USA: Jim Cripe, who takes office as IFI president this month, has promised more projects to help smaller businesses.
Mr Cripe who owns Valet Cleaners in Temple, Texas said: “We have heard that many smaller cleaners feel that the benefits IFI offers are more geared towards larger cleaners.” He continued: “IFI is for all cleaners and we’ll be working on some projects designed to help us focus on our smaller members… We will be reaching out to our most common members to prove to them that IFI isn’t just for the big guys.” IFI changes its board yearly to ensure a continued flow of fresh ideas. In the 2002 to 2003 term, Dan Martino, district 5 director and owner of Martino’s Master Drycleaners, Kenosha Wisconsin, becomes treasurer and is therefore on track to be president in 2005. Don Fawcett, currently treasurer becomes president elect.
In other board moves, Lang Houston, former president, becomes chairman, Barbara Harvey, owner of Fabricare by Fran, Severna, Maryland becomes district 2 director and Linda Ferguson, Safeway Cleaners, Pearl, Mississippi suceeds Mr Cripe as director, district 6.
Bob Shirley, currently chairman and David Rosenblatt, district 2 director retire from the board.
