USA
News from the trade association for textile rental businesses in North America (TRSA), informs LCNi that TRSA president & CEO Joseph Ricci and vice president of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb have, in the past week, participated in the Western Textile Services Association (WTSA) and Midwest Textile Services Association (MTSA) events in Riverside, California and Chicago, respectively.
Last week, WTSA was able to host its annual Production Clinic in Riverside, after postponing it last year. The event drew more than 100 local, regional and national attendees for a welcome reception including tabletop booths hosted by supplier partners and a tour of the local Prudential Overall Supply facility. Ricci also provided an update on association initiatives, including TRSA’s recently completed Market Recovery and Expansion Research. Schwalb offered insight into TRSA’s federal regulatory and legislative initiatives to require a rotating inventory of reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) and commercial laundering of healthcare personnel apparel, as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognition of the industry to expediate energy and water services following disasters.
Schwalb provided updates on several California legislative and regulatory issues including a renewed effort to require commercial laundries to filter of 100% of microplastics (microfibers) and emerging zero-emission vehicle requirements. He announced TRSA’s planned events in Southern California (Long Beach): a 9 May Town Hall and May 10 Fleet Summit, both enabling attendees to participate in the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo.
Nearly 50 people battled winter weather to attend the MTSA Blackhawks hockey game, another annual event postponed last year due to the pandemic. Participants were treated to local Chicago-style food, snacks and beverages in the Bud Lounge. During the Chicago trip, Schwalb and Ricci also visited Ellis Corp.’s manufacturing facility with CEO Bob Fesmire and toured Mickey’s Linen with two generations of owners, including former TRSA Director Greg Brown and his son, Peter Brown, chair of the TRSA Next-Generation Executives group.
“Regional organisations such as WTSA, MTSA and WATS (Wisconsin Association of Textile Services) provide important forums for information-sharing and maintaining local relationships,” Ricci said. “They are even more important as the industry recovers from the pandemic.”
TRSA also hosts regional in-person and virtual events in California, Illinois and New York, as well as targeted legislative events in Indiana and Texas.
