National Clothesline

It has been a summer of change for the MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners. First, the association changed executive directors; then it changed the location of its office.

The new office address is at 16917 MacDuff Ave. in Olney, MD, 20832.

While the association’s toll free phone number will remain the same — (800) 235-8360, other numbers will change. The new local phone number is (301) 570-3000 and the new fax number is (301) 924-9247.

MAC will also have a new e-mail address: MidAtlanticAssociation@comcast.net.

Manning the new office location as the association’s executive director is Richard Ehrenreich, who has been active in the drycleaning industry for many years as a plant owner and, more recently, a consultant and broker.

Ehrenreich’s Olney-based drycleaning consulting, brokerage and evaluation practice was awarded the distinction of “Fellow of the International Business Brokers Association” at the IBBA Phoenix Conference in 2005.

Not only was Ehrenreich the sole recipient of the award that year, he was also the first person in Maryland to be so honored.

It is the highest level of recognition that the IBBA awards. The qualifications include having served as a Certified Business Intermediary for at least seven years, and making a significant contribution to the business brokerage industry.

Throughout his career, Ehrenreich has held leadership roles for many associations, including: the Washington-Baltimore Business Brokers Association, the Metropolitan Drycleaners Association, the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (formerly IFI), the Olney Chamber of Commerce, the Wheaton-Kensington Chamber of Commerce, the Layhill Community Festival and Parade Committee, and W Group Commercial Real Estate.

Whether it’s a front counter problem or a problem garment, Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (IFI) Garment Analyst Chris Allsbrooks knows the solution.

The Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association has asked her to present a pair of seminars in October designed to make cleaners’ lives a little smoother.

Allsbrooks, widely known for her dynamic presentations that are equal parts humor and information, will be in Pittsburgh, PA, on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

She will begin with advice on dealing with front counter issues and how to provide excellent customer service to keep clientele coming back for more.

She will also include an additional segment on some of the latest problem garments that have been finding their way into DCI ’s Textile Analysis Laboratory.

She will offer an encore performance on Wednesday, Oct. 10 in Stroudsburg, PA, which was selected as a location to provide easy access for cleaners from the Lehigh Valley and Poconos areas.

More details on exact locations for both programs, as well as other details, can be obtained by calling the PDCA office at (215) 830-8495 or (800) 822-7352.