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AWGS Conference Report
Members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (AWGS) met recently in Dublin, Ohio. In addition to the traditional tour of a member’s plant, Dublin Cleaners, owned and managed by Brian Butler as well as Greg and Margaret Butler, guest speakers included digital marketing strategist Kristina Stubblefirld, who is also an expert in AI, and Emily Rochotte, a social media manager whose specialty is TikTok content.
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the thirteenth annual Jack Barth Memorial Award of Excellence. Initiated by Linda Stokes-Barth in remembrance of her late husband and his achievements in the dry cleaning industry, the award recognizes an AWGS for advancement, promotion, and development of industry standards for wedding gown care and for outstanding contributions and service to the Association and its members.
This year’s honoree, Nadine Rana of Style & Grace Cleaners in Toronto, Ontario, is a highly-regarded choice. Rana’s parents, Neville and Grace Mungal, joined the Association in 1991, and Rana and her brother Don Mungal (of Drape Master) are currently second-generation owners. Rana has presided over rebranding her company from multiple names to the new designation Style & Grace Cleaners. As she notes, “Our goal at Style & Grace is to take the term ‘Take you to the cleaners’ and turn it on its head, leaving you with a positive experience, polished product, and convenient service. Our expert dry or wet cleaning, garment finishing and convenient repairs and alterations will make sure you maintain your style, with Grace.”
At the meeting of the Association last year in Napa, California, Rana co-chaired a team who managed the group’s self-directed SWOT analysis and has continued to direct the team’s follow-up activities including Zoom calls devoted developing a process for obtaining reviews and partnering with bridal boutiques. In previous years she has presented on topics such as “Training and Recruiting a Reliable Team.” She was also an important component in the creation of the Association’s all-new websites www.weddinggownspecialists.com and www.weddinggownspecialists.net which include a special digital resource section accessible to Association members only..
Other speakers at the event included Jim Gilligan of Snedicor’s in Howell, Michigan, on the topic of transitioning to a delivery-only model of garment care as well as Gary Fine of Parkers Custom Clothing Care in Toronto, Ontario, and Mickey Goldberg of One Local on generating reviews at the counter.
In addition to speakers, there were a series of round-table conversations offering everyone in the group the chance to discuss topics ranging from the best techniques for marketing with AI to appealing to brides on TikTok. Table hosts were Clare Bobbitt of Oceanside Cleaners in Jacksonville, FL on creating a positive work culture, Brian Butler on training with video, and Dave Matthews, National Training Director on managing tough cleaning challenges.
Retiring president Kermit Engh of Fashion Cleaners and Omaha Lace in Omaha, Nebraska as well as of Methods for Management presided over the installation of officers: incoming president Kyle Matthews of Janet Davis Cleaners in Berkeley, Michigan, vice president Gary Fine of Parkers Custom Clothing Care in Toronto, Ontario, and secretary-treasurer Rhonda Wernick of Oakwood the Greener Cleaners in Nashville, Tennessee. Engh takes the place of immediate past president Malcolm MacGregor of Brown’s Cleaners in Ottawa, Ontario, who remains in place as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee.
Incoming members of the Board are Bobbitt and Kurt Lucero of The Cleanery in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Retiring members of the Board are Brandon Maloney of Nu-Yale Cleaners in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky, and Tom Ustanik of Lansing Cleaners in Lansing, Illinois.
Members new to the Association are Randy and Ramona Jaeger of Canyon Cleaners in Rifle, Colorado, Art Buckland of Nor’East Cleaners in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Will Drook of Fox Cleaners and Armstrong Cleaners in Dayton, Ohio, Maggie Fox of Fox Cleaners in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Greg Gunderson of Gunderson Cleaners in Appleton, Wisconsin, Marcus Walker of Upton Cleaners in Southport, Queensland, Australia, Brittany Chamberland of ARC Sewing Services in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada, and Dominador Asis III of Absolute Laundry and Drycleaners in Antipolo City, The Philippines.
