We will offer the CSDS exam on Tuesday, October 6th, at 2:00 pm ET. Please contact our team to schedule your exam.
Location: Atelier, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Check-in with i-SIGMA at The Kimpton Journeyman to get settled in for two great days of Shred School! Find a spot, grab your notebook, and be ready to learn!
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Welcome to Shred School 2026! Hear from i-SIGMA CEO, Nate Campbell, as he covers what you can expect from the next two days.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Jeff Green
If I had to start a shredding company today, knowing everything I know now, what would I do in the first 90 days?
This interactive session walks attendees through the critical decisions that determine whether a new operation struggles, survives, or can scale. We’ll cover what to prioritize first, what equipment and technology can wait, how to price early work profitably, how to land the first customers, and the systems that must be in place before growth creates operational chaos.
Using a practical 30-60-90 day roadmap, attendees will learn how to build the foundation, win customers, and establish repeatable operating processes that support long-term success.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Melinda Powelson, Match Engine
Drawing on insights from more than 2.4 million service inquiries and 50,000 customer interactions, this session reveals what today’s buyers truly value when selecting a secure destruction provider. Following a rapid presentation of key findings, a panel of operators, industry experts, and solution providers will discuss what these insights mean for pricing, customer experience, compliance, risk management, service delivery, technology investments, and future growth. Attendees will leave with practical ideas they can immediately apply to strengthen their operations and competitive position.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Ray Barry, Shred America
Learn how smaller providers can identify, engage, and win larger local and multi-location accounts by competing on value, trust, and service, not just price. This practical session provides a field-tested plan for building target lists, reaching decision-makers, positioning your strengths, navigating procurement, and turning opportunities into signed agreements.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Gaines Garrett, Secure Shredding & E-Recycling (SSR)
Winning business matters—but so does the financial strength and contractual discipline behind every deal. This session explores how income statements and balance sheets tell the story of your business, and how accurate, consistent financial reporting builds credibility with lenders, partners, and potential buyers.
We’ll then examine how to negotiate contracts that help win customers while protecting profitability and keeping risk proportionate to the work. From limitations of liability to price escalators and termination provisions, attendees will learn where flexibility can help close a deal—and where concessions can create lasting exposure.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Take a break from learning to enjoy lunch, provided to attendees.
Location: Outsider, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: TBD
Rebuild around actual lead-source shifts, local-market visibility, zero-click search, review credibility, and measurement. Require before-and-after examples from operators.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Panel Moderated By: Gina Lentine, CSDS, i-SIGMA
Bring your questions. This interactive discussion brings together leading truck manufacturers and experienced operators to discuss truck selection, maintenance, service life, uptime, financing, capacity planning, and emerging technologies. Whether you’re purchasing your first truck or planning your next fleet upgrade, you’ll leave with practical advice you can immediately apply.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Ray Barry, Shred America
Most operators spend more time chasing new customers than growing the relationships they already have. Yet some of the most profitable opportunities are often sitting within existing accounts.
This practical session will show attendees how to uncover untapped revenue through account reviews, service expansion, multi-location opportunities, compliance-driven conversations, and strategic cross-selling. Learn how leading operators turn existing customers into larger, more profitable relationships by identifying unmet needs, strengthening trust, and positioning themselves as long-term partners rather than commodity service providers.
Attendees will leave with a proven framework to increase revenue, improve retention, and grow account value without adding a single new customer.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented By: Jennie Gift, CSDS, CRA, i-SIGMA
As cyber hygiene requirements, security expectations, and regulatory scrutiny continue to grow, operators must be prepared to demonstrate stronger governance and accountability. This session examines emerging certification and cybersecurity expectations, the value of CSDS expertise, and how the Compliance Monitoring Tool (CMT) can help organizations identify risks, strengthen compliance, and provide the proof customers demand.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Moderated by: i-SIGMA
Sponsored by: All Shred School Sponsors
Amplify Your Connections in a Fun, Fast-Paced Environment. What to Expect: Get ready to rock your networking game in networking session, This dynamic event is designed to maximize your connections and help you build meaningful relationships with peers and industry leaders in a lively, engaging setting.
Rapid-Fire Introductions: Meet a variety of professionals in quick, timed interactions, making it easy to find common ground and spark valuable conversations.
Networking Tips: Gain insights and tips on how to make a lasting impression and effectively follow up after the session.
Fun Atmosphere: Enjoy a relaxed, upbeat environment with music that energizes the experience, whether you’re rocking out or unwinding with a drink.”
Location: Founders Room & Terrace, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
End the day with dinner, provided to all attendees.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Day One gave you new ideas, practical strategies, and perhaps a few uncomfortable questions. Before moving forward, this interactive reset challenges attendees to identify what changed in their thinking, what they will do differently, and what still needs to be resolved. Share insights with peers, pressure-test your plan, and begin Day Two focused on the decisions that can make the greatest difference in your business.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Nick Adams
AI is changing how operators answer inquiries, qualify leads, schedule service, optimize routes, generate documents, and support customers. But not every customer interaction should be automated.
In this interactive Decision Lab, attendees will evaluate each stage of the customer journey and determine where AI creates efficiency, where human interaction builds trust, and where a hybrid approach delivers the best outcome. Through real-world scenarios and peer discussion, participants will leave with a practical framework for prioritizing AI investments while protecting customer relationships, service quality, and compliance.
Takeaway: A completed Customer Journey Automation Matrix and AI Opportunity Roadmap that can be applied immediately within their organization.
Location: Outsider, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Ray Barry, Shred America
Make this a hands-on sales workshop. Use realistic scenarios involving price objections, “we already have a provider,” certification questions, delayed decisions such as, “Send me some information and I’ll review it with our team,” large-account gatekeepers, and expanding existing accounts. This could be a lot of fun and is right in your wheelhouse.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented By: Michael Hutchcraft, Glacier Consulting
Certification is rarely lost because of a single major failure. More often, it is the result of routine decisions, overlooked exceptions, and small operational shortcuts that accumulate over time. Through real-world scenarios and interactive discussion, attendees will examine the everyday choices that can strengthen or undermine compliance, customer trust, and audit readiness. Leave with practical strategies to identify risks early, reinforce accountability, and build a culture that protects certification every day.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Take a break from learning to enjoy lunch provided to attendees.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Scott Reis, CSR Privacy
A practical session on how proof becomes value: certificates, cyber hygiene, custody transfer, containers, manifests, service agreement documentation, and how to explain these in customer language.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by: Sam Spaccamonti
Operators show how they think about stop value, minimums, route density, bundled services, low-dollar jobs, and when to say no. The focus is how to separate busy routes from profitable routes.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Presented by Nate Campbell, i-SIGMA
Ideas create momentum. Action creates results.
As Shred School concludes, attendees will identify the single most important action they plan to implement in the next 30 days, define how success will be measured, and establish accountability for execution. Through guided reflection and peer discussion, participants will leave with a clear commitment, a practical success metric, and a follow-up plan designed to turn conference insights into measurable business outcomes.
Leave with a simple execution plan and a partner who will help ensure it happens.
Feedback and Evaluations: Gina/Maggie to send out survey email to gather feedback from participants to understand their experiences, identify areas for improvement, and ensure future events are even more successful.
Closing Remarks: Deliver a heartfelt closing message to thank participants for their engagement, inspire them to take action, and express your enthusiasm for their future success.
Location: Assembly Hall, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel