Liza LaVoy, Manager, Operations Support
• Paul Faleschini, Engineering Manager
• Jon Legnitto, Engineering Manager
• Matt Montanez, Engineering Manager

UG2’s new office is located at 1292 Kifer Road, Suite 805, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

For more information, contact UG2 at 408-479-1835, and check out our services at https://ug2.com/northern-california

About UG2

UG2 sets a new standard for excellence in comprehensive, integrated facility services. We deliver innovative solutions, pristine environments, and a passion for customer service from a team with more than 350 years of experience in the facilities maintenance industry. Our suite of solutions includes Janitorial Services, Operations & Maintenance, and Workplace Solutions for clients in Commercial, Corporate, Education, Healthcare, Life Science, Public Venue, Retail, and Industrial markets. We use advanced technologies to deliver efficient service, constantly refine our processes to ensure our team continues to lead and emphasize a culture of excellence throughout our organization. Founded in 2012, UG2 is based in Boston, MA with regional offices in Washington, DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Sunnyvale, West Palm Beach, and Chicago. UG2 has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately held organizations in the industry. For more information, please visit www.ug2.com and follow us @UG2IFS.

Success Achieved by Working Hard and Making a Positive Impact

Imelda Martínez Hernández’s hard work, generous support for her peers, cheerful demeanor and stellar reputation with customers have propelled her up the professional ladder at UG2 since she first joined the company in June 2021.

After starting with UG2 as a night custodian, Imelda earned promotions to night lead and day site lead before her most recent advancement to site supervisor.

Imelda takes tremendous pride in her work and loves helping her team succeed. Our customers have frequently expressed their deep appreciation for her, and West Coast Regional Operations Manager Alex Romano shares their gratitude for Imelda’s contributions.

“I was really happy to be able to offer Imelda this position,” said Alex. “It’s rewarding to see someone grow into a role where you know they will have a positive impact for customers and for our teams.”

Imelda was thrilled to accept the promotion and cannot wait to take on the challenge of her new responsibilities. She hopes her fellow employees working on the front lines in this challenging time are motivated by her story, and that it helps them dream big— because, as she says, “Anything is possible!”

Imelda lives in San Diego, and when she’s not busy providing above-and-beyond service to every UG2 customer she encounters, she loves spending time with her close-knit family.

When she looks ahead to her future with UG2, she is most excited about helping and supporting the up-and-coming generation of UG2 employees, and witnessing how they grow and thrive in the company, as she has.

How UG2 Stands Out Ahead of Our Competitors

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc and caught our communities off guard in many ways, UG2 had long-established processes that enabled us to respond quickly and effectively on behalf of our janitorial teams and customers. Our mission — which includes setting the standard of excellence for facility services — left us well positioned to assess and implement data-informed best practices as understanding of the virus has evolved.

Our success in keeping our employees and customers safe by developing COVID-specific practices and protocols reflects the commitment to service and innovation that are foundational to UG2.

Here’s how we stand head-and-shoulders about the competition:

Hiring and training the best talent. Delivering the highest quality customer service starts with valuing our own people. Our very low turnover is a testament to how we treat our teams. We recruit employees who care about their work; provide them continuous training, mentoring, and opportunities for advancement; and prioritize hiring from within.

Adapting quickly to local, federal, and customer-specific guidelines. Our communications with our teams and customers have always prioritized emergency planning, safety preparedness, process improvement, and ongoing training. Incorporating our customers’ specific needs and practices into our approach is just one example of UG2 acting as an extension of our customers’ leadership teams.   

Utilizing only the highest-quality products and delivering sustainable cleaning practices. Our bench of cleaning products and chemicals includes those that are not only proven to be highly effective, but they also comply with OSHA regulations consistent with the U.S. Green Building Council LEED EB-OM’s specifications.  

Implementing UG2 ReNew^SM. We launched UG2 ReNew to ensure we are taking every measure to protect our customers and their visitors, tenants, and employees. The program delivers heightened levels of cleaning and ensures that we maintain adequate levels of staffing with employees who are specially trained in the services our customers rely on.

Prioritizing technology and innovation. UG2 works to stay on top of technological innovations and to apply existing technologies in new ways, from communication chips embedded in badges and self-checks on facial recognition clocks to disinfection tracking with QR codes and air quality monitoring through wall sensors.

