Stephen Ashkin - President
Acknowledged as one of ISSA’s top contributors to the professional cleaning industry in its 100-year history, Steve is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and a leader of the Green Cleaning Movement where he is often thought of as the “Father of Green Cleaning.”
Currently he serves as President of The Ashkin Group, Executive Director of the Green Cleaning Network, co-founder of Green Cleaning University and CEO of Green2Sustainable – all of which play important roles in his efforts to move the global cleaning industry from green to sustainable.
Steve has been working in the cleaning industry since 1981 where he has held key technical and management positions for leading commercial and consumer products companies.
He has extensive experience working throughout the entire supply chain from leading product manufacturers to product distributors to service providers to building owners and facility managers.
In addition, Steve also works extensively with market influencers such as environmental and health advocates, labor unions, media, governments, policymakers, standards setters, and others which have given him deep insights into how the marketplace can be used to drive health and environmental improvements.
Among Steve’s many awards include recognition from the National Performance Review for his help launching the President’s Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program, an Excellence Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency for his work to protect children from environmental threats, and the Green Building Advocate of the Year from the Leonardo Academy for bringing Green Cleaning to LEED-EB.
Brian Johnson - Director of Sustainability Practices
Brian J. Johnson is a true pioneer in the sustainability world, and his leadership over the past 35 years has been instrumental in driving forward scores of sustainability initiatives.
Before joining The Ashkin Group, Johnson held significant leadership roles that have left a lasting impact. He served as the Deputy Director for the State of California’s Environmental Protection Agency, where he led the Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Johnson also served as the founding Director of the City of Santa Monica’s Sustainability and Environment Division, leading the development and implementation of one of the world’s most recognized governmental sustainability programs.
His leadership at SanPa International, a sustainability consulting firm serving primarily in Latin America, and as a Sustainability Expert for Arthur D. Little further demonstrates his influential roles in the field.
Johnson has served on state, federal, and international advisory and regulatory development boards and as a leader in many certification and standard-setting initiatives. He has used his skills as a scientist and adept leader to drive sustainability into the mainstream marketplace.
Brian is also an enthusiastic outdoorsman, and perennial Californian. He often can be found working on projects to preserve public lands, when he is not at the beach surfing with his family.
