Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast - Interviews & Insights by TRSA

Episode 72 – The Trump Administration, Tariffs and More Mar 01, 2025

John Harwood, an award-winning journalist known for his impartial analysis of U.S. elections, politics and the presidency, recently gave a keynote address at TRSA’s 15th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. During his keynote speech, Harwood discussed the Trump administration, tariffs, foreign policy and more. For more information on TRSA’s government relations initiatives, contact TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 71 – GR: 2024 Review and a Look Ahead to 2025 Dec 20, 2024

TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb gives an update on the latest news impacting the linen, uniform and facility services industry from Washington, DC. He talks about the results of the recent election and its impact on the industry, TRSA’s advocacy efforts at both the federal and state levels, as well as what to keep an eye on in 2025. For more information on TRSA’s government relations initiatives, contact Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 70 – The Wash Meets TRSA Nov 28, 2024

Zach Ostendorf, host of the industry podcast The Wash and a videographer for Clean & Simple Marketing/CITY Laundering, interviews TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci while the duo eats progressively spicier hot wings. The interview was recorded in front of a live audience at TRSA’s 7th Annual Marketing, Sales & Service Summit in Atlanta.

Episode 69 – Enhancing Safety: Fire Safety Survey Oct 30, 2024

Charles Edelman, the corporate safety director at Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services in Elmsford, NY, and the chair of TRSA’s Safety Committee, discusses the results of TRSA’s Fire Safety Survey. Additionally, Johnny Sandras of Sanico Rental Service in Cottondale, AL, discusses the impact that a devastating fire had on his business and the lessons learned from the experience.

Episode 68 – PFAS: Update from the EPA Jul 18, 2024

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials Brian D’Amico and Matt Klasen join the podcast to give an overview of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the EPA’s strategic roadmap for dealing with the issue, as well as effluent limitation guidelines and several ongoing studies to note moving forward. For more information on PFAS, contact TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 67 – Sustainability: Water Reuse and Recycling May 31, 2024

John Shaffer, the CEO and principal chemist for EEC Environmental, shares his thoughts on the sustainability efforts the linen, uniform and facility services industry has made when it comes to water reuse and water recycling. For more information on this topic, contact podcasts@trsa.org.

Episode 66 – What’s at Stake in 2024? Apr 30, 2024

Bob Cusack, the editor in chief of The Hill newspaper, gives an update on the current political climate in Washington, DC. During his keynote speech at TRSA’s recently completed 14th Annual Legislative Conference and Industry Awards Dinner, Cusack discusses the key issues in the 2024 presidential election, and what to look out for in the race for the White House, as well as the U.S. House and Senate this November.

Episode 65 – Private Equity’s Impact on Healthcare Mar 01, 2024

Several influential voices from the financial sector discuss the impact of private-equity investments on the linen, uniform and facility services industry over the past decade and discuss the implications for the future of companies serving the acute and nonacute healthcare sectors. Recorded live from a panel presentation at TRSA’s 12th Annual Healthcare Conference & Exchange in Memphis, TN. Panelists include Ryan Chimenti, the managing director of CIBC U.S. Middle Market Investment Banking; Kiran Prasad, the managing director of Stephens Inc. and Matthew Sznewajs, group head and managing director at Piper Sandler & Co. Andrew Kratky, the president and CEO of Emerald Textiles, moderated the panel. For information on TRSA’s upcoming 13th Annual Healthcare Conference, visit www.trsa.org/healthcare.

Episode 64 – Automation and Innovation Nov 21, 2023

Mark Bodzioch, the president of Clean Uniforms and More!, New Bedford, MA, discusses the company’s history and growth, as well as several innovations at its facility, including its RFID system to track garments and its recently installed automated soil-sorting system. For information on joining TRSA’s Industrial, Uniform & Workwear Committee, visit www.trsa.org/committees.

Episode 63 – Retaining Your Top Talent Sep 28, 2023

Michael Flores, the vice president of human resources and a member of the executive leadership team at Prudential Overall Supply, Irvine, CA, discusses how Prudential transformed its human resources department and focused on retaining its best employees in a tough labor market. For information on joining TRSA’s Human Resources Committee, visit www.trsa.org/committees.