Emphasizing proven processes. Process is quality control and that is a differentiator that sets us apart from the competition. Long before COVID, we were keeping our teams well-supplied in PPE, cleaning, and janitorial products; continuously training employees on best practices; and conducting ongoing assessments to refine our approach.

Above all else, we are proud of our transparency, communication, and deep relationships with our customers, and we are grateful for the partnerships we continue to build on with long-time janitorial customers and newcomers to Team UG2.

Embracing Each Step Towards a Successful Career

Kevin Arzu had plenty of experience managing customers and employees when he joined UG2 in February 2018. He had spent three-and-a-half years as a store manager in technology retail, and had demonstrated tremendous success increasing his store’s sales, profit, and conversion rate.

“I’m a little bit competitive,” he laughs. “I took a store from having a conversion rate of 8% a month to a steady 13%. It was a hard road, but the biggest thing is finding the right people. One thing I’m grateful for at UG2 is it’s kind of the same thing – you want to find the right person to do the right job, and I was able to bring that experience into my role here.”

Well before coming on board, Kevin knew firsthand that UG2 was a company that invested in its employees for the long term. His wife, Nereida Barbosa, has worked her way up from cleaner to account manager with the company.

Despite his previous management experience, Kevin chose to start as a cleaner in the Boston Back Bay area.

“I was initially hired to be a manager, but I had been out of the cleaning industry for a few years,” he says. “I took a step back and asked Greg Lanzillo, my operations manager at the time, if it was okay for me to go up the (career) escalator ladders, learn the rules, and get a better understanding of what we do.”

Kevin spent nearly nine months working for Jose Lagares, who quickly saw Kevin’s potential and served as a key mentor in supporting Kevin’s advancement through the company.

“Jose challenged me to see what we were missing, to find the inconsistencies,” says Kevin. “He is just an awesome guy who can help people see things as a coachable moment versus just being told how to do their job.”

Looking to challenge Kevin, Jose put him in charge of a project, and Kevin embraced opportunities to not only learn and excel at his own job but to pay close attention to others’ jobs and how they approached them. His attention to detail along with his penchant for problem solving proved essential when Boston experienced back-to-back snowstorms and Kevin proved himself adept at crisis management, prioritizing jobs while juggling equipment issues.

That hard-earned success brought a new opportunity: working with Alex Pena as assistant area manager for his portfolio of 50+ buildings.

“It gave me a bigger horizon,” says Kevin. “I was able to experience what a manager would do on a day-to-day basis managing multiple accounts. It gave me almost two years of great experience, and then working with Alex when COVID-19 happened was an even greater learning experience. I learned more in-depth about using the right chemicals and avoiding cross contamination and got a better understanding of what we do here and how to be successful.”

When Kevin eventually earned another promotion to his current position, account manager, he wanted to give back by spending time with his replacement, Christian Aguilar, to convey some of what he had learned along the way which is what he had experienced from his own colleagues and mentors.

“One thing I will say about UG2 is the way that I was received when I came on board,” Kevin says. “It was always open arms. It was always, ‘Hey, listen, do you need this? Do you need that?’ And that’s what made me fall in love with the company.”

Spotlight on UG2 Frontline Essential Workers

At UG2, we recognize it’s the people who work for us that enable us to achieve a new standard of excellence in the facility services industry. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do. And from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve witnessed them going above and beyond to ensure the health and safety of our customers, their employees, and their guests.

We appreciate not only the work our employees do, but also how they do it—with dedication, enthusiasm, and care. This year’s National Cleaning Week takes place from March 28th through April 3rd. To celebrate, we’ll be highlighting some of UG2’s frontline essential workers on social media. As you read about them there (or below), please join us in praising them and all essential employees for a job well done.

Featuring our outstanding essential janitorial workers:

Ramiro Garza, Lead Porter, Boston, MA

Known for his hard work, passion and dedication, Ramiro has spent countless hours cleaning and disinfecting offices to ensure tenants’ safety during the pandemic. He is always willing to pitch in and help out, especially during an emergency.

Rafael “Obi” Hernandez, Custodian, New York, NY

Rafael is a proactive member of the team, performing his work with pride and precision. Respected for his knowledge about using specialized equipment, like the Bobcat, he regularly volunteers to help out during snow emergencies and stays on for extended shifts when necessary.

