Author name: designer1@mandmmultimedia.com

Every organization is unique, and every person has individual strengths to bring to the table. It’s no question that the top qualities for success will fluctuate depending on the organization you’re joining, and the role you’ll be serving in. We often are asked the question: “What qualities do you look for when hiring new team members at Cummins Facility Services?” To answer this question, we’ve highlighted some key characteristics that are found in candidates who have proven to be a great fit with our team. Integrity Whether an applicant is applying to be a front-line cleaner, or part of our administrative team, the characteristic of integrity has shown to be among the top qualities needed to be a good fit with the culture at CFS. Our team is responsible for the health and safety of themselves, their fellow employees, and our clients and their teams. Many of our staff members serve on the frontlines of the pandemic day in and day out, which is a huge responsibility that requires an exceptional level of integrity. Cummins Facility Services is continuously expanding our team in a variety of roles to meet the increased demand and expanded services our clients are seeking as a result of Covid-19. These front-line duties require the utmost accountability and dedication to quality standards every day, on every shift. We are fortunate to have so many team members who approach every task and interaction with fellow employees and our clients with integrity leading the way. Can-Do Attitude We do not require previous experience in facility services when joining our team, although it certainly never hurts! We believe that while experience is valuable, a willingness to learn is the greatest asset someone can bring to the job. We prioritize training and continuous growth, with programs like GED reimbursement, personal and work-related trainings and skill-building, and opportunities to grow within the company. Whether you are an industry veteran, or just looking to get into the business, we provide the training needed to get the job done. The sky is the limit for our employees who are willing to dedicate time and effort to growing individually and as experts in our industry. With every new hire, we look for a can-do approach during training, when executing daily responsibilities and learning new tasks that arise along the way. It’s no secret that I am a huge advocate for positivity, and the employees who are most successful at our organization live their lives, and carry out their work, with an optimistic approach. Embracing STAR I’ve talked about our STAR program before, and the significant role it plays in our culture. New employees begin learning about excelling in Safety, Teamwork, Attention to detail and Relationships from the day they are hired. When a new team member exemplifies these characteristics during the interview, they have great potential to shine bright at CFS. Our company cannot achieve its goals without each individual’s dedication to top quality and outstanding teamwork! We have many unique personalities and strengths at CFS, but these commonly shared values are what make us such a great team and allow us to provide clients with exceptional service. I look forward to watching our team continue to grow and leveraging our individual and collective strengths to make a positive difference for our clients. Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

It is hard to believe we’ve reached the end of a year that has left a long-lasting impact on each of our lives. The challenges were abundant in all areas of life – from wellbeing to social interaction, to leadership, business operations, parenting, and the list goes on. The obstacles brought on by 2020 were significant, but I would be remiss to not recognize the joyful moments hidden throughout this year. 2020 put a spotlight on the facility services industry, creating an unprecedented demand for our services and fast-tracking innovation and new technologies that will improve our health and the way we do business for years to come. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on a few profound milestones, for which I am incredibly grateful.   The CFS team Each day, my greatest pride is for the incredible team at CFS and their outstanding commitment to our clients. Thank you to our team, for rising to the challenges and for helping keep our clients, their facilities, their customers and our communities safe. Facility service professionals were called to the frontlines this year, often with pressures for quicker turnarounds and increased frequency. As a gesture of gratitude toward our employees as front line workers, our company was honored to reinvest more than $110,000 to employee bonuses in 2020. CFS employees: you should be incredibly proud of yourselves for showing up, working hard, and making a difference. You are rock stars!   The CFS facility In the midst of all the chaos this year, we decided it was time to make the move to a new facility! Our new 25,000 sq. ft. headquarters is still in Marion, Ohio, but is now on a 10-acre space with five buildings. We are so excited to have a place to call ‘home’ with plenty of space for our employees, equipment, and room for growth in the future. If you’d like to take a virtual tour, watch our facility video here. In addition to a new location for our headquarters, we opened two offices; one is in Findlay, Ohio and another is in St. Joseph, Michigan. It’s so exciting to watch our company grow and impact new communities! In addition to adapting to our new locations, our employees embraced a modified schedule, with many of them working from home. This year certainly shook up the traditional office setting, but our team took it in stride. We’re excited for a time when we can truly dive into the space at our facility, safely together.   The CFS Impact I’ve said before, that the Covid-19 pandemic was the jolting awakening for the cleaning industry, comparable to the impact of 9/11 on the security industry. Even in the face of so much fear, uncertainty and grief, these life changing occurrences are an opportunity to pause, problem-solve and persist with better innovations, technologies and practices. While innovation and continuous improvement has always been part of our foundation here at CFS, we worked harder than ever to bring new solutions to our work this year. At the start of the pandemic, we quickly implemented new, targeted disinfection strategies using groundbreaking technologies to help our clients continue, or resume operating within recommended guidelines. Through open, continuous communication, we created and maintained a steady flow of information with our employees, clients and community regarding Covid-19 prevention strategies and updates.   While many factors were at play outside our facility, we were also working internally to implement facility data standards here at CFS. Our new headquarters now operates through one interface as an automated smart building! This means that there are sensors monitoring our facility’s HVAC, lighting, supply management and more for the highest standard in operations management. I am so proud to have turned this concept into a reality at CFS, and look forward to seeing it positively impact our industry and our world as time unfolds. In addition, we had great expansion at Facility Genius – a certified solutions expert staffed by industry, engineering, and technical personnel to proactively and responsibly improve a company’s efficiencies, environment and facility management processes. This effort I began in 2018 continues to grow, with the foundational mission to deliver evidence-based cleaning tools and results. Overall, there are too many new and exciting technologies in the queue to share here, but I will continue to update you on their progress in 2021. While this year is one we will never forget for many unwelcome reasons, I appreciate the opportunities it gave us to grow and become better for each other and for the future of our world. My commitment in 2021 is to continue believing in people, and our ability to work together in the face of adversity for a brighter, brilliant future. Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