Episode 62 – Sales: Carrying Out Difficult Conversations Aug 31, 2023

Jason Pourakis and Ryan Berdnik of Mazars USA discuss best practices for negotiating with your customers, and let you know the cues that signal when it’s best to walk away from the negotiating table. For more information on the Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast: Interviews & Insights by TRSA, visit www.trsa.org/podcasts.

Episode 61 – Leadership: Insights from the C-Suite Jul 31, 2023

Several C-suite executives from leading operator companies discuss topics such as industry growth opportunities, safe operations in the plant and on the road, recruitment and retention of employees, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, and more. Recorded live from a panel presentation at TRSA’s 2023 Leadership Summit in Chicago. Panelists include Brian Herington, CEO, PureStar Group; John Ross, CEO, Mission Linen; Jim Rozakis, executive vice president and COO, Cintas Corp.; and Steve Sintros, CEO, UniFirst Corp. The discussion was moderated by TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci and Senior Editors Jack Morgan and Jason Risley.

Episode 60 – Fire Safety Best Practices Jun 30, 2023

Don Bock, the owner and operator of Seabright Safety Solutions, discusses best practices to prevent fires at your plant, including emergency action plans, external monitoring systems, training and more. Bock is a certified safety professional and associate in risk management who worked for Mission Linen Supply for more than 30 years.

Episode 59 – Aligning HR to Strategic Goals May 01, 2023

Dr. Mario D. Wallace, the founder of the consulting firm All Things Strategic, discusses fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment at your workplace, as well as aligning your company’s human resources initiatives to your organization’s overall strategic goals and objectives. Dr. Wallace has more than 20 years of small-business consulting experience and 11 years of healthcare-consulting experience. He is currently the principal strategy consultant at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH.

Episode 58 – A View from the Hill Mar 31, 2023

On the heels of TRSA’s recently completed 13th Annual Legislative Conference and Industry Awards Dinner, Bob Cusack, the editor in chief of The Hill newspaper joins the podcast to give an update on the current political climate in Washington, DC. Cusack discusses the state of Congress following the recent midterm elections, the most important issues for the remainder of 2023, as well as what to keep an eye out for as we move toward the 2024 presidential election.

Episode 57 – Healthcare: Trends, Opportunities and Challenges Feb 27, 2023

A panel discussion featuring Randy Bartsch, CEO, Ecotex; Jason Berstein, president, Nixon Medical Inc.; Jim Cashman, CEO, ImageFIRST; Karl Fillip II, CEO, NOVO Health Services LLC; Andrew Kratky, CEO, Emerald Textiles; and Joe LaPorta, president & CEO, Healthcare Linen Services Group, from TRSA’s recent Healthcare Conference. The discussion covers several topics, including the prospect of a recession and its likely impact on the healthcare market, investing in automation, challenges serving the healthcare sector, and instilling culture and values throughout an organization.

Episode 56 – Navigating Organizational Change Dec 01, 2022

As you look ahead to 2023, you might be considering changing your company’s culture, navigating a new business process or focusing on employee turnover, among other items. As a result, it’s important to have a plan in place to keep your business moving in the right direction as you implement and experience change at your company. Michael Davids, senior consultant at Strategic In/Sight Partners, joins us to share his expertise in guiding organizations toward improved performance and effective change management.

Episode 55 – Zero Tolerance: Preventing Workplace Harassment Nov 01, 2022

Melanie Shong Helm, an HR veteran who currently serves as the corporate director of human resources at Crown Health Care Laundry Services, discusses the policies your company should put in place to prepare for acts of harassment and retaliation in the workplace, and how you should respond when an incident is reported. For more information on TRSA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, contact TRSA’s Salita Jones at sjones@trsa.org.

Episode 54 – Hospitality/Hotel Market: Converting OPLs Oct 01, 2022

A trio of executives with more than 110 years of experience in the linen, uniform and facility services industry join the podcast to discuss the hospitality/hotel market and how to convince hoteliers to move away from their on-premises laundry operations and work with a commercial laundry. Bob Corfield, CEO of the Laundry Design Group; Steve Miller, vice president of Victor Kramer Co.; and Terry Satchwell, vice president of strategic accounts at Pellerin Milnor, discuss these topics and more.