Jose Macias, Day Shift Cleaner, Chicago, IL

Jose is known for being dependable, flexible, hardworking, and being a great communicator. When it comes to cleaning, he’s extremely thorough. Jose goes above and beyond his normal work duties and is a regular snow removal volunteer.

Jose Marquez, Day Porter, Washington, DC

Over the past 24 years, Jose has been a porter for one of our long-standing customers in D.C. Considered a valuable member of the community, he has received multiple compliments for great attendance and the quality of his work from the building property management. He’s known for his work ethic, positive attitude, and great personality.

Karla Martinez, Lead Cleaner, Seaside, CA

It’s no surprise that Karla receives such positive customer feedback on her performance. She’s always willing to do what it takes to get the job done, whether it means staying late for an extended shift or volunteering to help complete a project when more staff is needed.

Franklin Peguro, Lead Cleaner, Dedham, MA

Having worked at the same school for over 21 years, Frank has become a vital part of its daily operation. Not only is he respected for his diligence, reliability, and experience with carpet cleaning and floor work—he’s also very well-liked by the teachers and students at the school.

Eligio Romero Orejel, Day Porter, Redwood City, CA

Excellent work and outstanding customer service—that’s what Eligio is known for. In his day-to-day responsibilities, he exceeds expectations, demonstrates a consistent willingness to help, and inspires others with his positive attitude.

Cesar Toro, Lead Porter and Night Supervisor, Bedford, MA

Cesar is a dependable and trusted figure at the corporate center where he works. Since training to perform electrostatic spraying at the beginning of the pandemic, he has become our go-to team member for performing this type of service in the suburbs of Boston. During a snowstorm, he’ll arrive as early as 3 a.m. to supervise sidewalk clearing and ensure businesses can open their doors by 7 a.m.

Artemio Vazquez, Cleaner, Stanford, CA

With a positive attitude, excellent attendance, and a reputation for helping his coworkers, Artemio has become a trusted representative of UG2. In addition to doing a great job cleaning, he also keeps our vans and golf carts in tip top shape.

Omagly Leyva, Lead Cleaner, West Palm Beach, FL

Omagly is admired for being an excellent role model. She’s committed to her work, always goes the extra mile to ensure the property where she works looks great, and radiates positivity (she’s always smiling!).

In addition to those listed above, do you know of a UG2 team member who deserves recognition? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us with your comments.

Facilities management is a complex infrastructure of services. There are always countless tasks to complete, costs to manage, and resources to supervise. From equipment maintenance and operations to janitorial services, much of what facility managers handle impacts thousands of building occupants and guests, which means performing with excellence is critical.

That’s why there’s a great need to partner with experts who know how to deliver world-class facility services, and why, according to McKinsey & Company, more than 50% of facilities management is outsourced.

With so much on the line, it’s important to engage a facility services organization with a solid reputation and the ability to deliver on their promises.

It all starts with Trust.

The Bedrock of a Successful Partnership

Trust is at the core of every successful relationship. It’s what enables organizations to rely on their partners to do the job they are contracted to do. It’s what builds strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with outcomes that exceed expectations — instead of transactional interactions with potentially lackluster results.

UG2 builds trust by adhering to these 3 principles:

1. Accountability: We set clear and specific goals based on agreed-upon client KPIs in areas such as work order completion, safety, customer experience, and quality inspections. We communicate these KPIs to all employees, measure how UG2 is performing against them on a regular basis and make that information visible where employees are sure to see it. For example, we often post KPI’s at the location of time clocks.

2. Transparency: We don’t hide anything from our customers. They know exactly what we’re doing, what’s working well, and what, if anything, needs to improve. We regularly update them on our KPI performance and fully own any shortcomings. We implement course corrections as needed to continuously enhance performance and service delivery.

3. Proactivity: We never rest on our laurels. No matter how strong our outcomes may be, we innovate new ways to achieve even more. We do this by leveraging best practices honed over decades and using the latest technologies and industry innovations to inform data-driven decision-making, which leads to more cost savings, operational efficiencies, and customer satisfaction.

Reaping the Rewards

When you partner with a trusted, expert facility services organization, the benefits you gain are invaluable:

• Top-quality, reliable services: The provider’s operational expertise, technical know-how, specialized business experience, proven methodologies, and customer-centric approach result in consistently reliable, high-quality facility services.

• Cost control and savings: Not only are costs kept within budget, customers often realize significant cost reductions due to greater efficiencies, better equipment maintenance strategies, use of advanced and mobile technologies, and energy savings.

