💡In this episode of Hard Refresh, host Caden Hutchens is flying solo and sitting down with the powerhouse behind WootRecruit and Sell Convert Clean—Libby DeLucien. From scaling residential cleaning during COVID to building multiple SaaS brands, Libby shares how to avoid tech overload, reduce operational friction, and build smarter systems before you buy the software.

If you’ve ever said “we’ll fix it with tech,” this one’s for you.

In This Episode:

🔹 Quick Control:

• August 26 Webinar: What Does Best-in-Class Building Retention Look Like? – Led by Gerald Fong (BrightGo) and guests
• Next CLX Event: September 23 — AI for Customer Relationship Management (digital learning experience)

🔹 Clear Cache:

• AI-generated roast: KPIs in your coffee, CVS-length email signatures, and more
• Why cleaning companies are actually “SaaS businesses in disguise”
• The trap of solving every problem with software
• Libby’s "tech stack house cleaning" method for reducing bloat
• Why you should build your process first—on paper—before choosing tools
• From chaos :arrow_right: order :arrow_right: automation: The right sequence for scaling
• How Sell Convert Clean turned from a web quoting tool into a quoting system
• Proactive vs. reactive automation: Don’t just fix problems—prevent them

💬 “Don’t automate chaos. Get clear on what you’re doing, why, and who it’s for—then go shopping for software.”

🎧 Subscribe & Follow Hard Refresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Host & Guest:

Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/

Libby DeLucien – https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbydelucien/

🧹 What does six decades in the cleaning industry teach you? In this episode of Hard Refresh, host Caden Hutchens and co-host Karina Neff sit down with Ron Segura, President of Segura & Associates and a true industry legend, to trace the arc of cleaning technology from hydrochloric acid to AI-powered operations—and everything in between.

With 60 years of experience across contracting, distribution, consulting, and a decade leading janitorial operations at WaltDisney Co., Ron brings history, perspective, and practical wisdom for the next generation of cleaning leaders.

In This Episode:

🔹 Quick Control:

• Upcoming August 6 Webinar led by BrightGo
• Stay tuned for the next CLX topic + in-person event in Las Vegas
• Catch last week’s episode: Biometrics & Behavioral Change with Josh Vesely of Findd (Ep. 19)

🔹 Clear Cache:

• Two Truths & a Legend: Henry Winkler, Bette Midler, and Disney secrets
• From hydrochloric acid to neutral cleaners: How chemical innovation shaped the industry
• The Disney decade: Managing 5M sq. ft. of corporate real estate and 120 in-house janitors
• The danger of promoting features instead of benefits when selling technology
• How to win sustainability buy-in (and get written into your client’s annual report)
• Why software doesn’t solve root causes—people do
• The “repetitive problem” gap and how tech can finally close it
• Ron’s call to the next generation: why the industry’s future is brighter than ever

💡 Whether you’re a BSC, distributor, or manufacturer, this episode is a masterclass in honoring the past while building the future of cleaning.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow Hard Refresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Hosts & Guest:
Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/
Karina Neff – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-neff-01b0782a/
Ron Segura – https://www.linkedin.com/in/seguraassociates/

🧠 In this episode of Hard Refresh, hosts Caden Hutchens and Karina Neff sit down with Josh Vesely from Findd to dig deep into what it actually takes to roll out biometric tech in the janitorial world—and why success has way more to do with people than software.

From facial recognition and sentiment analysis to practicalchange management, this conversation isn’t about flashy features—it’s about making adoption real at scale, without losing trust or traction.

In This Episode:

🔹 Quick Control:

• Last week’s episode: Tech, Trust & Turnover with Michelle Audas from Swept (Ep. 18)
• Catch up on our Mini-Series from ISSA BGS: Episodes 15–17
• Next guest: Industry veteran Ron Segura joins the show

🔹 Clear Cache:

• Josh’s AI roast—read live on the air
• What makes facial recognition more worker-friendly than other biometrics
• Why “liveness detection” is changing how we clock in and track accountability
• Using sentiment analysis to flag burnout before it spreads
• How Findd adapts to real-life shifts: facial hair, glasses, mood
• Change management strategies that actually work at the frontline level
• Why the worst-performing site is the best place to pilot new tech
• The “readiness, willingness, ableness” model of real-world implementation
• Gold nugget: Slow down to speed up—don’t rush the rollout, or the ROI

💡 Whether you're scaling systems, updatingsoftware, or just trying to get your team to use the new app—this one’s packedwith field-tested lessons on tech adoption that lasts.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow HardRefresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Hosts & Guest:
Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/
Karina Neff – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-neff-01b0782a/
Josh Vesely – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshvesely/

🧠 What does it take to scale a janitorial business without drowning in fires, friction, and failed tech?

In this episode of Hard Refresh, host Caden Hutchens sits down with Michelle Audas, CEO of Swept Janitorial Software, for a straight-talking conversation on systems, leadership, and whatreally separates stuck businesses from scalable ones.

From the “death by a thousand cuts” metaphor to vision-driven strategy, Michelle unpacks why most cleaning companies stall, and how the best ones break through.

