Chicago – May 5, 2008 - The Ashkin Group has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an official Educational Provider. It is the first time the USGBC has selected a member of the cleaning industry as an official Education Provider.

The Ashkin Group was acknowledged for its half-day program entitled “Solving the Green Cleaning Puzzle.” The material and interactive activities enable participants to gain a more thorough knowledge of Green cleaning in both practice and application.

The Education Provider Program (EPP) facilitates access to high quality professional development courses in order to further enrich the knowledge and understanding of Green building theory, techniques, and trends for building professionals.

Founded by Steve Ashkin, the Ashkin Group is an internationally recognized consulting firm working to Green the cleaning industry. It is dedicated to creating healthier, more productive indoor environments with lower burdens on natural systems, while creating sustainable value for its clients.

The company’s commitment to Green Cleaning is well established. “It is our passion,” says Ashkin. “Our mission is to not only make cleaning healthier but to bolster the respect and value of cleaning people and our industry.”

Each course in the Education Provider Program is reviewed by third-party-trained reviewers and meets the criteria and guidelines established by the USGBC Professional Development Committee. Many of these courses also satisfy continuing education requirements of other professional organizations.

The GreenBuild Conference reflects the USGBC's desire to create additional value for attendees specifically from the professional cleaning industry.