This holiday season will likely look different for many families as we continue to navigate Covid-19. While you may not be hosting holiday parties or welcoming dozens of friends and relatives into your home, many of us are feeling a pressing responsibility to keep our homes as clean and safe as possible, while maintaining sanity and enjoying the season. I have compiled some tips to help you crush your holiday cleaning strategy in the coming weeks. First, the front door What is the place in your home that welcomes every person? Your front door! From family members, delivery drop offs, and quick pop-ins, your front door sees more people than any other point in the house. Be sure to wipe down doorknobs each day, taking special time for all-over cleaning on a regular basis. Don’t forget doorbells, mailboxes, lock keypads and any other high-touch point near the entryway. Make it fun with hand sanitizer stations Hand sanitizer has become a bigger part of our days than we could have ever imagined. If I’m having a guest stop by, I like to welcome them with a fun hand sanitizer station. At this station, I have a few favorite scents of hand sanitizer, some sanitizer sprays and paper towels. I also leave a few disposable masks out in case the visitor is not already wearing one. The station grabs their attention and serves as a subtle reminder to sanitize and wear a mask, while making it fun for the guest! These stations are also great checkpoints for household members each time they return from work or errands. I have them at all the entrance areas of my home! Tackle the touchpoints Once per week, I make it a goal to tackle all the high touchpoints in my home with extra cleaning treatments. These include surfaces like door handles, including cabinet knobs in the bathroom and kitchen. The refrigerator and freezer handles are some of the most frequently touched spots in the home, as well as microwave and oven handles. When covering the family room, be sure to clean television remotes and game controllers. One of the biggest touchpoints of all? Your phone! The key to cleaning phones is allowing for dwell time. You can check the dwell time of nearly every cleaning supply on the back of the bottle or box. Be sure that you’re allowing all of these items their maximum clean potential with the right dwell time. Don’t skip your vehicle Many of us think of keeping our homes and workspaces clean, but equally important are our vehicles! Your steering wheel, turn signal and wiper levers, door handles, seatbelts, and control buttons all need cleaned frequently, along with any other high-touch areas in the car. Vehicles are especially at risk for contaminants, since they’re the transition place between stops, often with multiple people in a family utilizing the same car. Be sure to have ample hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes available and make it a goal to clean your car after every few uses. The power of fresh air We’ve heard time and time again that outdoor spaces are safer amid coronavirus. If we’re lucky enough to get some mild to seasonally warmer temperatures, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to cleanse your home with fresh air! Open up windows and doors to allow new, clean airflow into all rooms in your home. If you do plan to entertain any guests, do so outdoors whenever possible with ample air flow. Break out the blankets and hand warmers or use a firepit to keep cozy if you have one. Moving interactions outdoors whenever possible will help your home stay clean and your family and guests stay safe.   Be empowered with boundaries It might sound simple, but setting your boundaries as a family is key to truly feeling safe and happy while at home during the holiday season. No two families are the same, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to how to navigate this time of year with Covid-19 causing concern. Sit down with your household and establish boundaries for things like vehicle travel, the number of guests allowed in the household, if any, and your comfort levels for safety measures like mask wearing, indoor vs. outdoor seating and more. Ultimately, making sure everyone in your home is on the same page is the best way to limit stress in the coming weeks. While we may celebrate differently this year, I hope everyone has a peaceful, joyous holiday season. Happy Holidays. Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC    