Episode 53 – PFAS Update Aug 31, 2022

John Shaffer, the CEO and principal chemist for EEC Environmental, shares his thoughts on PFAS, the potential for future wastewater-discharge limits and the likely impact on the linen, uniform and facility services industry. For more information on PFAS regulations and their potential impact on the industry, contact TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 52 – CPLM: Pathways to Success Jun 30, 2022

TRSA’s Senior Director of Certification & Accreditation Samlane Ketevong joins the podcast to talk about TRSA’s Certified Professional Laundry Manager (CPLM) credential; how linen, uniform and facility services employees can obtain this certification; and why it will benefit both the employee receiving the credential as well as your business. For more information on CPLM, visit www.trsa.org/cplm.

Episode 51 – Labor Law Update May 31, 2022

Joe Shelton, a partner in Fisher Phillips Nashville office, discusses the latest wage-and-hour issues, and state and federal employment laws and trends that companies in the linen, uniform and facility services industry need to keep an eye on.

Episode 50 – Establishing Culture and Leading with Empathy Apr 29, 2022

Nicole Belyna, field services director at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), discusses how to establish culture at your workplace, the impact of open and transparent communication on your organization’s culture, and the ways that the pandemic affected workplace culture. For more information on TRSA’s upcoming HR, Health & Safety Summit in Chicago, visit www.trsa.org/hr-hs.

Episode 49 – Employee Engagement: Getting the Right People on Your Team Mar 31, 2022

Dan Gonder, the chief operating officer and co-owner of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, discusses methods that you can use to ensure your employees are engaged in their work. To download the Anti-Misery Worksheet that Dan talks about interacting with during the episode, visit www.trsa.org/podcasts.

Episode 48 – Using Proven Teamwork Strategies to Ensure Success Feb 28, 2022

Dan Gonder, the chief operating officer and co-owner of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of using proven teamwork strategies such as the ideal team player and the working genius assessment, among others, to ensure the success of your organization’s strategic plan. To view a Ted X talk from Patrick Lencioni on the ideal team player concept, visit https://youtu.be/PRh80RyT74I.

Episode 47 – Successful Strategic Planning Jan 31, 2022

Eric Kurjan, the president of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, a firm that has worked with several leading organizations in the linen, uniform and facility services industry, shares his thoughts on strategic planning, and how to set a plan in motion for your business and employees to succeed. For more information, visit www.trsa.org/podcasts.

Episode 46 – Preparing for OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS Dec 01, 2021

Martine Wells, a partner at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, gives an update on the status of the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 vaccinations. Wells will explain and clarify the regulation, outline the steps for compliance and discuss its impact on the linen, uniform and facility services industry. For more information, visit TRSA’s Coronavirus Resource Center at www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 45 – Industry Financials, Labor Issues & More Oct 29, 2021

Andrew Wittmann, a senior research analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co., shares his thoughts on the latest data from the Textile Rental Services Survey, a collaborative effort with TRSA, as well as other issues impacting the linen, uniform and facility services industry, such as the ongoing labor shortage. For more information on the survey, contact Wittmann at awittmann@rwbaird.com or Justin Hauke at jhauke@rwbaird.com.

Episode 44 – Increasing Your Route Efficiency Sep 30, 2021

Jeff Blum, route supervisor; and Matthew Callope, service manager, at Huebsch Services share their thoughts on the company’s recent improvements on the route. For more information on TRSA’s Industrial, Uniform & Workwear Committee, contact Ken Koepper at kkoepper@trsa.org.

Episode 43 – Facility Services: Building a Culture of Adding Value Aug 31, 2021

Jay Rasmussen, the vice president of sales at Balfurd Linen Service, Tipton, PA, shares best practices for boosting your facility services offerings and revenues. For more information on TRSA’s Industrial, Uniform & Workwear Committee, contact Ken Koepper at kkoepper@trsa.org.

Episode 42 – Repurposing Textiles: Prudential and Ambercycle Team Up Jul 30, 2021

Chris Welch, the president of Prudential Overall Supply, discusses the company’s commitment to sustainability through its Clean Green certification, and how its focus on eco-friendly practices led to its collaboration with Ambercycle, a TRSA supplier partner committed to recycling textile goods, led by CEO Shay Sethi. For more information about TRSA Clean Green certification, visit www.cleangreen.org.

Episode 41 – Industrial Insights: COVID Recovery, Direct Sales & More Jun 30, 2021

John Auriemma, the president of American Wear Inc., East Orange, NJ, discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, direct sales opportunities, the benefits of Hygienically Clean certification and more. For more information on TRSA’s Industrial, Uniform & Workwear Committee, contact Ken Koepper at kkoepper@trsa.org.

