New SDA president extols benefits of membership
The Southwest Drycleaners Association recently installed Keith Kocher as incoming president for the current term.
Kocher was born and raised in Wichita Falls, TX, and has been active on the
association’s board for 14 years, making him a firm believer in the power of association
membership.
“Association membership really keeps me informed of the continuing changes that
affect our industry, like the recent tariffs placed on the Chinese hangers and
the upcoming Texas Margins Tax, as well as the constant changes in state and
federal regulations that affect drycleaners and small business,” he said.
“I would like to urge SDA/DLI members to take advantage of the many resources
that are available.”
Some of those resources include NIE, SDA’s endorsed insurance carrier, and training courses that are available at the
International Textile Center at Texas Tech University.”
“One of my main goals for the year is membership,” he added. “Members are vital to a strong association, but I ask you to let your association
work for you. If you have questions of concerns, pick up the phone and call SDA
or DLI. They are there to help. If they can’t answer your questions, they will put you in touch with someone who can.”
Kocher is also a member of the International Drycleaners Congress, the Austin
Chamber of commerce and the Austin Better Business Bureau.
Additionally, he is a Certified Environmental Drycleaner (CED) and a Certified
Professional Drycleaner (CPD).
He attended Midwestern State University in Witchita Falls, which is also where
his brother, Andy, started in the drycleaning industry in 1983.
Later, Kocher worked for a company training employees on a computer software
program, traveling from city to city, when he decided he liked Austin enough to
move there in 1985 and settle down.
He opened his first Comet Cleaners locally in January of that year. These days,
he has three drycleaning plants, a laundry production plant and two drop stores
altogether.
Joining Kocher on the board will be SDA’s other officers: First Vice President Jess Culpepper of Culpepper Cleaners
Inc.; Second Vice President Robert Guilott of AAA Drive-In Cleaners; Chairman
of the Board Darrell Spoon of Swyden Cleaners; Sgt.-At-Arms Jim Doherty of
Fabriclean Supply; and Executive Director Andy Stanley.
Royaltone plans leather cleaning courses in Tulsa
The Royaltone Leather Cleaning Academy will begin holding its weekend leather
cleaning classes at its new training facilities in Tulsa, OK, this fall.
The program will take place from Sept. 11 and 12. It will teach plant owners and
managers how to dryclean and wetclean suede, leather, fur and fabric with any
new, existing or idle equipment. A course prerequisite is knowledge of how to
spot, clean and press cloth garments.
Instruction is divided up between classroom lectures and in-plant hands-on
training.
Enrollment is limited to seven students, so early registration is recommended.
The cost to attend is $400 per attendees.