Remember the days when travel seemed intuitive? Not these days, especially with the added hustle and bustle of holiday travel. This year, there are a lot of new factors to consider on how to keep you and your family safe while traveling during Covid-19. No matter the method – car, plane, or overnight hotel stay, I have compiled some tips to help you and your families stay safe this year. Be Transparent. Start by asking questions and setting the framework for what you and your family are comfortable with. There is no right or wrong answer, as every family is different. Is it better for your situation to stay home this holiday season? If you do plan to visit relatives, what precautions will help you and your family stay safe during the visit? Talk about these expectations –including number of guests, social distancing logistics, mask wearing, food setup and more. These details may seem like a lot to gather in advance, but having a plan and setting boundaries will allow you to minimize stress and maximize a joyful experience if you choose to venture out. Only you know the best route for your family. Be Knowledgeable. While many airlines, hotels, and travel facilities are taking additional precautions to keep customers safe, it is also each family’s responsibility to invest time beforehand researching the best practices within each industry and the safety measures to expect along the way. I have seen fantastic procedures by American Airlines during my own travel experiences in recent months. When you board the plane, there are ‘We just cleaned your plane’ messages to help travelers feel assured and safe. They also use an incredible, new chemical called Z-71, which protects against Covid-19 for seven days! It’s great to see this proactive approach to safe, sanitary travel from airlines, with routine cleaning and disinfection, as well as exceptional air filtration. In addition, you will want to call ahead to any rental car facilities you may be using, or hotels you may be staying in. Ask about their measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Understand their policies toward social distancing, maximum capacities, dining and mask wearing. Gathering this knowledge in advance will keep travel smoother for everyone involved. Be Prepared. We know that mask wearing, hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing are essential practices to protect against Covid-19. There will be some creative thinking required to travel while keeping these steps in place. For car travel – plan out your stops ahead of time, minimizing potential exposures as much as possible. Can you pack snacks or meals in advance to reduce stops? Are there opportunities to eat outdoors rather than inside restaurants? Bring along extra masks in case a few get lost along the way. Make sure you have enough FDA-approved hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes to clean hands and surfaces like phones, tablets and seatbelts along the way. I am known for wiping down my seat, seatbelt, tray table and screen each time I hop on a plane – even before Covid-19! Be sure if you are boarding a plane, that your hand sanitizer fits within liquid limits. Be Adaptable. We are all learning as we go, even eight months into this pandemic. Remember to give yourself extra time and extra grace if you and your family decide to do traveling this holiday season. There will be extra stops, starts and hurdles, but remembering that we are ‘all in this together’ will help keep perspective in the right place. I urge you to continue taking this virus and the necessary precautions very seriously, but also take time to enjoy this season of gratitude, love and reflection. We have overcome so much this year and I know brighter days are just around the corner! Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

Resilience: It’s known as an individual’s “ability to withstand or recover from difficult situations – how you’re able to restore equilibrium in your life during or following upheaval,” according to Psychology Today. If resilience was important at the beginning of 2020, it is no doubt an essential tool for navigating everyday life today. I have talked before about the importance of resilient business relationships. Expanding that concept at a more personal level, we can only be resilient in our workplace relationships when we are resilient as individuals. So, how do you stay resilient when it feels like the only thing we can be certain of is new challenges coming from all directions? Rest assured, you CAN do this! I have compiled a few tips to consider moving forward. Focus on your ‘Why’ Think back to the day you started working toward your current goal. What was your ‘why’? Chances are, that ‘why’ still remains, even if the once smooth circumstances have become a bit rocky. I rely on check-ins with myself to remember my ‘why’. At Cummins, my ‘why’ always has been, and always will be my employees. They are the reason I do what I do, because I thrive on helping them grow as individuals and throughout their careers while providing the best possible work environment I can. Even in the midst of COVID-19, and any other challenge throughout my leadership career, I always keep my ‘why’ at top of mind to fuel my resilience despite any uncontrollable circumstances. What is your ‘why’? Is it your children? Your spouse? Your community? Your commitment to helping others? Whatever your why(s), I encourage you to set routine reflections with yourself. Are the actions and attitudes you are carrying that day helping support your ‘why’? If not, it’s time to refocus on the bigger picture. Focus on what you CAN Control While it is easy to feel out of control with so many unique variables impacting the workplace, schools and social life, a key to staying grounded is focusing on what you CAN control. I like to release stress and gain inspiration through running. Each and every time I head out, I have control of the pace, the frequency and the distance. I also control my mindset, my willpower and my drive on each and every run. If running isn’t your thing, the concept is still the same. Factors like what we consume for news information, food and drink, and energy impact our resilience. We can control how we interact with others, how we handle conflict and how we respond to challenging situations. Connection is Key I have said it before – never ever underestimate the importance of BEING THERE. Being there may look different now, but we can still stay connected with technology or safe, socially distant settings. Mail a card, make a phone call, send a text, or set up a virtual face-to-face meeting. Make it a habit to reach out to a handful of friends or family members each day to check in on them. You will feel a sigh of relief due to the communication, and you’ll brighten their day with just a few moments! Now, more than ever, monitoring, expanding and growing our personal resilience will impact how we navigate the current challenges for a better future. I hope these tips bring you a sense of peace and possibility as we work together to overcome and achieve. Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

