NCALC readies Atlantic Beach convention
The North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners has planned a busy schedule of programs to help cleaners “weather the storm” during its upcoming annual convention.
The program is set to take place from May 22-24 and will be hosted at the
Sheraton Hotel located in Atlantic Beach, NC.
Throughout the weekend, NCALC will present several informative seminars from
some of the top minds working in the industry today, including James Peuster,
a.k.a. “The Route Pro.”
In addition to being a regular columnist for National Clothesline, Peuster is
one of the leading consultants in the industry specializing in developing and
maintaining successful pickup and delivery routes.
His presentation will cover the economics of route start-up and operations as
well as a step-by-step guide to adding a route to your operation.
Also during the weekend, the association will feature a panel on managing your
business numbers moderated by David Norford, director of marketing for DLI.
He will be joined by other experts who will help cleaners become more
profitable, including Rich Volk of Bowen Cleaners and Methods for Management,
Mack Davis of Medlin-Davis Cleaners and the Tuchman Group and Charlie Smith of
Village Square Cleaners.
Another scheduled speaker for the weekend will be DLI CEO Bill Fisher who will
update attendees on “The State of the Industry,” examining which cleaners are prospering throughout the country and which are
not. He will also outline things that are going on in local legislative and
regulatory fronts that can potentially affect the industry.
DLI President-Elect Dave Silliman from Uptown Cleaners in Phoenix, AZ, will
deliver the weekend’s keynote address titled “Don’t Be Afraid to Push a Different Button.”
He will draw upon his own personal experience to help cleaners not only survive,
but prosper, in 2009.
Sto Fox, the owner/operator of Fox Cleaners, will deliver a presentation on “Shoestring Marketing” that will deliver some low cost marketing ideas that can be used to gain new
customers and additional business.
Rounding out the educational programs will be a panel discussion the process of
site assessment and remediation and the state’s Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup Act program.
Participating will be Pete Doorn from DSCA, as well as various representatives
from ATC Associates, URS Corporation and Hart & Hickman, PC.
NCALC will also allow plenty of time for relaxing and socializing.
The association will host a “Mardi Gras in May” buffet on Friday evening, the annual NCALC luau get-together on Saturday night,
and its President’s Reception Sunday evening.
There will also be allied trades tabletop exhibits on Saturday and Sunday.
This year’s convention headquarters is the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel
located at 2717 W. Fort Macon Rd.
Accommodations may also be secured at the Island Beach & Racquet Club located adjacent to the Sheraton.
For more information on convention registration or room rates and reservations,
contact NCALC at (336) 389-9011 or visit the association’s web site online at www.ncalc.org.
McElveen retires after eight years with SEFA
Barry McElveen has retired after serving for eight years as director of the South Eastern Fabricare Association.
McElveen started in the drycleaning industry while a high school student by
taking a part-time job with a laundry and drycleaning supply company in 1960.
Fourteen years later he purchased that company and renamed it Savannah
Chemicals.
As an allied tradesperson, McElveen served on SEFA's Board of Directors for 12
years. He also was a board member of the Georgia Dry Cleaning Council and a
former president of the Savannah Fabricare Association.
He retired briefly before coming back to serve as SEFA’s executive director in 1991 where he endeavored to bring educational seminars
to all four states of the SEFA region — South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. He also managed several
successful Southern Drycleaner Shows, a regional trade show sponsored by SEFA
every other year in Savannah, GA.
McElveen said he plans to spend his second retirement working in the yard,
spending time with grandchildren and fishing, in between completing a long list
of “Honey Do” tasks.
