CINCINNATI – April 7, 2023 – The voting period for the 2023 Custodian of the Year contest hosted by Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) closes at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, April 14. Don’t miss your chance to vote for your favorite custodian at www.custodianoftheyear.com.

The greatest number of public votes determines the winner of the Cintas Custodian of the Year contest. Cintas will award $10,000 to the winning custodian and $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid products and services to the winner’s school. The winner’s school will also receive a facility assessment and consulting package from ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, valued at $30,000 and enrollment in the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Fundamentals Online Course. The other nine finalists will receive $1,000 each and complimentary tuition to one ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) virtual training event, valued at $1,500. The finalists’ schools will also receive a cleaning supply package from Rubbermaid Commercial Products. New this year, the Top 3 finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to the ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas in November where they’ll be celebrated for their accomplishments.

The top 10 finalists in the 2023 Custodian of the Year contest include:

1. Abdul Akeely – Burns Park Elementary School (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Hardworking is an understatement when it comes to describing Abdul Akeely. His labor-intensive job requires working overtime and during the night to take care of a school that’s over 100 years old. Students and staff say he is a friend to everyone and is always happy to lend a helping hand. He’s often seen going out of his way to help others with a positive attitude. Even during challenging days, he keeps a smile on his face and puts others’ needs first. Abdul goes out of his way to build genuine connections with students and staff and works hard to create a clean and welcoming environment at his school.

2. Paul “Mr. Paul” Baerenwald – Mapleview Intermediate School (Kimberly, Wis.)

Mr. Paul is a beloved staff member at Mapleview Intermediate School. He is a constant source of positivity and happiness. He greets students every morning out front, talks with students during lunch and gives a friendly greeting to everyone he passes in the hall. He loves to say that Monday is the best day of the week because he gets to see everyone all week long! He goes all out for school spirit days and setting up activities to show how much he cares for his school. He’ll even dress up like Spiderman during recess to gather playground balls and surprise the students.

3. Rodney “Mr. Peanuts” Esser – Park Elementary School (Cross Plains, Wis.)

Park Elementary School holds a special place in Mr. Peanuts’ heart. In fact, his family used to farm on the land where the school was built. He’s dedicated to his students and even started a program decades ago to help kids in the district who need extra financial support. He provides them with summer jobs and teaches them how to open savings accounts. He also teaches students the importance of trees, how to plant them and the role they play in our lives. On top of that, he’s never missed a first day of school in his 58 years of being a custodian at Park Elementary!

4. Ramiro Hernandez Julia – Tohopekaliga High School (Kissimmee, Fla.)

Ramiro is a natural leader and a key asset to his school. He often anticipates the needs of students and staff and has an unmatched standard for cleanliness. Ramiro enjoys mentoring young members of his custodial team and gets people of all backgrounds to work effectively together to keep the campus on 75 acres with 356,218 square feet of building space and nearly 3,000 students and staff in excellent condition. He also goes out of his way to cook meals for his custodial team to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

5. Barbara “Mrs. Barbara” James – Yulee Primary School (Yulee, Fla.)

Mrs. Barbara is a beloved member of Yulee Primary School. Her co-workers describe her as a blessing to the school and a busy lady who is never too busy to share her heart. She works tirelessly to create a beautiful environment at her school by planting flowers, decorating for the holidays and coming in on the weekends to mow the grass or put down mulch. After noticing the students had numerous mosquito bites, she advocated for a bug sprayer to help keep the mosquitoes under control. You’ll often find her walking the campus each morning, “smoking out the mosquitoes,” as she says.

6. David “Mr. Dave” Jeffers – Brokaw Early Learning Center (Oswego, Ill.)

October 2022, Brokaw Early Learning Center suffered a fire that destroyed one therapy room and severely impacted an inclusive classroom. Dave Jeffers stepped up, spending long hours clearing out the damage. While the restoration service was rolling out critical instructional materials and adaptive toys for students with special needs, Mr. Dave stopped them and quickly notified the teachers. The items were able to be inventoried by staff and many personal items were saved. He consistently goes above and beyond and was a light during this traumatic event. He’s always been a role model for students and brings special care to Brokaw.

7. Quan “Mr. Quan” Le – Friendswood Junior High (Friendswood, Texas)

Mr. Quan is known for his impeccable work ethic. He was raised in Vietnam and noticed American soldiers helping Vietnamese people as he grew up which led him to be a medic in the Vietnam Army for several years then a psychiatric doctor. In 2003, he came to the U.S. with his wife and two children to provide them a “better life.” Mr. Quan is loved by everyone in his community, and they all have deep respect for him. He loves his job and tells students, “Do a good thing per day, you will help many people.”

