LW’s Unsung Heroes
Innovative Cleaning Services helps keep LW running smoothly
by Kathy Thayer
Recreation Manager
An old scripture cautions us to be hospitable to strangers as we may be entertaining angels unawares. Leisure World has been blessed with a team of angels for nearly nine years that go by the name of Innovative Cleaning Services. These are the workers who make sure our meetings are set up with the equipment we request, who clean our offices, clubhouses, laundry rooms, and carports. It is they who take care of special circumstances with which we don’t want to deal, like a deceased animal, an oil spill, or an unfortunate accident.
Typical of the comments we receive on our ICS crew, these kudos came from a happy Mutual 8 President Jeri Dolch, when a comedy of errors committed by nature could have ruined the picnic they had planned at Clubhouse 1: “We woke up to rain Saturday morning and later in the morning we had a Southern California Edison meltdown and were without electricity. Service personnel jumped into making one of the best times for Mutual 8. Forget the weather problems, we got long tables and chairs set up inside Clubhouse 1 for everyone and long service tables set up for buffet style service. Assistance with grill set up, ice filled into tubs for water bottles. The entire time they were present asking if we needed assistance with anything, cleaning floors when something was spilled and helping through the end with cleaning up and putting everything away. So many shareholders said how nice and helpful the employees were. Please let them know they are very much appreciated.”
These custodians and utility workers staff our clubhouses, seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 6:30 a.m. -11 p.m. They clean our offices after hours, help set up and tear down special events like the Amphitheater shows, vaccine clinics, and recently, The Great LW Discovery Tour.
Sometimes you may have trouble finding them because every clubhouse incorporates multiple areas both indoors and outdoors for which they are responsible. During the pandemic, these essential workers scrubbed equipment in the closed amenities and performed strict disinfection protocols throughout trust properties.
Several ICS employees have been with us longer than ICS has, choosing to join the company to be able to stay on at LWSB.
Valente Gonzalez is the weekday a.m. custodian at Clubhouse 2. Gonzalez has been here 28 years and knows the lay of the land better than most of us and knows the residents by name.
Miguel Perez Ruiz and Antonio Fernandez have cleaned the carports for 28 and 18 years, respectively. Three shift supervisors, Selvin De Leon, Enrique Arretche and Ana Gomez, keep busy checking the custodians’ work, delivering supplies, assisting GRF Recreation staff at special events and managing special cleanups. All have been here for several years. They and their coworkers are considered family by the Recreation Department, which is responsible for all janitorial services.
At the top of the on-site organization is indefatigable Site Manager Walter Solares and his assistant Elizabeth Cerda. Daily meetings with the Recreation Staff keep them apprised of any issues requiring special attention and both are in contact with their staff and ours seven days a week throughout all shifts. Without their work ethic, GRF’s amenities would not be the enjoyable venues and activities that set LWSB apart.
ICS is led by Jennifer Shramo and her team of operations staff who are devoted to our community. If you spoke to any of them, they would share their gratitude for the opportunities Leisure World has provided for so many of their people. You would also hear of the great pride they have in their staff who work hard to deliver safe and clean facilities for our residents.
Sharing her business philosophy, Shramo said, “The leadership of ICS is dedicated to fostering a culture of respect and dignity for all their employees.” Next time you see one of these unsung heroes, take a moment to thank them for all they do behind the scenes. They more than deserve it.
Department works closely with ICS to efficiently set up event spaces to create the best experience for residents.