• Highly skilled talent: Facility employees get the coaching, technologies, training, development, and playbooks needed to be successful at whatever job they’re tasked with doing.

• Fast resolution: Staffing levels are designed to meet client needs in a timely way, with specialized expertise readily available. With the outsourcer’s advanced systems, best practices, and trained implementation teams, issues are resolved faster and more effectively.

• Well-maintained systems: Outsourcers ensure the appropriate level of proactive and preventative maintenance required for each building system based on the system’s overall impact on the customer’s requirements, budget, site commitments, and asset-preservation objectives.

• Safer facilities: Proven safety systems, training, compliance, and documentation help prevent injury and maintain workforce stability, minimizing customers’ risk exposure.

We earn our customers’ trust by teaming up with them to deliver superior facility services every day. Contact us today to find out how we can do the same for your organization.

You need more than just “deep cleaning” to maintain a healthy environment

As campuses prepare for reopening, all of them are emphasizing a strong focus on extensive cleaning and disinfection to make spaces safer for staff, faculty, and students. But what does that mean? Even the phrase “deep cleaning” doesn’t necessarily include the multi-level, multi-stage effort that’s required to mitigate the risk of infection—while keeping maintenance and janitorial staff protected.

By understanding the main protocols of a comprehensive cleaning program, you can put your campus on track to have a meaningful and effective approach to reopening. There are four key phases that can take any campus from a reactive to a proactive approach, based on the UG2 ReNew^SM Cleaning4Health program. Listed below are the four main cleaning protocols for campus reopening:

General Housekeeping: This is the deep cleaning and disinfection that will be required to keep every occupied space cleaner and safer. Not only will all high-frequency touch points be cleaned, but they’ll also be disinfected using an EPA-registered antimicrobial product suitable for non-enveloped viruses. Housekeeping should also involve pre-cleaning heavily soiled non-contact surfaces like walls, followed by antiviral disinfectant.

Response to Isolated Incidents: What if a faculty member tests positive for COVID-19 but has been using her office and lecture hall for the past few days even though she had symptoms? Or if several cafeteria workers test positive and the kitchen needs to be closed down? The fact is, outbreak events will occur on your campus. Not having a cleaning plan for them—including training on how to handle contaminated materials—in advance could put you at a significant disadvantage.

Disinfectant Spraying Systems: When it comes to optimizing your cleaning protocols, automated systems can be a boon. Innovative spraying technology such as electrostatic sprayers allow for 360-degree surface coverage and sanitize rooms 80 percent faster than conventional methods.

Personal Protective Equipment: Absolutely, you need to do everything you can to keep your facility services team members safe. That means supplying all cleaning personnel with the right kind of PPE, such as gloves, goggles or face shields, and making disposable particulate face masks available.

While a more extensive plan for general housekeeping is crucial, having only that phase in place can cause campuses to fall short of what they really need to maintain health and safety on an ongoing basis. Although the emphasis right now is on reopening, that is only a short-term situation—for more insight about longer-term approaches, see our recent blog post, The 4 Phases of Reopening for Higher Education—and focusing only on deep cleaning could expose you to risks, potentially just weeks after opening.

Most significantly, these cleaning protocols don’t follow one another, they coincide. They happen simultaneously, which means they make each protocol stronger and boost protection and safety throughout a campus.

Expanding Your Knowledge

In other previous posts, we’ve covered why colleges and universities have unique needs for reopening and what your institution will need to get ready for re-entry. Check back next week for insights on how engineering can boost health on campuses.

As you consider the phases of reopening and everything that needs to be put in place for short-term and long-term success, don’t hesitate to contact UG2 to talk about your specific needs. If you’re in higher education, now is the time to build capability and resources for reopening, and UG2’s deep experience and insights have proven valuable to a range of educational clients.

We can offer operations, maintenance, custodial, and management resources, and also work with your in-house facility services staff so you get additional industry expertise, operational knowledge, greater purchasing power, and more access to specialized equipment, all without adding to headcount. Our new UG2 ReNew Cleaning4Health and Engineering4Health programs are designed to ensure you have what you need, well before anyone returns to campus—and long after they’re back, too.

Is it time to find a new facility services provider?

The first impression of your company is your facility. Tenants, prospects, customers, and guests form opinions based on how inviting it is. Is it sparkling clean? Are all public spaces in good repair and looking like new? Do all of the building systems function properly? Is the building is warm in winter and cool in summer? Are the restrooms spotless with every fixture working? Working with the right facility services provider will make sure that you can answer “yes” to every question.

Hiring the right company to manage your janitorial and operations & maintenance services is an investment in time and money – a positive working relationship, fair pricing, and a full array of needed services are all vital.

It’s easy to fall into a situation where everything seems good enough. But just as you periodically review your vendors and contracts, you should take a look at your facility service provider, too. Like most business relationships, it’s important to evaluate more than just the financial details. Take the following quiz to review some of the less-considered aspects of your relationship:

Evaluating Your Facility Services Provider

• Does your provider have an eye for detail? Facility services contracts outline provider responsibilities and deliverables as completely as possible, but there will always be things that come up that may not be spelled out. For the following example, choose how your provider responds:

  During routine cleaning, the janitorial staff discovers a loose tile in the bathroom. They respond by:

  • Cleaning around it so as not to disturb it.
  • Cleaning over it and moving on.
  • Cleaning it as thoroughly as possible and reporting it to you so that your maintenance staff can fix it.
  • Fixing it as soon as possible to eliminate it as a trip-and-fall concern.
• Does your provider say no more often than it says yes? Building tenants often have new requests, such as offering snack walls or beer taps. When you ask your facility services provider to take on an additional service such as stocking snacks and changing kegs, how do they respond?
  • “No, that’s not in our contract.”
  • “Our insurance doesn’t cover food handling. We can’t help you.”
  • “Our employees are not trained to interact with tenants and building guests.”
  • “Sure! We’re happy to add this new service!”
• Does your provider’s team have the right skills to manage your needs? For example, if your O&M provider discovers a leak in your HVAC system during routine cleaning, how do they respond?
  • They ignore it. You’ll figure it out sooner or later and they don’t want to get blamed.
  • They tell you a week later, after the leak has already destroyed the boiler room floor.
  • The report it so that you can find a licensed tech on your own.
  • They repair it promptly with their own internal licensed tech, and let you know that the problem is solved.
• Do you have detailed insight into your account? If you ask for a review of services provided including an accounting of work completed, costs, and other details, how does your provider respond?
  • “No can do. Whatever is done is done.”
  • “Umm, give us six weeks to gather that info and get back to you. (In the meantime, we’re secretly hoping you forget…)”
  • “Let’s talk it through on a phone call.”
  • “No problem. I’ll resend the monthly reports we have been delivering, plus will show you how to generate them via your personalized online dashboard. I will be happy to help you create any custom reports you’d like by end of day.”

Score Your Answers

If it’s not obvious, the goal is to find a facility services provider responds “D” all the time. You need a partner that views your facility as you would yourself, and can see and identify things that need to be done. One that is willing to be flexible and add new services when you have a request. And one that has the trained staff to be able to manage all of your operations and maintenance needs – not just have you pay to farm it out.

Finally, you need a provider that has invested in technology and processes that track work and back it up with data. Look for timekeeping information on staff that’s tracked via advanced methods, data on savings achieved from doing O&M work in house vs. using external providers, and detailed information on when contracted services were performed. This type of recordkeeping is more than just for show – it is data that your provider should be tracking and using to make sure they are providing optimal services on your behalf, and to help them find ways to save you time and money with improved efficiency and solutions.

Bite the Bullet

If your quiz answers are not up to standard, then think about the other aspects of working with your vendor.

• Do you feel you are getting the appropriate level of service for your monthly and annual investment?
• Do you have other services you would like to outsource, but don’t feel confident in approaching your vendor?
• Are you confident that the vendor’s recruiting, hiring, and training programs will keep pace with your ongoing needs?

A “no” answer to any of these is just another indictor that it might be time to consider a new facility services provider.

Making the Switch

How do you go about making a change? The first step is to evaluate other options. Reach out to potential vendors and provide them with the following info:

• An overview of your facility – type of environment, systems, hours, tenants and guests, and any information about the functionality of your facility.
• A list of the services you currently outsource.
• The terms and conditions of your current contract – hours of operation, response times, performance indicators, and any other requirements that are important for your facility.
• A list of additional services you would like a vendor to bid on providing.
• Your budget or, at a minimum, budget range.