Episode 40 – ‘This Business is in My Blood’: A Talk with TRSA’s Chair May 28, 2021

We recently sat down with TRSA’s current Chair Noël Hammer Richardson, president of Shasta Linen Supply in Sacramento, CA, to discuss several topics, including family business dynamics, weathering the COVID crisis, the future of the food-and-beverage industry, as well as her vision for the association and the industry moving forward. For more information on TRSA’s Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast, contact podcasts@trsa.org.

Episode 39 – Establishing a DEI Program Apr 27, 2021

Joe Geraghty, the chief operating officer and chief people officer at ImageFIRST, shares how establishing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program with buy-in from the company’s senior leadership team has helped ImageFIRST boost employee morale and productivity. For more information on TRSA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, contact Salita Jones at sjones@trsa.org.

Episode 38 – The Mystery of Teamwork Mar 30, 2021

Dan Gonder, the chief operating officer and co-owner of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of teamwork in successful organizations and outlines best practices that will help your company build a cohesive team.

Episode 37 – Don’t Run with Scissors Feb 16, 2021

Casey Mackert, Director of Baldrige Services at Six Disciplines, joins us to discuss the pillars of performance excellence and how following these methods can help your operation achieve its goals. She explains how not having these pillars in place is like running with scissors – potentially dangerous to your organization’s well being.

Episode 36 – TRSA Vaccine Update Jan 29, 2021

An update on TRSA’s advocacy efforts to get the linen, uniform and facility services industry included at the top of the priority list for the continuing rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations, gives an update on TRSA’s efforts. For more information, visit TRSA’s Coronavirus Resource Center at www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 35 – Why Strategy Matters More than Ever Jan 19, 2021

Strategy encompasses two sides of the same coin when it comes to defining both short-term and long-term strategies. Linen, uniform and facility services companies need to continue to closely manage the nine key elements of operational focus in a pandemic – also known as the pandemic operational checklist – but you also need to lay out your recovery strategy for 2021. The approval of vaccines and the optimism of a gradual economic recovery indicates a need for solid, well-defined strategies ahead of the curve. You need to protect and prepare yourself for short-term challenges and long-term opportunities. Eric Kurjan, the president of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, joins us to discuss strategic planning and more.

Episode 34 – Political Outlook from Chris Stirewalt Dec 21, 2020

An update on the latest news from the nation’s capital, and a look at what to expect moving forward as a new administration takes over the White House in January 2021. Joining us to discuss these issues and more is Chris Stirewalt, the digital politics editor at Fox News. Stirewalt has worked at Fox News Channel’s Washington bureau since 2010, and will give a keynote address at TRSA’s 11th Annual Legislative Conference, scheduled for March 24-25, 2021. For more information about the Legislative Conference, visit www.trsa.org/legcon.

Episode 33 – Government Relations Update Oct 29, 2020

TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb gives an update on the latest news from Washington, DC, including the potential for additional stimulus funding, as well as state-level initiatives impacting linen, uniform and facility services businesses. For more information on TRSA’s government relations initiatives, contact Kevin Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 32 – COVID-19: Leadership Lessons Aug 27, 2020

A panel of linen, uniform and facility services operators discuss the industry’s response to COVID-19, lessons learned from the crisis and how the industry can move forward. Panelists include Jim Buik, the current TRSA chairman and president of Roscoe Co.; Jim Cashman, president and CEO of ImageFIRST; P.J. Dempsey, president of Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply; and Cory Acton, vice president of operations, Magic Laundry Services. The panel was moderated by TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci. For more COVID-19 news, information and resources for your linen, uniform and facility services company, visit www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 31 – Sales and Marketing Post-COVID Jul 30, 2020

Anna Walker, the marketing manager at Cosgrove Partners in Indianapolis, discusses the importance of retaining your customer base in the post-COVID sales and marketing environment. Walker talks about the critical pivot your marketing and sales teams must make, how to develop marketing messages that resonate with your customers in this climate and why adding new product lines may be a smart move for your business. For more COVID-19 news, information and resources for your linen, uniform and facility services company, visit www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 30 – Reopening Restaurants Jun 11, 2020