In This Episode:

🔹 Quick Control:

• Mini Episode 1: Vision & Vulnerability with Channing Johnson (Ep. 15)
• Mini Episode 2: Values-Based Growth with Luis da Costa (Ep. 16)
• Mini Episode 3: RFP Strategy & Frontline Trust with KleenMark (Ep. 17)

🔹 Clear Cache:

• Two Truths & a Dream: Marathons, Iron Man, and golf
• From commercial banking to CEO of Swept
• What leaders get wrong about their field teams—and why that creates turnover
• The disconnect between tech purchase and process clarity
• Strategy before software: why tech isn’t a magic fix
• What successful operators actually do to retain employees
• Why defining SOPs too late can kill culture and momentum
• Real talk on competition and collaboration

💡 Whether you're building tech, managing teams, or scaling from solo to CEO, this episode will help you slow down, get strategic, and lead on purpose.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow Hard Refresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Host & Guest:
Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/
Michelle Audas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-audas/

💼 In the third and final mini episode recorded live at ISSA’s Business Growth Strategies conference, Hard Refresh co-host Caden Hutchens sits down with Billy McGrail and Michael Staver of KleenMark to talk about breaking free from the low-bid trap—and building a sustainable growth model rooted in value, trust, and people.

From hockey careers to tariff strategy to RFP landmines,this episode is a masterclass in how KleenMark balances profit with purpose across distribution and BSC operations.

In This Episode:

🔹 Quick Control:

• Missed Mini Episode 1? Go back to Ep. 15 with Channing Johnson of KP Building Services
• Mini Episode 2 (Ep. 16): Luis da Costa of Modular Concepts on values-based growth
• Main Series Ep. 14: Alex Crowley & Brad Klein on vertical brand strategy

🔹 Clear Cache:

• Why chasing volume and cutting prices nearly broke KleenMark’s margin—and culture
• How value-based selling improved long-term retention, morale, and reinvestment
• Using consultative strategy and quarterly usage reports to “get sticky” with clients
• Tariff talk: Proactive price change conversations that built deeper trust
• RFP strategy: Educating clients with real procurement questions to filter low bidders
• Balancing janitorial and distribution models with the same brand DNA
• Transition plans, multi-tier pricing, and 13-week performance promises
• Bonus: Billy’s minor league hockey story & Michael’s dreadlocks reveal

💡 Whether you’re in operations, sales, or procurement, this conversation reframes how to grow without sacrificing whatmatters most.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow Hard Refresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Hosts & Guests:
Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/
Karina Neff – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-neff-01b0782a/
Billy McGrail – https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-mcgrail-5687474a/
Michael Staver – https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-staver-115752b5/

💥 We’re live from the ISSA Business GrowthStrategies conference with the first of three special mini episodes! Co-hosts Karina Neff and Caden Hutchens sit down with Channing Johnson, President of KP Building Services, for a powerful conversation on leadership,perfectionism, and scaling tech the right way.

From emotional burnout to building SimonServe (acustom-built operations platform), Channing shares hard-earned lessons on growth, delegation, and trusting your team—plus one unforgettable company ritual involving a headstone.

In This Episode:

🔹 Quick Control:

• Last episode: Scaling Smarter with Alex Crowley and Brad Klein – recorded live from ISSA BGS
• Coming up next: Mini Episodes 2 and 3, featuring more onsite conversations from ISSA HQ

🔹 Clear Cache:

• How perfectionism almost stalled KP Building Services’ growth
• The role of therapy, EO, and executive coaching in becoming a better CEO
• “Trust but verify” as a leadership mindset
• The burial of status quo: a literal headstone and company-wide reset
• Building SimonServe to reduce manual labor, unify operations, and prep for M&A
• Using tech to create role clarity, time savings, and long-term team buy-in
• Launching What’s the Stuck?—Channing’s coaching and consulting venture for ops leaders

💡 Whether you’re leading a BSC, building aplatform, or coaching your team through change, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, let go, and scale smarter.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow Hard Refresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Hosts & Guest:
Karina Neff – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-neff-01b0782a/
Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/
Channing Johnson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/channing-johnson-a0833925/

We hit record live from the floor at ISSA’s 2025 BusinessGrowth Strategies Conference in Chicago! In this special edition of HardRefresh, co-hosts Karina Neff and Caden Hutchens talkbusiness strategy, brand perception, and employee impact with special guestsfrom the field:

Alex Crowley, Vonachen Group

Brad Klein, Building Professionals of Texas

What’s better—unified brand strategy or specializedverticals? The answer might surprise you.

In This Episode:

Quick Control:

• Don’t miss CLX: Robotics & Automation on June 24
  Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zHuyXqp4Ta2DnqTveoB1tw#/registration

Clear Cache:

• Two truths and a lie: Legal surprises, drywall damage, andsports stadiums
• Vonachen Group’s journey from multi-brand fragmentation to a unified powerhouse across 14 states
• Why Brad built brands like EduClean and MediCleanunder one umbrella for sales psychology
• How verticals can boost perception and profits in cardealerships, churches, and medical spaces
• The key to growth: Focus, systems, and relationships—notjust charisma or cheap bids

💡 Hard Refresh is where the cleaning industry clears its cache—debunking bad tech habits, challenging tired narratives, and spotlighting operational excellence.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow HardRefresh on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with the Hosts & Guests:Karina Neff – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-neff-01b0782a/Caden Hutchens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-hutchens/Alex Crowley – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-crowley-14475798/Brad Klein – https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-klein-c-b-s-e-2739b83/