Page 8 - The Edge - Spring 2016
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AASBO ALLIANCE PARTNER


                           BY DON HARRIS


                           Custodial, Landscaping and Bundled Energy

                           Services by ABM Enhance Learning Environments

            WAYNE MOFFET
              Schools can clean up, spruce up and provide a better learning   What  he really  likes about the Summer Conferences is the
            environment for students without busting their budget.  way events are scheduled so AASBO members have more time
              In fact, they can save an average of 20 percent by outsourcing  to spend with vendors. Compared to conferences staged by other
            custodial, landscaping and energy services, according to AASBO’s  organizations, AASBO dedicates a longer window of time for its
            newest Alliance Partner – ABM. Wayne Moffet, Operations  members to visit vendor booths.
            Manager, K-12, for ABM, said his   rm serves 170 public school   What’s the main reason ABM became an Alliance Partner? “We
            sites in Arizona totaling 17 million square feet, and landscape more  truly are their partner,” he said. “It’s a good way to do our part to
            than 30 sites, mostly in the Phoenix and Tucson areas.  support education and the AASBO membership. I see AASBO as the
              “At ABM we understand the importance of education for the  strongest of the education organizations out there for participating
            future, and we proudly do all we can to support Arizona students  vendors. AASBO membership gives me an opportunity to meet
            and schools,” Mo  et said. “Because we know public school funding  more one-on-one with clients than other education organizations.”
            in Arizona is among the lowest in the country, we want to   nd   Moffet and others at ABM admire the commitment and
            more e   cient and e  ective ways to help create clean, healthy, and  dedication of AASBO members for what they do. “   at said, ABM
            safe classroom environments that enhance student learning and  understands the di   culties school districts have been facing for
            success.”                                              the last decade relating to lack of classroom funding – including
              About 15 years ago, schools were having difficulty with  increased levels of deferred maintenance that is a result of
            janitorial sta   ng and that’s when ABM stepped in. Outsourcing  decreased capital spending. ABM has been successful in providing
            became more popular as schools lost employees through attrition.  guaranteed operating cost savings through its Bundled Energy
            “It became more common to outsource once they realized the  Solutions program that help improve this funding shortfall. Our
            savings,” Mo  et said. “First it was individual schools, then entire  expertise creates e   ciencies that can save up to 30 percent of your
            districts.”                                            maintenance budget in areas that we service, that is otherwise
              With ABM providing the labor, supplies and necessary  trapped and spent ine  ectively.”
            equipment, savings range from 10 to 30 percent, averaging about   In a message to members of the Arizona Legislature, Mo  et
            20 percent, Mo  et said. “Regarding custodial services, we utilize  thanked them for sending Proposition 123 to the ballot, which is
            proven best practices and the most e   cient equipment available,  designed to provide public schools with an additional $3.5 billion
            allowing us higher production rates than typically seen in the  over 10 years.
            marketplace.    e higher production allows ABM to pay a higher   “Compared to other states, student funding and teacher
            hourly wage, resulting in better recruiting and retention rates.”  salaries in Arizona are some of the lowest in the country,” he
              Studies have con  rmed that an optimal physical environment  said. “Education draws industry to the community and industry
            contributes to less absenteeism, as well as improved student  signi  cantly contributes to the taxes that enhance education
            learning and achievement. ABM has been providing outsourced  budgets. I would ask our legislators to take a closer look at this
            custodial/janitorial services, landscape, and energy solutions to the  discrepancy and put more focus on raising our education levels so
            Arizona public school system since 2001. ABM works directly with  they are on par with other states who have made education funding
            business managers, superintendents, and school boards to help  a priority.”
            them set the strategic direction and budgets for maintenance for
            their districts.                                       Wayne Moffet can be reached at wayne.moffet@abm.com or (480)
              Mo  et has been attending and participating in the AASBO  968-8300; or cell, (602) 463-4905. ABM (www.abm.com) is a
            Summer Conference and Expo for more than a decade. “   e  leading provider of facility solutions with revenues of $4.9 billion
            AASBO conferences have been a huge bene  t,” he said. “I see a  and more than 100,000 employees in 350 of  ces throughout the
            lot of my clients over a two-to-three-day period, seeing them in  United States and elsewhere.
            a di  erent setting than in their o   ce. I also see a large number of
            prospective clients.    e beauty of the conference is that I can be
            talking to a client and a prospective client walks up.    en the client
            can talk to the prospective client, telling them about their history
            with us.”



                                                                                               THE EDGE  | SPRING 2016
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