Charles Crowell, the vice president of Milliken Table Linens, and Ben Fox, the director of sales and marketing at Alsco, discuss the state of the food-and-beverage market, as well as the importance of hygienically clean linens and uniforms as restaurants reopen across the United States and worldwide. For more COVID-19 news, information and resources for your linen, uniform and facility services company, visit www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 29 – COVID-19: Restarting your Business May 14, 2020

Karen Griffiths, the human resources and safety director at Loop Linen Service in the New Orleans area, and Angela Howard, the vice president of people development and human experience at Spindle in the Chicago area, discuss the policies their respective companies are putting in place as they move toward ramping up operations. For more COVID-19 news, information and resources for your linen, uniform and facility services company, visit www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 28 – COVID-19: Communicating with Employees Mar 31, 2020

Catalina Dongo, the director of human resources at UniFirst Corp., shares tips on communicating with your employees during the COVID-19 crisis, and outlines best practices and policies to implement at your organization. For more COVID-19 news, information and resources for your linen, uniform and facility services company, visit www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 27 – COVID-19: Impacts on Commercial Laundries Mar 12, 2020

A discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impacts on the linen, uniform and facility services industry with Dr. Murray Cohen, a retired U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist; and Joseph Ricci, the president and CEO of TRSA. For more information and communication tools for your company’s customers, employees and leadership teams, visit www.trsa.org/covid19.

Episode 26 – Producing Hygienically Clean Textiles Feb 28, 2020

An overview of TRSA’s Hygienically Clean certification program with Audrey Carmichael, a client coach with Six Disciplines Consulting Services. Carmichael shares her thoughts on the benefits of getting Hygienically Clean certification for your commercial laundry, preparing for the certification with Hygienically Clean consulting services, and more. For more information on Hygienically Clean consulting services, contact TRSA’s Manager of Certification Programs Angela Freeman at afreeman@trsa.org.

Episode 25 – Identifying Leaders Jan 31, 2020

Eric Kurjan, the president of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, a firm that has worked with several leading organizations in the linen, uniform and facility services industry, joins us to discuss identifying and developing leaders in the commercial laundry industry, as well as the benefits of TRSA’s Leadership Development Workshops. For more information on these workshops, contact TRSA’s Manager of Education Kristin Mudd at kmudd@trsa.org.

Episode 24 – Energy and Utility Savings Jan 15, 2020

An overview of the energy and natural gas markets, as well as projects that your laundry can undertake to save on energy and utility costs in the future. Sharing their thoughts on these topics and more are Michael Payne and Dan Flaherty of TRSA Business Solutions Partner APPI Energy, and Chad Burden of THG Energy Solutions. For more information on TRSA’s Business Solutions, visit www.trsa.org.

Episode 23 – Productivity Boost Nov 21, 2019

We take a look at plant productivity, and how to improve your laundry’s throughput through better hiring practices for production staff, new technologies and more. A panel of savvy laundry operators and consultants, including Johanna Ames, president of Ames Linen Service; Tyler Burke, executive vice president of Loop Linen Service; Mike Chambers, production specialist at Alsco Inc.; and Don Maida, senior consultant at TBR Associates, share their thoughts. Follow TRSA on Instagram at trsa_org.

Episode 22 – Economic Update, M&A Activity Oct 11, 2019

A rundown of the economy, recent mergers and acquisitions, and key financial metrics for the linen, uniform and facility services industry based on numbers from publicly traded uniform companies and survey data gathered from commercial laundry operators. This episode was recorded live at TRSA’s 106th Annual Conference in September and features Andrew Wittmann, a senior research analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. Share your thoughts on the podcast by sending an email to podcasts@trsa.org.

Episode 21 – Safety First: TRSA’s New Certification Sep 12, 2019

Rick Gerlach, the former senior director of safety and health at Cintas, who is currently a consultant for safety and health processes with RG Consulting LLC, gives an overview of TRSA’s new Safety and Health Certification. He details the process for getting certified, why it’s important to gain recognition for your company’s safety and health programs, and how this certification program can enhance your company as an employer and as a service provider. For more information on TRSA’s certification programs, visit www.trsa.org/certification.