This year has been FULL of challenges. From minor inconveniences in our daily routines, to life-changing adjustments, sometimes it can feel like there is no clear end in sight. To get through this, we all deserve time to pause and acknowledge the unprecedented challenges we have experienced as individuals, families, business leaders and a nation. At the same time, the best way I have found to move forward is to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for. Even in times when things feel out of our control, taking a moment for gratitude can help us muster the courage and inspiration to keep going – it has certainly helped me! In the spirit of gratitude, I would like to share my reflections with you as we embrace this Thanksgiving season. CFS employees: Your resilience continues to amaze me! You are superheroes, bravely facing any challenge we have been presented this year. Through your dedication and commitment, we’ve had the honor of being the behind-the-scenes crew, helping our clients resume or continue business as safely as possible. It is a blessing that there have been many new technologies and strategies within our company and industry throughout 2020, but none of that could make the impact it has for our clients without your willingness to learn and adapt. I am so proud to have you as part of our team, carrying out our mission each day. You save the day, every day! CFS clients: Thank you for placing your trust in our team to keep your facility clean and safe for your employees, visitors and customers, at a time when it is more important than ever. We are so grateful to provide our services so that you can do what you do best for your customers and community. This year has been challenging for leaders in every industry, as we have been faced with many difficult decisions, uncertainty and ever-changing business practices. Even when we’ve been distanced, I have been grateful to navigate these obstacles together. We know that brighter days are ahead and we can’t wait to continue to work alongside each of you! CFS community: I am so grateful that through the amazing work of our team members, and both new and old relationships with our fantastic clients, Cummins Facility Services has been able to give back to causes that we hold near and dear in our communities. We realize that many people are facing greater needs than ever before, and woven in the fabric of our company is a desire to give back when we can. We promise to continue being good stewards of these values. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this fantastic network of individuals, families and businesses. While this year has been bursting with challenges, obstacles and lessons, it has become so apparent how much we have to be grateful for. My wish is that everyone is able to reflect on their blessings and continue moving forward, together, toward a new year. Happy Thanksgiving! Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

It’s important to me to frequently share the pride I have for the incredible CFS team that works hard to serve our wonderful clients each day. Our commitment to providing high-quality facility services would not be possible without the rock stars on our team. While I can never fully express my gratitude to these incredible individuals for their outstanding work, CFS loves to give them a big shoutout through our company’s STAR program, which has been around for more than a decade. STAR employees are nominated by their managers, clients, or fellow employees for demonstrating the qualities of Safety, Teamwork, Attention to detail and Relationships. As part of this recognition, STARs receive a special t-shirt, monthly, handwritten cards from leadership and are included in a fun year-end drawing. New employees begin hearing about the STAR program during their first day in training and are reminded of the opportunity throughout their time at CFS. Recognizing outstanding work is not only important for team morale, but also shows our clients when they have a STAR employee serving their facility’s needs. I have seen the benefits of employee recognition at all levels and have never regretted a single appreciation initiative for our team. After all, our company cannot achieve its goals without each individual’s dedication to quality and teamwork! The sky is the limit for our employees who are willing to dedicate time and effort to growing individually and as experts in our industry. I think the best way to learn more about these standout employees is to hear directly from them. So, I have included some comments from two STAR employees here: Robin, Area Manager | Marion, Ohio How long have you been with CFS? Four years. What key duties can someone in your role                            expect during an average work day? As part of my duties, I make sure employees are clocked in and accounted for each shift and that we have the proper supply levels. I also help team members out in any way that I can to ensure we excel together. During and following each cleaning, I audit the areas to ensure they meet CFS’s quality standards for our clients. Lori, Supervisor | Marion, Ohio How long have you been with CFS? Five years. What key duties can someone in your role expect during an average work day? You always have something to do. Anything from fixing equipment, to cleaning up a flood, to making sure all staff have supplies to do their job. What is your favorite part about working with CFS? All my co-workers and staff. They are greatly appreciated! Watching employees shine as individuals and professionals is one of the greatest joys of my job. At CFS, we all have our individual roles, but our common goals of communication, collaboration and consistency allow us to provide clients with exceptional service. As our team grows, I hope that we can continue to leave a lasting impact in the lives of our employees and the clients we serve. Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC