Slatten to lead WSDLA
The Western States Drycleaners and Launderers Association has hired Kenney
Slatten as its new executive director. He took the position November 1.
Slatten replaces Michael Schenck who served as executive director for more than
10 years. He resigned due to health and personal issues but continues to
consult with the association to assure a smooth transition.
Slatten is a third-generation cleaner who founded his training company in
Tucson, AZ, in 1987. He was certified as an instructor by the Drycleaning and
Laundry Institute (then IFI) in 1990 and has trained cleaners all over the
world.
Slatten joined WSDLA’s board of directors in 1994. He has also served the California Cleaners
Association and is a past president of the San Diego Drycleaners Association.
“Kenney’s years of experience and nationally recognized expertise will move WSDLA to the
forefront of DLI affiliates,” said Dave Silliman, president of WSDLA.
Slatten will operate from his office in Prescott, AZ, where he will maintain
office hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. He promises a close association with
members in the states of Arizona and Nevada.
The WSDLA phone number and address will remain unchanged for the present.
The change in leadership also brought other moves within the administration of
the group. Treasurer Carol Ticgelaor will assume a larger share of the
association’s financial operation. WSDLA will also add field representatives in Phoenix and
Las Vegas who will be responsible for member relations and membership sales and
will report to Slatten.
Street’s, Airgas in CO2 agreement
R.R. Street & Co. Inc. and Airgas, Inc., announced a marketing agreement in which Street’s Solvair will offer the Airgas custom-engineered liquid carbon dioxide gas
supply system and ongoing liquid product as part of its service package for
customers of the new Solvair Cleaning System.
“With this agreement, Solvair will be able to offer its customers a
cost-effective supply of consistent quality liquid carbon dioxide,” said Kelly Justice, senior vice president for Airgas, Inc.
“We have worked with Solvair to custom-engineer a more eco-friendly and efficient
liquid carbon dioxide gas supply system that will work with this revolutionary
cleaning process. It also includes telemetry and on-site monitoring to ensure
safe and reliable supply. Airgas has the resources to provide both engineering
expertise and liquid carbon dioxide to Solvair customers nationwide.”
Airgas, through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial,
medical, and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and
supplies. Airgas is also one of the largest U.S. distributors of safety
products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest
liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of
process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products.
More than 14,000 employees work in over 1,100 locations, including branches,
retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and
distribution centers.
Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and
telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a
competitive edge to its diversified customer base.
Clean Committee surveys New Orleans
The Clean Executive Committee met in New Orleans to make sure that the city is
ready for Clean ’09, scheduled for June 18-21, 2009.
The group met at the Astor Crowne Plaza hotel at the entrance to the French
Quarter, visited with the president of Morial Convention Center, toured the
facility where the biennial trade show will be held, and met with executives of
the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“After visiting New Orleans with the Clean Executive Committee, we know that New
Orleans is certainly ready and capable to handle Clean ’09. We think the show will be better than ever,” said Roger Cocivera, Clean ’09 chairman and CEO of the Textile Rental Services Association of America, one
of the show’s six sponsoring associations.
Other committee members and members of their association boards reported that
they were very impressed with the city’s upbeat atmosphere, cleanliness, and readiness to regain its position as a
major trade show venue.
In addition to TRSA, show sponsors include the Association for Linen Management
(formerly National Association of Institutional Linen Management), the Coin
Laundry Association, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, the Textile Care Allied Trades Association, and Uniform & Textile Services Association.
Clean ’07, held in Las Vegas, drew nearly 15,000 people from 83 countries. There were
484 exhibiting companies covering 227,950 net square feet of floor space with
their products and services.
Information about Clean ‘09 will be posted on the show’s website, www.cleanshow.com and is also available from the show management
company, Riddle & Associates, Suite 360-C, 1874 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30324; phone (404)
876-1988, fax (404) 876-5121; e-mail info@cleanshow.com.
Officially titled the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning,
the Clean Show is the world's premier showcase for equipment, products,
supplies and services for the textile care industry.
Wascomat dealers host open houses
Wascomat dealers spread holiday cheer with a number of contests and washer
giveaways at recent open houses.
Golden State Laundry Systems in California, Sav-A-Day Laundry in Missouri,
Ontario Laundry Systems in Canada, and Washtown Equipment in Illinois all had
open houses that included a grand prize drawing for a new Wascomat Compass
Control washer. The sales events also featured in-depth training and
demonstrations by factory personnel, low-rate financing, special sale prices
and rebates, and great food and prizes.
Wascomat’s latest innovation, Compass Control, is standard on Wascomat’s high-speed extraction SU washers, allowing control of functions such as water
levels, wash times and number of rinses. Options also allow charging extra for
heavy soil and extra rinse. Compass Control also lets owners track service
intervals and revenue for each washer based on individual cycles. Promotional
pricing can be set for slow periods of the day or week.
Wascomat Laundry Equipment will hold its own Compass washer giveaway with a
drawing on January 14. Entry forms are available on the website, www.wascomat.com.