Episode 20 – Mastering Hospitality with Steve DiFillippo Aug 28, 2019

Steve DiFillippo, the owner of Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse and author of It’s All About the Guest, discusses his brief experience working in the linen, uniform and facility services industry, as well as his deep family ties to the commercial laundry business. DiFillippo also previews his upcoming talk at TRSA’s 106th Annual Conference in Boston, shares his customer service philosophy and describes how he’s built his restaurant business from a single location to a nationwide brand. For more information on TRSA’s 106th Annual Conference, visit www.trsa.org/annualconference.

Episode 19 – Passing the Torch Jul 31, 2019

How do you plan your business for a successful transition to the next generation? Learn how several industry leaders have dealt with this transition in the past and are preparing their business for the future. In this panel presentation from TRSA’s Second Annual Leadership Summit in New Orleans, Jim Buik, president and owner of Roscoe Co.; James Gutheim, president of James Gutheim & Associates; and Mark Kowalski, managing partner of Envise Partners LLC, share their thoughts. The panel was moderated by Dr. Jean Meeks-Koch, a consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group.

Episode 18 – Minimizing Workplace Negativity Jun 11, 2019

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that negativity in the workplace costs businesses a whopping $3 billion per year due to its harmful effects. How do you counteract negativity and its effects on your company’s productivity? In this presentation from TRSA’s Production Summit & Plant Tours in Dallas, The DISC Wizard Nancy Roberts, a leading consultant to the linen, uniform and facility services industry, shares four key steps to minimizing workplace negativity in order to boost your business productivity.

Episode 17 – Federal Policy Update May 23, 2019

Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations and certifications, and Bill Spencer, TRSA’s federal legislative counsel, discuss legislation and regulations that impact the linen, uniform and facility services industry and what TRSA is doing to advocate on behalf of the industry. For more information on policy issues at the federal and state levels, contact Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 16 – Developing Leaders May 07, 2019

Eric Kurjan, the president of Six Disciplines Consulting Services, a firm that has worked with several leading organizations in the linen, uniform and facility services industry, joins us to discuss developing leaders in the commercial laundry industry, as well as TRSA’s new Leadership Development Workshops. For more information on these workshops, contact TRSA’s Manager of Education Kristin Mudd at kmudd@trsa.org.

Episode 15 – TRSA Visits Capitol Hill Apr 05, 2019

A recap of TRSA’s Ninth Annual Legislative Conference, held on March 27-28 in Washington, DC. The two-day conference featured an industry awards dinner, meetings with high-ranking members of Congress and a keynote address by Chris Stirewalt of Fox News. Stirewalt gave an update on the latest news impacting the nation’s capital, with a look ahead to the 2020 presidential election and potential strategy for both parties. For more information on TRSA’s government relations initiatives, contact Kevin Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 14 – Lean Six Sigma Mar 18, 2019

An overview of Lean Six Sigma with Audrey Carmichael, a client coach with Six Disciplines and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and American Society for Quality (ASQ) Quality Auditor. Carmichael shares her thoughts on the benefits of running Lean in a commercial laundry operation, how Lean Six Sigma can improve safety as well as production, and more.

Episode 13 – Hospitality Market: Trends and Opportunities Feb 28, 2019

A deep dive into the hospitality market, with a focus on the latest trends in this sector and potential areas for growth for linen, uniform and facility services operators focused on serving the hotel space. Based on a presentation given by Greg Eubanks of Standard Textile and Chris Kane of the PureStar Group at TRSA’s inaugural Hospitality Conference in Orlando, FL.

Episode 12 – Marketing & Sales: Converting Non-Programmers Feb 13, 2019

Marketing and sales leaders from many of the linen, uniform and facility services industry’s largest companies, including Jim Divers, director of sales and marketing at Alsco; Ryan Flaherty, vice president of sales, marketing and business development at Aramark Uniform Services; Dave Katz, senior vice president of sales and marketing at UniFirst; and Bob Mitchell, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Cintas, discuss converting non-programmers to uniform renters; expanding the market for linen, uniform and facility services; innovations in sales and marketing; and more. TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci moderated the discussion, titled “Identifying and Expanding Markets: Converting Non-Programmers,” at TRSA’s Marketing and Sales Summit, held in December 2018 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Episode 11 – Government Relations Overview Dec 19, 2018

A look at TRSA’s government relations strategy on a federal level, as well as specific issues of concern to the linen, uniform and facility services industry in states such as California, Indiana, New York, Texas and more. TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s Federal Legislative Counsel Bill Spencer and TRSA’s California Legislative Counsel RJ Cervantes take a deep dive into policy issues affecting the commercial laundry industry. For more information on contributing to the TRSAPAC, contact Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.