8. Doreen “Ms. Doreen” Merritt – Elms Elementary School (Jackson, N.J.)

Ms. Doreen leads by example, setting clear expectations and doing the work she asks of her team. She’s developed meaningful relationships with staff, students, and families alike. She’s responsive to others’ needs, including being quick to help the school’s large special needs program – from diapering needs, cleaning up toilet accidents, all while approaching those tasks with a sensitive and understanding manner. Ms. Doreen works closely with the school’s Green Team advisors, playing an integral part of the school’s recycling program and helping facilitate the school’s food share program. She is meticulous about cleaning and has organized space within the school to help students and staff thrive.

9. Jessica Prado – Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)

Jessica always produces exemplary work, and often steps up in her manager’s absence to ensure her team’s workload is running smoothly with no safety violations. She takes pride in her work, has excellent rapport with her coworkers and is always there to lend a hand when others are in need. You’ll never catch Jessica complaining when she’s asked to fill in for others and leads new staff through training programs to ensure high level of cleanliness and attention to detail are instilled in her team. She’s known for providing high-quality service with an upbeat attitude.

10. Richard Toomey – Kelly Mill Elementary (Cumming, Ga.)

Richard Toomey goes way beyond the call of duty. Not only does he wonderfully manage custodial staff at his school, but he also keeps the 10-year-old building in perfect condition. Everyone knows they can count on Richard to help with anything needed. Whether it’s climbing on the roof to get balls for kids at recess, planting crops, carrying heavy items for teachers or digging through the trash for a mouth retainer, he does it all with a smile on his face. Richard also goes out of his way to provide in-depth classroom cleaning for students with compromised immune systems to help ensure their health and safety.

For more information about the Custodian of the Year contest, please contact Brianna Fitzpatrick at [email protected] or 773-817-3106. A Custodian of the Year logo, as well as photos of the top 10 finalists are available via Dropbox here.

About Cintas Corporation:

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday^®. The company is also the creator of the Total Clean Program™ — a first-of-its-kind service that includes scheduled delivery of essential cleaning supplies, hygienically clean laundering, and sanitizing and disinfecting products and services. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Voting is Open! Cintas Reveals Top 10 Finalists in Nationwide 2021 Custodian of the Year Contest

CINCINNATI – March 16, 2021 –With custodians working harder to provide a safe and healthy learning environment amid the pandemic, Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is proud to announce the top 10 finalists of its eighth-annual Custodian of the Year contest. From saving a choking student’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver to creating sensory rooms for students with disabilities, the top 10 finalists emulate what it means to be extraordinary. From now through April 16, the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite custodian at custodianoftheyear.com.

“With over 2,000 deserving nominations, it was difficult choosing only 10 finalists,” said Christiny Betsch, Marketing Manager, Cintas. “This contest shows us that custodians are much more than cleaners. They’re true role models who go above and beyond to have a positive impact on students, faculty, teachers and communities across the U.S.”

The greatest number of public votes determines the winner of the 2021 Custodian of the Year contest. The winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize along with $5,000 in products and services for his or her school from Cintas and Rubbermaid Commercial Products. The winner’s school will also receive a comprehensive training and development package from ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, valued at $20,000, and enrollment in the GBAC Fundamentals Online Course that teaches cleaning professionals to prepare for, respond to and recover from biohazards in the workplace, from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. A cash prize of $1,000 each and free tuition to one ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) training event, valued at $1,500, will be awarded to the remaining nine finalists.

“For the second year in a row, we are amazed at the dedication and commitment from each of the 10 finalists,” said John Barrett, Executive Director, ISSA. “Custodians are the glue that holds many schools together, and it’s an honor to give these 10 finalists the recognition they deserve.”

The top 10 finalists in the 2021 Custodian of the Year contest include (alphabetical order):

• Christopher Bowman – Bellflower Elementary School (Mentor, Ohio)
• Bobbi Sue Burbey – Wrightstown High School (Wrightstown, Wisc.)
• Robert Buster – Westview Elementary School (Northglenn, Colo.)
• Francesco (Franco) Catalano – F.E. Peacock Middle School (Itasca, Ill.)
• Donna Colello – Ocean Avenue Elementary School (Portland, Maine)
• Charles Harris – Warren Technical School (Chamblee, Ga.)
• Mike Heiry – North Allegheny Intermediate High School (Pittsburgh)
• Edward Straub – Blue Ridge Middle School (Greer, S.C.)
• Terry Tackett – Benton Elementary School (Benton, Ky.)
• John Wheeler – Bishop Moore Catholic High School (Orlando, Fla.)