Sponsors of the event were Kreussler, Inc., Foster-Stephens, Inc., Sankosha-USA, Inc, Select Risk Insurance, and Kleerwite Chemicals.
AWGS is a not-for-profit trade association with members in eight countries. Members are certified to ensure that wedding gowns and heirloom textiles of all kinds are cleaned according to established museum standards and preserved in archival-quality materials. Wedding couples benefit from the personal, interactive service offered by wedding gown specialists in local communities, but the guarantee is truly an international warranty because each member honors the guarantee of every other member no matter where in the world they may be.
For more information about training and membership, call the Association office
at 800-501-5005 or go to www.WeddingGownSpecialists.com or www.WeddingGownSpecialists.net.au.
Alberta Textile Care Association Convention coming in April
The ATCA convention, themed “Opportunities for the Future”, will be held Saturday, April 13, at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino, Calgary, AB.
In announcing the event, the convention committee said, “Get ready to join the coolest crowd in town — industry leaders, inspiring speakers, and awesome business owners just like you! We’re coming together to geek out on the latest trends and juicy opportunities to help you skyrocket your business to success. Don’t miss out on this epic event — let’s learn, network, and have a blast together!”
Speakers will be announced soon. Topics will include:
- Grow & Expand — Financial literacy as a superpower
- Innovative equipment to boost profits
- Marketing — digital and traditional techniques
- Regulation changes affecting our industry
- More…
The convention will also include supplier trade show tables, lunch, and an open forum, plus networking opportunities. Registrations before March 12 are entered into an Early Bird Drawing for a free night at Deerfoot Inn & Casino.
Registration and tickets are available at ABTCA.eventbrite.ca.
TCATA 2024 Annual Management and Educational Conference
The Textile Care Allied Trades Association will hold its 2024 Management and Educational Conference April 28 – May 1 at the Barton Creek Omni Resort in Austin, TX.
The conference will include two keynote speakers. Pamela Barnum, The Trust Agent, will discuss intentional communication through verbal and non-verbal cues to help you build trust, and influence and negotiate in your business. Tom Edwards, Futurist, will speak on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can streamline tasks for businesses of any size. He will also give an interactive workshop on AI during the Executive Idea Exchange at the conference.
First-time attendees, and those who have not attended in at least 5 years, receive a special registration rate of $625. The conference rate for additional attendees from the same company has been dropped to $595.
For more information, visit the TCATA conference page on the website.
DLI Announces Hall of Fame
Nominations open April 1 for the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute’s (DLI) all-new Hall of Fame Award, the Institute’s highest honor. All industry professionals are invited to nominate a candidate for the award. Membership in DLI or any other organization is not required to nominate a candidate or receive an award. DLI’s Board of Directors established the Hall of Fame Award to recognize and acknowledge individuals who have contributed to the betterment of the drycleaning and laundry industry.
“Pioneers, heroes, innovators – the Hall of Fame forever memorializes those who shaped our industry’s past and ignites its future,” said Jeff Schwegmann II, DLI’s current Chairman of the Board and Owner of Sunshine Cleaners in Cold Spring, Kentucky, and U.S. Leather Cleaning.
Nominations for DLI’s Hall of Fame Award are open April 1 – May 15 and will be accepted from and for any industry participant, regardless of organizational membership, through a form available at DLIonline.org/HoF. DLI’s Board of Directors will review applications and recipients will be announced to the industry by mid-September.
Candidates for the award include industry pioneers, exceptional business leaders, and community advocates. DLI intends to shine a spotlight on individuals who have made a lasting positive impact on the industry.
Mary Scalco, DLI’s CEO, said, “Professional drycleaning and laundry operators from all over the world contribute to the betterment of our industry every day. Our goal with the Hall of Fame is to recognize contributions made by any professional in our industry who has made a positive impact and honor them as examples for other members of the industry. All cleaning professionals, regardless of membership, are welcome to nominate industry professionals they see as inspirational for this award.”
