NORTH AMERICA
The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) for North America recently held its 111th Annual Conference and Exchange at The Broadmoor, Colorado, 24-26 September. The event brought together TRSA members, guests and staff to celebrate and advance the industry.
The conference kicked off with a welcome reception in The Broadmoor’s courtyard, where attendees enjoyed local Colorado beers, wines, and spirits, along with a variety of hors d’oeuvres. This reception provided an excellent opportunity for TRSA members to network and reconnect with industry peers.
The educational programme began the following morning with a keynote session by Jay Samit, who shared his insights on breaking free from the status quo and embracing change. Samit’s presentation highlighted 12 truths for navigating uncertainty and maximizing opportunities, drawing from his extensive experience in transforming the digital landscape.
Attendees then participated in breakout sessions, choosing from topics such as safety excellence, presented by Brian Varner of Safety Solutions for Healthcare, and market growth strategies by Mark Kowalski of Envise Partners LLC. Additional sessions included an industry performance report by Andrew Whittman of Robert W Baird & Co and a discussion on organised labour trends in 2024. The day concluded with a creative Cupcake Clash, where participants showcased their cake decorating skills.
The final day featured TRSA’s Annual Business Meeting, focusing on the association’s current projects and the swearing-in of new board members. A panel discussion on succession planning followed. This session featured insights from Bill Evans, retired CEO and chairman of AmeriPride; Patrick Garcia, president, Division Laundry & Cleaners Inc.; Theresa Garcia, COO, Division; and Jim Doro, retired president/owner, Doritex Corp. The panellists discussed the actions they took, or are now planning to take, to maintain their organisation’s legacy amid leadership changes.
The final keynote speaker of the conference was renowned drummer and rock n’ roll legend, Kenny Aronoff. He was with the John Mellencamp band, recording 10 albums and toured with him for over a 17-year period. Aronoff’s innovative style and solid back-beats became the driving force behind Mellencamp’s long run of definitive hit records in the ’80s and ’90s.
Aronoff seamlessly blended inherited wisdom with hard-earned expertise, offering valuable lessons for succession planning, both within and beyond family businesses. Aronoff identified the tempo shifts required for effective leadership transitions, whether passing the torch within an organisation or entering new arenas. His resilience in the face of challenges inspired others to stay in tune with their goals, even when the rhythm gets complicated. He provided insights into overcoming obstacles, maintaining focus, and creating a unique rhythm of success.
In between sessions, attendees had the opportunity to tour The Broadmoor’s on-premise laundry (OPL), organised by Jim Slatcher of Lavatec Laundry Technology. The OPL handles all manners of hospitality facility services, as well as drycleaning and repairs to customers’ garments. The tour included a look at the OPL’s new tunnel washer, which has 10, 132 lb. (60 kg) compartments, a 40 bar press, and four double-batch dryers.
The conference concluded with The Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner, where Jim Kearns, COO of Alsco Uniforms, Salt Lake City, was honoured for his term as TRSA Chairman of the Board. Jim Buik, president of Roscoe Co., Chicago, received the Operator Lifetime Achievement Award. Phil Hart, president/CEO of Kannegiesser ETECH, Minneapolis, was honoured with the Maglin-Biggie Award, TRSA’s highest award for a supplier partner.
• TRSA (trsa.org) represents the $50 billion+ linen, uniform and facility services industry which employs 200,000+ people at 2,500+ facilities in North America. We advocate for fair and balanced policies and promote our industry’s environmental stewardship and circular economy as recyclers that use highly efficient, water- and energy-saving technology to maintain, reprocess and recycle reusable textiles. TRSA’s certification programs bolster and quantify our industry’s commitment to cleanliness, safety and sustainability. TRSA members process nearly 90 percent of all commercially laundered linens, uniforms, garments, and other reusable textiles in North American, positively impacting the comfort, safety, and image of millions of individuals every day.
