National Clothesline

Insurance industry executives and a special guest speaker were highlights of Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network’s international convention, attended by more than 330 CRDN partners and guests from across the United States and Canada at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA, in August.

Speaker, author and consultant Steven Little addressed the general assembly on what it takes to grow a business effectively.

Through his personal experience as a growth expert, both as a consultant and as president of three fast-growth companies, and studies of the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing privately-held companies, Little identified best practices of successful organizations within the context of a changing society, based on his first book, “The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Business Growth.”

CRDN also heard from Jim Loveland, CEO of Xactware; Larry Thomas, senior vice president of Crawford Contractor Connection; and Laura Vaccaro, president of Alacrity Services.

Each shared perspectives on the insurance industry and the growing role of textile restoration within the claims process. The general assembly presentations were supplemented by educational breakout sessions and networking among members.

“Textile restoration requires a separate set of operating procedures specific to the insurance industry, and our convention speakers were instrumental in emphasizing our theme of ‘Bringing it Home,’ focusing on the difference we make in the lives of insureds and the need to provide consistent, standardized services operationally,” said Wayne Wudyka, CRDN’s CEO.

CRDN has been named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for the second year in a row, according to Inc. magazine.

Founded in 2001, CRDN reported growth of 95.8 percent, which has resulted from ongoing education of the insurance industry about the cost-effectiveness of restoring damaged textiles instead of replacing them.

Complete information on this year’s Inc. 5,000, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The list features a profile for each company, almost all of them written as a result of Inc. interviews with management. In addition, the list is searchable according to numerous criteria, including industry, city, state, region, and year founded.

As certified textile restoration specialists, CRDN works with insurance adjusters and contractors to help homeowners recover from fires, floods and other catastrophes. The company’s representatives respond to disaster scenes large and small with 24-hour service, seven days a week.

Using advanced techniques and processes, CRDN is able to restore more than 96 percent of clothing and other fabric items to pre-loss condition, which saves insurance companies millions of dollars annually.

Zengeler Cleaners welcomed seven new employees to its “20-Year Club” in 2008. The 151-year-old family-owned company now has 30 employees who combine for an 826 years of service to Zengeler Cleaners’ customers.

Joining the 20-Year Club this year are Hector Alvarado, Dolores Alcantar, Reyna Toledo-Astudillo, Josefina Perez-Ramirez, Juan Rivera, Audrey Russeau and Seon Adkins. Alvarado greets customers at the counter while the other six hold important positions in the company’s production facilities.

“Zengeler Cleaners takes a great deal of pride in the longevity of our employees,” noted Tom Zengeler, company president. “Our ability to consistently deliver superior quality and service to our customers depends on the dedication of our talented and loyal employees. We treat every employee with the respect they deserve: after all, they are the key to our success. This approach is reflected by our training program, as well as providing fair wages and competitive benefits in a safe working environment.”

Loyalty and longevity are traits reflected within the Zengeler family, too; four of the nine longest-serving employees are family members.

“Our family has always maintained an active role in the day-to-day operation of the company,” said Zengeler. “We were all taught the same important lesson from our parents and grandparents at a very early age: superior service starts and ends with the staff — so treat each employee the same way we expect them to treat our best customers.”

Other Zengeler employees with more than 20 years service include Robert Zengeler, 46 years; James Hackbarth, 38 years; Christine Diamantonis, 37 years; Julio Garcia-Munoz, 35 years; Michael Zengeler and Giannoula Koutsovitis, 34 years; Robert Zengeler, Jr. and Racheal Wiggins-Kolb, 33 years; Thomas Zengeler, 31 years; Stama Fotopoulos and Alyce Kingsley, 30 years; Howard Early, Castula Vergara and Macrina Rivera, 29 years; Joan Nebel and Patricia Reuskens, 27 years; Mark Morris and Eleftheria Zaharopoulos, 25 years; Fernanda Estela, 24 years; Joanne Lapinski and Celia Tamayo, 23 years; Nancy Brookman, 22 years; and Dennis Ori, 21 years.

Zengeler Cleaners has seven locations, in the suburban chicago area with a new store coming soon in Long Grove, IL.

The boards of directors of the Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) and Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA) voted unanimously to restructure the associations in an alliance that will enable all facets of the textile and uniform rental and services industry to work together on facing its members.

TRSA and UTSA members launder and recycle uniforms, linens and a wide assortment of textile products for a diverse base of customers that includes industrial manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, food companies, service-based establishments and the hospitality industry.

The two trade associations combined membership more than 1,500 textile processing plants and service locations account for a combined gross volume exceeding $14 billion and employ more than 140,000 people.

TRSA will assume responsibility for providing services for members of both associations. UTSA will continue to exist as a corporation and will meet all of its corporate obligations, including its obligations under the Clean Show Operating Agreement.

Roger Cocivera will continue to serve as TRSA president and CEO and he the TRSA staff will be responsible for basic operations. The TRSA staff will be enlarged to handle its increased responsibilities.

In the second half of 2009, a committee will be appointed to conduct a search for Cocivera’s successor.

UTSA CEO David Hobson will assist in the transition and will be leaving UTSA after providing over a decade of service to the industry.

Five members of UTSA will be added to the TRSA board and the TRSA executive committee will be expanded. At the end of 2008, all members will be billed for dues by TRSA according to the TRSA dues schedule which is similar to the UTSA dues schedule.

Cocivera said alliance will be able to present a united position in legislative and regulatory matters and provide enhanced education and marketing information to member companies.

It also will help the industry to continue and enhance laundry environmental and safety initiatives with EPA and OSHA to reduce energy consumption, water usage and enhance workplace safety.

Megan Van Petten has joined the Coin Laundry Association as the director of media sales for the association’s publication, The Journal. Van Petten will oversee the development of new business and introduce current clients to advertising opportunities both in print and online, which include the association’s web site, www.coinlaundry.org and its twice monthly e-newsletter, two of the more recent advertising vehicles for manufacturers and distributors.

Previously Van Petten worked for Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc., as an advertising sales specialist. She managed display and web-based ad placement for 26 publications.

Laundry Equipment Services, Inc. (LES, Inc.), a family-owned, full-service laundry equipment company in West Virginia, recently became an authorized Wascomat dealer in West Virginia, Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and eastern Ohio.

Founded in 1991, owners Steve and Laurie Clark and their staff provide clients with new and used equipment, facility layout and design, professional installation and service, preventive maintenance, original factory parts, turn-key laundromats and locations, coin-op route services, and financing.

“We strive to provide every client with the service we would expect if we were in their shoes,” said Steve Clark, president of LES, Inc.

Howard Herman, president of Wascomat, added that both companies “believe in the future of the industry and developing technologies that will help our customers lower their energy and water bills, and increase their profits.”