Goodwill is widely recognized for its retail stores offering gently used items and crucial job training programs, supporting individuals with disabilities and barriers to work.

In South Florida, Goodwill Industries operates 35 locations—powering a dynamic retail presence that is just one of many ways they strengthen local communities. The organization also generates revenue through apparel manufacturing, laundry, business fulfillment, grounds maintenance, food preparation and janitorial/custodial services that make it the largest business operation among Goodwill Industries in the state and among the top ten in the country. These varied departments provide secure jobs for their employees and essential services to their clients.

The Service Contracts division employs more than 250 team members, including administrators, landscapers, food preparation, and custodial staff. The commercial cleaning operation has been serving the community for 40+ years and today manages more than 57 accounts with a total of 140 buildings.

“We clean office buildings, courthouses, hospitals, government facilities, and law enforcement offices, including police lock-ups, detention centers, and holding cells,” said Jocelyne Moussavou, Vice President of Service Contracts. “When you add it up, our cleaning service crews clean over 5.5 million square feet—each night.”

ProTeam Durability, Filtration, and Comfort Wins

To handle this load, the crews rely on 11 ProTeam Super Coach Pro 6 backpack and 53 ProTeam ProForce 1500 upright vacuums. “We have been loyal to ProTeam since 2014,” said Ms. Moussavou. We were impressed with ProTeam’s durability, filtration, and comfort, so we switched from a competitor’s brand.”

The team recently acquired the latest GoFit 3 Backpack Vacuum with the ProBlade Carpet Tool Kit. “After using an upright, our cleaning crew wasn’t sure how to get the most out of the ProBlade,” said Ms. Manchester. “But once they were trained to vacuum side to side, they realized the ergonomic design was much better for their posture.” Two crew members alternate vacuuming and dusting, using the GoFit Backpack Vacuum for a total of five hours per night. “They appreciate the comfort and adjustability of the GoFit harness and are pleased with how efficiently it cleans.”

ProTeam’s durability and longevity benefit commercial cleaning companies with large, diverse crews. “In our experience, ProTeam backpack vacuums last longer with routine maintenance than other commercial brands,” said Sue Manchester, Contract Manager with the Miami Dade Sheriff’s office. “And the hoses, cords, and floor tools for ProTeam are easy to replace.” Long-lasting equipment means less landfill waste for greater sustainability. The backpack vacuums use less electricity and are more efficient, saving close to 50% of labor time compared to uprights.

Maintain LEED-Certified Standards with ProTeam

Committed to implementing and maintaining sustainable, high-performance cleaning operations, Goodwill Industries South Florida is certified with honors to the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard Green Building (CIMS-GB) Criteria, advanced by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council. By utilizing efficient practices and eco-friendly products like ProTeam, they ensure a clean, safe environment that meets the needs of businesses and organizations of all sizes.

The advanced filtration system built into each ProTeam vacuum is crucial when cleaning LEED-certified buildings. “ProTeam’s four-stage filtration and HEPA media filters help keep indoor air clean,” said Ms. Manchester. “That is a real issue in Florida, where the humidity is so high. Cleaning is necessary to avoid mold and mildew.”

Many of the buildings Goodwill South Florida cleans have installed new, energy-efficient AC systems designed to improve indoor air quality. These systems better regulate temperatures, control moisture, and filter spores to prevent mold and mildew buildup. “After investing in updated HVAC systems, our clients appreciate that ProTeam’s stronger suction and advanced filtration help maintain high indoor air quality standards and reduce HVAC strain,” said Ms. Manchester.

Efficient and Effective Cleaning Capabilities 

“ProTeam vacuums pick up a lot of dirt,” said Ms. Manchester. “We weighed the bags at one location each week after switching to ProTeam. For the first few weeks, the ProTeam vacs picked up about 23 pounds per month, more than the previous brand. With regular use, that averaged 16 pounds per month. After one year, we removed 187 pounds of dry dirt from just one facility.”

The division maintains the highest green cleaning standards through rigorous CIMS-GB certification. This commitment to excellence results in high customer satisfaction and fosters long-term partnerships that drive some of the lowest turnover in the industry.

By cleaning more efficiently and effectively with ProTeam vacuums, Goodwill South Florida’s green cleaning initiatives have helped grow their janitorial and custodial business. As their operations expand, they can offer gainful employment to more individuals with disabilities or other barriers to work, supporting them in achieving greater independence and instilling pride in a job well done.