As part of Building Service Contractors Association International’s (BSCAI’s) ongoing 60th anniversary celebration, the organization has been spotlighting member-companies that have helped make the association the success it has been. Last month, the spotlight was shone on GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc., a legacy member that was originally founded as Robertson Janitorial in 1926 (well before BSCAI existed) in Montreal, Canada.
This month, we decided to tout one of our “younger” members, though age is relative, of course. JANCO Commercial Cleaning LLC has been serving our industry for over 35 years since its founding in 1989. The second-generation, family-owned business is headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, and has evolved over the years to provide a full range of services from general janitorial cleaning to window and carpet cleaning. JANCO even offers escalator cleaning and construction cleanup.
Freezing Out the Competition in Alaska
JANCO Commercial Cleaning loves being a first-class player in a state that bills itself as “The Last Frontier” on its license plates and in its tourism marketing. It has operations that span its region, from Eagle River to Wasilla, and will soon be expanding into Las Vegas.
“What truly sets JANCO apart is our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and community,” remarks JANCO Commercial COO Cynthia Mockbee. “In an industry often defined by turnover and transactional service, we’ve built long-lasting partnerships by combining high-quality standards with a deep understanding of our clients’ unique needs — from medical facilities and surgical centers to Class A buildings and financial institutions.”
She continues, “We are also known for being forward-thinking, integrating tools like Orange QC, for real-time quality tracking, Sortly, for warehouse inventory management, and Team Software by WorkWave for full ERP capability.”
Advice to Other Colleagues and Members
Mockbee says that any business operating in this sector must be defined by its people and that the diversity of those who work janitorial services be reflected in the C-suite. For instance, JANCO Commercial Cleaning's leadership team is predominantly made up of minority women and family members who are personally invested in the success of the firm. Mockbee notes, "My father founded the business, [and] my sisters and I are actively working together in management and executive roles together. We create career pathways for frontline staff; invest in continuous training; and structure our culture around excellence, trust and purpose.”
JANCO indeed began as a small, family-run business but has grown into a multimillion-dollar operation with more than 200 employees and 200+ buildings under management. The once local cleaning company has transformed into a scalable operation with specialized divisions in medical-grade cleaning, floor care, and facility supply management.
“In the past five years alone,” Mockbee says, “JANCO has doubled in size and restructured operations to support our next phase of growth. We’ve added executive leadership roles, introduced a full SOP and training system, implemented quality control software, and digitized everything from onboarding to inventory tracking. Yet, through all this growth, we’ve remained grounded in our founding values: faith, integrity, and community. We give generously to nonprofits [and] host team appreciation events for our employees and their families.”
BSCAI Membership Has Its Privileges
Mockbee encourages other cleaning companies to take full advantage of their BSCAI membership perks. She calls membership in the association “an invaluable part of our growth journey. For our company, BSCAI has provided access to industry best practices, benchmarking tools, and training resources that help elevate our operational standards and leadership development.”
And on a personal level, the operating chief acknowledges that BSCAI has connected her with a powerful network of peers — many of whom have faced the same challenges she and her staff are navigating today. Mockbee adds, “The conferences and roundtables create space for meaningful dialogue around scaling, workforce development, compliance, and innovation. It’s rare to find a community so willing to share their wisdom, and that spirit of collaboration has helped me lead with greater clarity and confidence.”
So, what advice would Mockbee have for BSCAI’s leadership in order for the association to survive and thrive for at least another six decades and beyond? She was quick to answer that she would love to see continued investment in diverse leadership development, especially for women, immigrants, and second-generation business owners who are shaping the future of the industry.
“Additionally,” she concludes, “as our industry becomes more tech-integrated and service expectations rise, BSCAI can play a key role by offering more hands-on case studies, system demos, and scalable tech solutions that fit companies at different growth stages.
Finally, I believe there’s a unique opportunity for BSCAI to foster mentorship across generations — pairing established leaders with emerging professionals to create a stronger, more connected industry built on shared knowledge and legacy!”
Cynthia Mockbee is the chief operating officer of JANCO Commercial Cleaning, a commercial cleaning company based in Anchorage, Alaska. With more than a decade of leadership experience, she specializes in operational strategy, workforce development, and scaling service-based businesses. Mockbee has played a key role in JANCO’s rapid growth and is passionate about empowering teams, driving excellence, and building resilient operations in the commercial cleaning industry.