Norman Way of Puritan Cleaners in Richmond, Virginia and District 2 Director on DLI Board, said, “At a recent DLI Board meeting, we all thought of people in our industry who helped us grow personally and professionally and how we might honor them. We know others feel the same and the DLI Hall of Fame Award seems like the perfect way to commend and recognize these impactful leaders who left a lasting effect on us all.”
“The introduction of DLI’s Hall of Fame award is just one of many aspects that makes our industry great,” said Mark Albrecht of The Route Pros in Woodbury, New Jersey. “We all have so many true mentors and drycleaning superheroes. This award will ensure that those peoples’ legacies are at the forefront of so many of our minds as we move into the future.”
Online Nominations Due May 15
To be eligible for nomination, candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of experience working in the drycleaning and laundry industry. The selection process will involve a two-stage voting process by DLI’s Hall of Fame committee, and the awardees will be publicly announced and celebrated.
Inaugural Inductees
DLI’s inaugural group of Hall of Fame inductees includes previous recipients of DLI’s Diamond Achievement Meritorious Service Award. DLI recognized eight industry legends with its Diamond Achievement Award over a 25-year period. Their names are etched in bronze on a plaque that hangs at DLI’s offices by the entrance to DLI’s School of Drycleaning Technology in Laurel, Maryland. Industry professionals who received DLI’s highest honor are:
- Barney Deden, retired drycleaner in Omaha, Nebraska (1999)
“For his deep commitment and untiring efforts on legislative efforts for the industry” - Stan Golomb, Founder of The Golomb Group, Chicago, Illinois (2001)
“For helping generations of drycleaning & laundry professionals achieve success” - Chris Edwards, A Cleaner World, High Point, North Carolina (2005)
“For his work to enhance the industry’s image through tireless charitable and environmental community service” - Jeff Miller, Miller’s Fine Drycleaning, Hendersonville, North Carolina (2007)
“For helping hundreds of WWII Veterans visit their memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.” - Sid Tuchman, Tuchman Training Systems, San Francisco, California (2011)
“For his unwavering dedication to helping hundreds of drycleaning & laundry professionals achieve success” - Don Fawcett, Dependable Cleaners, Quincy, Massachusetts (2015)
“For his unwavering commitment to excellence and lifetime of selfless service to the industry” - Milt Chortkoff, Milt & Edie’s Drycleaning & Tailoring Center, Burbank, California (2018)
“For a lifetime of demonstrating excellence in customer service and charitable service” - Walter “Buster “Bell, Bell Laundry and Cleaners, Spartanburg, South Carolina (2018)
“For his deep commitment and lifelong dedication to helping people succeed in the drycleaning business”
These individuals consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and achievement in their respective fields. DLI’s Hall of Fame was created to honor outstanding industry individuals and businesses. The new Hall of Fame award succeeds the institute’s highest honor, celebrating excellence in leadership, business operations, community involvement, environmental stewardship, and a deep-seated passion for the industry.
All 2024 recipients of the Hall of Fame Award will be recognized at state or national events, further highlighting their significant contributions to the drycleaning and laundry industry.
For more information about the DLI Hall of Fame Award and to make a nomination, please visit DLI’s official Hall of Fame page at DLIonline.org/HoF
Cintas acquires SITEX
(As reported by Business Newswire)
Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) has acquired SITEX, a Kentucky-based, family-owned supplier of uniform and facility service programs.
SITEX was founded by the Sights family in Henderson, Kentucky in 1961. Currently, Wes Sights serves as CEO of SITEX, which has five different locations servicing customers in a four-state region, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
“The Sights family has grown SITEX into a strong regional provider of quality apparel and facility service solutions to their customers in the central Midwest,” said Scott Garula, President and COO of Cintas’ Rental Division. “They’ve built a successful company with a well-earned reputation for delivering outstanding customer and employee experiences. We look forward to welcoming SITEX’s customers and employees to Cintas in the coming months.”
“Our customers and employees have always been and remain our primary focus for any decision we make,” said Wes Sights, CEO of SITEX. “The opportunity for SITEX to become part of the industry-leading Cintas team allows us to offer more services and products for our customers and capitalize on Cintas’ supply chain support while still delivering the highest level of service.”
About Cintas Corporation
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.
For more information: Michelle Goret, Cintas Vice President of Corporate Affairs | goretm@cintas.com, 513-972-4155
FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS
DLI Hosts 13 Events In March
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute will host 13 in-person and virtual events this month. One, the virtual Customer Service Excellence, sold out in just two weeks, and a second has been added. Other learning opportunities are below.
- March 5, 7, and 12 – 1–3 p.m. Eastern: DLI’s Customer Service Excellence Virtual Course featuring Jennifer Whitmarsh of Snappy Drycleaning & The Route Pros
Students will learn how to create raving fans by confidently managing customer issues and gain insights into industry best practices.
On-Site Drycleaning Courses Educate and Elevate
DLI’s School of Drycleaning Technology is the ultimate destination for professionals who seek to advance their expertise and stay ahead in the industry. DLI presents two in-person, on-site courses this month. DLIs’ school is now in its 97th year of educating drycleaning personnel, managers, and business owners.
- March 4–8: DLI’s Five-Day Introduction to Drycleaning Course
Suited for experienced individuals or those who are new to the industry. - March 11–22: Ten-Day Advanced Drycleaning Course
For individuals who have completed the Introduction to Drycleaning Course or have hands-on production experience and knowledge of basic stain removal ad finishing techniques.
These courses are designed to run together as DLI’s 15-Day General Drycleaning Course. Scholarships are available for these courses. (NOTE: The Canadian scholarship has already been awarded. We will have a report from the winner when she returns.)
Featured Online Presentations Enlighten & Entertain
This month’s web presentations focus on looking at the economy ahead and offering multiple service levels to customers.
DLI’s *Not Boring* “2024 Economic Forecast” web presentation by economist Chris Kuehl was moved to March 6 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Kuehl is known for his entertaining and informative look at economic concerns. While every crystal ball is foggy, Kuehl is well-informed and able to share economic data in enlightening and light-hearted ways.
In recent years, many clothing care professionals expanded their levels of service for customers. To help drycleaners consider the possibility of introducing multiple service levels, DLI presents “Exploring Multiple Service Levels in Drycleaning” a live online presentation March 27 at 1 p.m. Eastern on Zoom. Attendees will learn from several drycleaners who integrated multiple levels of service into their business strategy.
- March 6 – 1 p.m. Eastern: *Not Boring* 2024 Economic Forecast with Economist Chris Kuehl
- March 27 – 1 p.m. Eastern: Multiple Service Levels – Your New Business Model?
Since offering live monthly webinar programs in March 2020, DLI has recorded and stored more than 150 presentations in its Online Webinar Library covering marketing, management, diversifications, and more aspects of running a successful drycleaning business. Full access to all the recordings and live presentations is available for all DLI members.
Additional Virtual Programs Keep Members Engaged
In addition to the live presentation on service levels, DLI will host its monthly Membership Orientation program March 6. Not just for new members, the interactive presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits afforded to all members of the association.
DLI’s Marketing Lab will bring cleaners together March 20 to discuss current marketing trends and effective solutions. Recent meetings covered the value of trigger-based marketing, what some members are doing to keep customers happy and using additional services.
- March 6 – 3 p.m. Eastern: DLI Member Virtual Reception and Orientation
All members are invited to take a tour of DLI’s extended array of money-saving benefits and services.
- March 20 – 3 p.m. Eastern: DLI’s Marketing Lab
All Members are invited to brainstorm marketing ideas in this monthly Virtual roundtable discussion.
Weekly Member Peer Meetings Keep Members Connected
Bringing the drycleaning and laundry community together, DLI hosts weekly coffee-and-shop-talk meetings every Tuesday morning on Zoom so members can discuss what’s happening and share new ideas, thoughts and tips.
