WhataShield: FGSC Corporate Partner Profile
As part of our Fast Growth School Coalition platinum corporate partner profile series, Dr. Greg Smith invited Steve English, Founder of WhataShield, to talk about his company’s work with public schools and the company’s support of Fast Growth School Coalition.
Dr. Greg Smith, FGSC: Steve, as one of our newer corporate partners, why don’t you tell us a little about WhataShield?
Steve English, WhataShield: WhataShield understands the challenges facing school districts today, and we are passionate about providing solutions to exceed your expectations, meet your needs, and ensure long term protection of what you value the most.
WhataShield provides school districts with a simple program to protect students and teachers, your facilities, and your overall facility assets. Increasing operational efficiency at every turn saves the school district greatly. With a proactive approach to long term protection (one application annually), WhataShield Titania is the next wave of care versus the short term disinfecting methods that have been deployed in recent years. WhataShield Titania is an all-in-one product that protects the air and surfaces with one application annually.
Dr. Smith: How and why is it important to your business to connect with fast-growth school districts? How can fast growth schools benefit from your business?
English: WhataShield Titania is a total air and surface protectant. The big differentiator lies within how we function. With total protection that lasts 24/7, in the dark, under water, and throughout the day as students and teachers move through facilities, we create an active surface that provides proactive protection. An all-in-one product, WhataShield Titania provides a four pillar approach to surface and air protection:
Pillar 1: Safe Protected Environments
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Microbial: Eliminates bacteria such as Staphylococcus Aureus, SARS, Covid, Common Cold, Influenza, MRSA and continues to work 24/7 for one year with one application. In addition, no bacteria is able to grow such as virus, mold, mildew or fungus. With WhataShield Titania, school districts can protect their students and teachers throughout the day as they move around and through campus facilities versus traditional procedures that provide protection at the beginning of the day only.
VOC Elimination: With WhataShield Titania, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) such as undesirable odor, emissions or airborne toxins that exist in locker rooms, bathrooms, and cafeterias are eliminated. We do not mask them; we molecularly change them, so they no longer exist. Improve the quality of the air and eliminate odors throughout your facility with WhataShield Titania.
Fire Retardant Barrier: Any surface that WhataShield Titania is applied to passes CAL117 which is the commercial standard for fire retardancy.
Pillar 2: Cleanliness / Operational Efficiency
Anti-Adhesion & 5.0 Anti-Stain Surface: With WhataShield Titania, it is very difficult for stains, mold, mildew, and dirt to adhere to surfaces; therefore, cleaning becomes much faster and easier. Stains are eliminated with water. No additional cleaners or solvents are needed to pull out stains in carpets and fabrics.
Pillar 3: Sustainability / Asset Protection
UV Protection: With one spray, you will receive 7-8 years of UV protection. Apply it to anything that is highly exposed to the sun, and you will prevent fading which allows your assets to last longer and sustain their visual integrity. Surfaces such as the outside of buses, awnings, playground equipment, turf, outdoor furniture, and stadium seats will keep their original appearance for years. Your surfaces will be protected against UV fading and stains which will ensure they last longer, be cleaned faster, and keep their original color.
Anti-Oxidation: WhataShield Titania prevents corrosion from occurring. Apply WhataShield Titania to areas that typically rust such as stadium structures, doorknobs, chrome in bathrooms, cafeteria equipment, and other areas that typically rust from humidity, rain or harsh chemicals. Eliminate oxidation from occurring in outside areas, classrooms, gyms, and auditoriums long term.
Improved Fabric Abrasion, Dye Crocking/Transfer: With WhataShield Titania, fabric abrasion is decreased which can double the lifespan of some your assets, extend depreciation schedules, and save districts money. WhataShield Titania also prevents dye transfer and dye crocking from occurring.
Pillar 4: Environmentally Friendly
WhataShield Titania is eco-friendly; therefore, no protective measures such as PPE are necessary.
Dr. Smith: What do you see as the biggest challenges and greatest opportunities facing public education and fast growth schools today?
English: More than everover the last few years, Texas school districts have been faced with challenging times. Due to the demands of the Covid pandemic, budgets have been pushed to the limit with the purchase of additional disinfectant products and custodial personnel have been strained by the implementation of daily fogging procedures. As a result, school districts have experienced some unexpected outcomes and unintended consequences that WhataShield Titania can easily address:
Toxic Chemical Use:
Toxic chemicals have been used in order to address Covid concerns. Custodial teams have experienced lung, skin, eye and physical issues as a result. In addition, instances of chemical rashes and skin irritation have been reported throughout school districts.
WhataShield Titania is 100% eco-friendly, eliminating any concerns you may have about exposure to chemicals. WhataShield Titania keeps your environments safe without losing effectiveness.
Custodial Operations Fatigue / Loss of Personnel:
An overall lack of people is a huge issue with everyone we meet, no matter the industry. Over the last few years and in response to Covid, schedules became strained and custodial teams experienced increased pressure from demanding operational procedures. Teams became fatigued over time and several chose to leave the profession altogether. Due to this Covid trickle-effect, many school districts are now experiencing custodial staff shortages and struggling to find the workforce necessary to fulfill daily operations. Today, school districts are finding ways to manage maintenance operations with fewer staff, and seeking solutions to get back to pre-Covid routines.
With WhataShield Titania, school districts can go back to pre-Covid routines. There is no longer a need for daily fogging or disinfecting. Cleaning becomes a basic wipe down procedure only. No calcium deposits, urine crystallization or mildew can adhere to surfaces; therefore, cleaning is easier than ever before.
Degradation of Assets:
Due to the harsh chemicals that have been utilized during the last two years to ensure effectiveness, school districts have been noticing deterioration and damage of facility assets such as corrosion, grout staining, and peeling of tile flooring.
With WhataShield Titania, school districts can protect the assets within their facilities while providing more protection than ever before. We double the lifespan of assets within facilities and prevent deterioration from occurring.
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