IEHA Introduces New Sustainability Professional Certification
WESTERVILE, OH – IEHA, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, proudly announces the launch of its new Sustainability Professional (SP) credential to assist IEHA/ISSA members in defining and validating their roles as sustainability practitioners.
“In analyzing how best to assist our constituents, we determined there is a need for sustainability credentialing to help members stand out,” says IEHA Executive Director Michael Patterson. “As the concept goes mainstream, certified members can drive internal sustainability programs and integrate with corporate sustainability management systems.”
SP certification includes three modules:
1. The Sustainability Advantage explains why sustainability is the right thing to do and why it is important to environmental services executives and their employers from an environmental, personal, career, and business perspective.
2. Making a Business Case for Sustainability shows how to establish the return on investment (ROI) of sustainability in health care facilities, thus providing a fiduciary incentive to go green by protecting the business interests of IEHA-member employers. This module includes action strategies to assist with early ROI.
3. Selling Sustainability to Stakeholders provides examples of persuasive language, charts, and graphics to convince stakeholders (both upper management and line workers) of the great value of sustainability initiatives within the environmental services department.
“An SP certification will distinguish professionals as qualified experts in sustainability,” explains Patterson. “Plus, it will help them support their customers looking to provide a higher level of environmentally friendly services.”
For the convenience of attendees, this one-day workshop can be taken online or in the classroom. IEHA will conduct the inaugural class in November, with additional opportunities scheduled for 2019. Recertification as a Sustainability Professional is required every two years, on the even year.
“As the sustainability field grows, so must the number of sustainability professionals,” reasons Patterson. “Achieving SP certification will help keep a person on the leading edge of our ever-changing industry.”
To enroll or for more information, visit www.ieha.org.
About IEHA
IEHA, a Division of ISSA, is focused on the health care and hospitality sectors of the cleaning industry. This 1,300-plus member professional association was founded in 1930 and merged with ISSA in 2017. Executive housekeepers are managers who direct housekeeping programs in commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. They supervise staffs ranging from a few to a several hundred people and handle budgets from a few thousand dollars to millions. IEHA provides members with an array of channels through which they can achieve personal and professional growth. For more information, visit ieha.org.
About ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association
With more than 9,200 company members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, building-service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, IL, USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Botany, Australia; and Shanghai, China. Visit www.issa.com.