- March 6, 13, 20 & 27 – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern: DLI Peer-To-Peer Membership Zoom Meetings
Members receive invitations to these meetings via email from DLI.
Regional Association Programs Bring Cleaners Together
DLI’s expansive network of regional associations present the following events:
- March 8 & 9 – Joint Board Meeting hosted by the Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA) & South Eastern Fabricare Association (SEFA)
SOLD OUT
Hotel Indigo French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Free for drycleaners and will feature “Creating a Contagious Business Culture,” a seminar by Jason Loeb of Sudsies. Mike Nesbit of Nesbit Consulting will present “Diversify or Die: Unveiling the Vision of Increased Piece Counts.”
- March 23 – Midwest Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (MWDLI) Indy Hanger & MWDLI Open House
Indy Hanger, Indianapolis, IN Includes two professional stain removal seminars, live Indy Hanger Manufacturing Tour, tabletop exhibits by industry vendors and complementary lunch.
For more information on any of these opportunities, visit the website, DLIonline.org.
TRSA to Host HR, Health and Safety Summit in Milwaukee
The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA), the leading trade association for linens, uniforms and facility services, is hosting its HR, Health and Safety Summit on April 30 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. The one-day event will feature expert speakers, panel discussions and roundtable sessions on topics such as mental health, employee retention, compensation, safety culture, chemical safety and more.
The summit is designed to help laundry managers and executives improve their human resources and safety practices, comply with the latest regulations, and enhance their employee engagement and performance. Attendees also will have the opportunity to network with peers, share best practices and learn from industry leaders.
The keynote speaker for the summit is Joyce Marter, a mental health thought leader and the founder of Joyce Marter Enterprises. Marter will share insights and strategies on how to promote mental wellness in the workplace, reduce stress and burnout, and foster a positive and productive work environment.
The HR track will include Jason Keck, a partner at Fisher Phillips, who will discuss the new HR laws and how they affect the laundry industry; Katie Cosgrove, a partner at Cosgrove Partners, who will talk about people strategy, succession, retention, and development; Lori Stanger, the vice president of people and culture at Wildman Business Group,who will cover compensation trends and best practices; and Kortney Overzet, the vice president of people development & culture at Spindle, an expert in fostering a culture of sustainability and employee engagement within organizations, will lead a conversation on new trends in retention of employees.
The Health and Safety sessions will start with learning valuable insights from SafeTRSA Award winners on fostering a strong safety culture within your organization. Stephen Jenkins, the director of safety and health at Cintas Corp., will lead a session focused on ergonomics and how to optimize workstations, equipment and processes to prevent injuries and promote employee health. Representatives from several supplier partner chemical companies will discuss the safe handling of chemicals. Additionally, Brian Varner, the owner and founder of Safety Solutions for Healthcare, will discuss the importance of safety metrics and how to effectively measure safety performance using dashboards and data-driven insights.
After the two breakout groups finish, attendees will gather for a presentation by Jacob Geyer, the chief insurance officer at CompScience, who will demonstrate how artificial intelligence solutions can help improve production ergonomics and reduce workers’ compensation claims. In addition, Samlane Ketevong, the director of certification and accreditation at TRSA, and Varner, will introduce the TRSA Health & Safety Self-Audit and Certification Program, a new initiative to help laundries achieve excellence in safety performance and management.
The summit will conclude with a networking reception, combined with the TRSA & WATS Midwest Production Summit, which kicks off the next day (May 1) at the same location allowing attendees to mingle with speakers, sponsors and fellow laundry professionals. Register for both summits at the same time and save 10% off the total cost. Simply enter the promo code “PRODHRSAFECOMBO” when checking out online. Early registration rates are available until March 22. To register, visit the event website at trsa.org/hr-hs, or contact TRSA at 877.770.9274 or info@trsa.org.
Can our Canadian Scholarship cover the cost of the webinars for non-members?
EDITOR’S NOTE: We checked with Mary Scalco at DLI, and she said that scholarships can be used for online classes, just like in-person courses.