Nearly 170 students from all four classes, along with faculty, staff, and guests, attended the ceremony. This photograph shows attendees from EMI Session IV. Photo: TRSA

NORTH AMERICA
The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) for North America’s linen rental businesses proudly hosted the 59th annual commencement of its Executive Management Institute (EMI) on 15 August. The event, held at a conference centre near the University of Maryland, celebrated the achievements of 26 graduates from this prestigious four-year educational programme. Nearly 170 students from all four classes, along with faculty, staff, and guests, attended the ceremony. Commencement is an annual ceremony to honour students who have, or will soon, graduate.

The Year IV graduates represented a diverse group of executives from national, regional, and independent commercial laundries across North America, as well as several supplier-partner company representatives. TRSA president and CEO Joseph Ricci presented the graduation certificates, followed by reflections from Brian Kimmel of Kimmel Corp, Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Kimmel praised his fellow graduates as “great ambassadors from this industry” and expressed his gratitude for being part of the programme.

Kimmel also acknowledged the contributions of Year IV faculty members Dan Gonder and Eric Kurjan. He highlighted Kurjan’s emphasis on the importance of developing skills for individual and company success, quoting Kurjan’s advice on finding the right team players who are “hungry, humble, and smart”.

The camaraderie and openness among the students were evident throughout the program. Kimmel noted: “The trust that we have with each other, it’s real. We have some lifelong friends, and it took four years to build.”

The commencement programme featured fewer speeches and skits compared to previous years, with the Year IV group standing out with a parody of ‘Family Feud’. Kimmel and fellow graduate Emily Hauber of CITY Clean and Simple, Oelwein, Iowa, entertained the audience with their humorous take on the EMI experience.

Jim Underwood, Year III instructor, paid tribute to the late Les Frankfurt, a Holocaust survivor and psychology professor who co-founded EMI Year III. Underwood emphasised Frankfurt’s lasting impact on the programme and the importance of caring in leadership, a sentiment echoed by Kimmel in his closing remarks.

TRSA’s Ricci concluded the ceremony by recognising the dedication of the EMI faculty, who volunteer their time and expertise to support the programme. Ricci emphasised the long-term growth and development that EMI fosters, saying: “You are the future of this industry. Your employers invest in you because they believe in your potential.”

First-year attendee, Meredyth Ellington, TRSA database manager, added: “Attending the first year of EMI as an attendee and not as a staffer provided me with a fresh perspective on our industry. The expertly taught classes and the invaluable knowledge gained from my peers is significantly enhancing my leadership skills.”

The event concluded with a networking reception at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, where attendees celebrated their achievements and strengthened their professional connections.

TRSA extends its gratitude to the supplier-partner sponsors of the 2024 EMI program, including Kannegiesser ETECH, JENSEN USA, Ellis Corp., Pellerin Milnor Corp, Unitex International Inc., G.A. Braun Inc., Brim Laundry Machinery Co. Inc., Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc., Monarch Brands, Morgan Olson, and Workwear Outfitters.

For more information about EMI, please visit TRSA’s website