For more information about the Custodian of the Year contest, please contact Jessie Koerner at [email protected] or (551) 265-6921. A high-res Custodian of the Year logo, as well as photos of the top 10 finalists are available via Dropbox here.

About Cintas Corporation

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready^™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety training, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday^®. The company is also the creator of the Total Clean Program^TM —
a first-of-its-kind service that includes scheduled delivery of essential cleaning supplies, hygienically clean laundering, and sanitizing and disinfecting products and services. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

About ISSA:  

With more than 9,300 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, 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; Parramatta, Australia; Whitby, Canada; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. Visit issa.com, join the discussion with ISSA’s LinkedIn group, and follow ISSA on our Facebook page and Twitter account. For more information, visit issa.com, or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.

Grab the Rally Towel! Pittsburgh Custodian Crowned 2021 Cintas Custodian of the Year

CINCINNATI — May 78, 2021 – And the winner of the 2021 Cintas Custodian of the Year contest is… Mr. Heiry! With over 70,000 votes, Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) crowned Mike Heiry of North Allegheny Intermediate High School the 2021 Cintas Custodian of the Year. Nearly 800 students congratulated Mr. Heiry with a surprise hybrid ceremony held virtually and in the school’s auditorium. He was celebrated with the marching band’s drumline and posters created by the student government organization.

“Whether it’s being a role model or providing a safe and healthy environment for students, this contest celebrates the important – and often overlooked – role custodians play in schools,” said Sean Mulcahey, Marketing Manager at Cintas. “It’s clear that Mike is a beloved member of the North Allegheny Intermediate community, and we are thrilled to honor Mike as this year’s 2021 Cintas Custodian of the Year.”

Mr. Heiry consistently goes out of his way to create a clean and safe learning environment for students, faculty and staff. His upbeat energy and kindness have left a positive impact on North Allegheny Intermediate students and staff, which earned him 20% of the contest’s total votes cast for the 10 national finalists.

“This is an incredible achievement for Mr. Heiry, and we are honored to recognize him as the nation’s top custodian,” said Marta Aebischer, Vice President of Marketing, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “Year after year, we’re completely blown away by the hard work and dedication these men and women put in every day especially this past year, playing a pivot role on the front line of the pandemic.”

Mr. Heiry will receive a $10,000 cash prize from Cintas, and his school will receive $5,000 in products and services from Cintas and Rubbermaid Commercial Products, along with a comprehensive training and development package from ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, valued at $20,000. Mr. Heiry will also receive enrollment in the GBAC Fundamentals Online Course that teaches cleaning professionals to prepare for, respond to and recover from biorisks in all types of facilities, from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA.

Each of the remaining nine finalists will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and free tuition to one ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) training event, valued at $1,500.

“Custodians are pivotal in providing a clean and healthy environment for students and staff across the country,” said John Barrett, Executive Director, ISSA. “ISSA is committed to providing the industry outstanding training and certification programs that make cleaning easier, more efficient and more effective, and we are pleased to offer training to the top school custodians in the U.S.”

For mre information about the Cintas Custodian of the Year contest, visit http://www.localhost:10005/

EDITORS NOTE: To access photos and footage from today’s award presentation at North Allegheny Intermediate High School, visit https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zqm0foeoyfa0c18/AAC4QSKV2oNgaFdkrHi0DI31a?dl=0

About Cintas:

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready^™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety training, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday^®. The company is also the creator of the Total Clean Program^TM — a first-of-its-kind service that includes scheduled delivery of essential cleaning supplies, hygienically clean laundering, and sanitizing and disinfecting products and services. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

About Rubbermaid Commercial Products:

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), headquartered in Huntersville, N.C., is a manufacturer of innovative, solution-based products for commercial and institutional markets worldwide. Since 1968, RCP has pioneered technologies and system solutions in the categories of food services, sanitary maintenance, waste handling, material transport, away-from-home washroom and safety products. RCP is part of Newell Brands’ global portfolio of leading brands and continues to develop innovative products. Visit www.rubbermaidcommercial.com.

About ISSA
With more than 10,500 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, 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, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Canada; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.