Ask the facility services vendor to provide a quote of services they can offer to match existing levels as well as their suggestions for additional services, including pricing. Also ask for the following information:

• Details on the vendor’s recruiting, hiring, and training programs.
• A sample of the type of reporting that the vendor provides to facility service clients.
• Information on the vendor’s advanced technologies, including things such as facial recognition for time keeping.
• Details on the key performance indicators the vendor will track on your behalf, and how they will measure their performance against them.

Once you have your proposals back, you can work with your team to review the information. You may be surprised to learn how much more value you can receive without over extending your budget.

Make sure to schedule an in-person meeting with the team that will manage your account, including your lead contact and company senior management. Personal fit is important in facility services – you want to make sure the vendor is eager to do what it takes to keep your facility at its best and that you would be happy to partner with them.

While it might seem daunting to research vendors and start with a new facility services company, you may find that the extra level of service more than makes up for the transition. Take the time to invest in finding the best for your facility – you will be happy to know that you have done the right thing to make that good impression.

Call to action:

We’d love to learn more about your facility and your team. Can we provide a proposal for next-generation services for you? Just send a note to our team to schedule a requirements-gathering phone call. We’ll make it easy to learn more! [link to appropriate email address]

The heart of every educational institution is its people – the educators, staff, and students who compose the community. In order to flourish and learn, the community needs a clean, safe, and well-maintained campus. While every school needs a year-round facilities program, there are some tasks that are tougher to tackle during the busy academic year. Summer is a great time to do some off-season work to get ready.

Here are some facility services elements to consider for your campus

Trip and Fall Hazards

Summer is a great time to scan the passageways and walkways for potential hazards such as loose bricks, crumbled cement, overgrown roots, and unseated thresholds. Assign each team member a zone of campus for a walk-through to discover any obstacle or problem that needs repair. It’s easier to shut off an area for maintenance before the students come back to campus. And it’s far better to take the time to conduct the repair now than risk harming anyone in a trip or fall accident.

Deep Cleaning

People are germy, and campuses are loaded with touchable surfaces in classrooms, lecture halls, cafeterias, and dorms. A typical cafeteria checkout keypad has more than 13,000 organisms, this fact derived from a cleaning product firm SaniProfessional. Doorknobs in men’s dorm rooms contain more than 1.5 million bacteria colony forming units per square inch, this fact derived from College Stats. That’s one thousand times the CFU per square inch of a typical toilet seat. Bacteria can live on gym equipment for days.

These germs are just as harmful as cracked pavement to your community’s health. Preventing the spread of bacteria and germs can reduce illness and absenteeism. The summer is a perfect time to deep-clean every surface and to establish a disinfecting and sanitizing routine for year-round practice.

Systems Check and Maintenance

Campuses require significant HVAC and other facilities systems – now is the best time of year to perform routine cleaning and maintenance and to repair any faulty systems. Don’t wait until a plumbing issue creates a no-water situation for an entire dorm or cafeteria; invest in preventive maintenance to minimize impact to the community. Routine cleaning and repairs cost less in time, money, and stress than those done under emergency situations. Schedule systems maintenance for the slower summer months and ensure peak performance for the busy seasons ahead. An added bonus: many routine maintenance tasks result in changes that save energy and improve systems efficiency.

Energy Efficiency

It may be more than just a poorly functioning boiler that is driving up your campus energy costs – every campus should conduct a top-to-bottom energy audit twice a decade. At UG2, we partner with energy specialists to check all energy and engineering functions of the campus, including HVAC systems, hours of operation, occupancy, and sequencing for all controls. The resulting energy profiles enable us to recommissin controls, profile energy usage, and review all energy control measures (ECMs).

These audits often identify more than two dozen conservation measures that pay for themselves over time in reduced energy costs. We also can work with utilities to defray the up-front costs of implementing changes.

Grounds and Landscaping

Well-maintained campuses can be visual show stoppers – students, staff, and visitors all enjoy strolling the grounds. First impressions matter for prospective students, too, so campuses should invest the time to stay on top of the maintenance. Trim low branches and overgrown shrubs, weed and mulch all beds, and review all pathways for obstacles that could hinder leaf and snow removal. Because before you know it, the seasons will turn and we’ll be ready for a new cycle.

Many higher education facilities have the luxury of a “slow” season to manage these tasks. Take the time now to do the deep work and it will be easier to implement a strong routine for facilities maintenance that keeps your campus at its best year round.