Episode 10 - Disaster Preparedness: Lessons Learned Dec 03, 2018

Several commercial laundry operators discuss how they survived disaster, while reflecting on the effectiveness of their company’s emergency preparedness plans and lessons learned for the future. The panel featured Mark Carter, the president of Up To Date Laundry in Baltimore; Mike Lang, a process analyst at Unitex in Elmsford, NY; Michael Shulevitz, the president of Cadillac Uniform and Linen Supply in Puerto Rico; and Tim Topornicki, the owner of Topper Linen Supply in Toronto. The panel was recorded live at TRSA’s Seventh Annual Healthcare Conference and moderated by Joseph Ricci, the president and CEO of TRSA. For more information, visit www.trsa.org/podcasts.

Episode 9 - Market Trends, M&A Update from Baird Nov 19, 2018

A rundown of the economy, recent mergers and acquisitions, and key financial metrics for the linen, uniform and facility services industry based on numbers from publicly traded uniform companies and survey data gathered from commercial laundry operators. This episode was recorded live at TRSA’s 105th Annual Conference & Exchange in October and features Andrew Wittmann, a senior research analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. Share your thoughts on the podcast by sending an email to podcasts@trsa.org.

Episode 8 - Smart Staffing with The DISC Wizard Nov 05, 2018

Nancy Roberts, also known as The DISC Wizard, is a certified behavioral analyst that helps clients use assessments, coaching and training to navigate the hiring process and get better performance from their staff. Roberts joined the podcast to talk about her recent article in Textile Services magazine and her upcoming educational session at TRSA’s Healthcare Conference, as well as to share her insights on improving your organization’s recruiting and hiring practices. For more information on the Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast, go to www.trsa.org/podcasts.

Episode 7 - Equipment Innovations, Plant Design and Renovations Oct 21, 2018

A focused discussion on equipment innovations, plant design and renovations featuring Bob Corfield, CEO, Laundry Design Group; Ed Kwasnick, director of business development at ARCO/Murray; Chip Malboeuf, president at Turnkey Industrial Engineering Services; and Gerard O’Neill, president and CEO at American Laundry Systems.

The discussion was moderated by Dan Farnsworth, vice president of sales and marketing at Leonard Automatics. This episode was recorded live at TRSA’s Production Summit & Plant Tours in Philadelphia. Subscribe, rate and review the podcast on iTunes today!

Episode 6 - Rising through the Ranks: Leadership Summit CEO Panel Oct 07, 2018

Titled “Rising through the Ranks: What it Takes,” this panel discussion features Scott Farmer, chairman and CEO of Cintas; Jim Kearns, CFO at Alsco; Juha Laurio, president and CEO of the Lindstrom Group; Steven Sintros, president and CEO at UniFirst; and Tom Watts, president at Prudential Overall Supply. The discussion was moderated by TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci, and recorded live at TRSA’s inaugural Leadership Summit in June 2018 in Chicago.

Episode 5 - Guiding Change with Former AmeriPride CEO Sep 23, 2018

The former CEO of AmeriPride Services Inc., Bill Evans, shares his thoughts on leading change in your organization. The speech was recorded live at TRSA's Executive Management Institute (EMI). Evans will also be a featured speaker on the Legends of the Industry Panel at TRSA's upcoming Annual Conference in Napa, CA.

Learn more about TRSA at trsa.org

Episode 4 - The Future of Technology with Vivek Wadhwa Sep 10, 2018

Vivek Wadhwa, a technology and innovation author and expert, academic and futurist, joins us to discuss the technologies that will shape the laundry of the future and how to prepare for those potential disruptions so that your business is primed for success. Wadhwa also will share his insights with TRSA members at the 105th Annual Conference and Exchange.

Episode 3 - David Varner: Military Veteran Transitions to the Laundry Industry Aug 17, 2018

David Varner is the chief strategy and development officer at TRSA operator member company Superior Linen Service. Before joining the Superior Linen Service staff, Varner served for 21 years in the U.S. Navy, including a stint on the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. With many companies in the linen, uniform and facility services industry interested in hiring veterans, Varner talked about his military background and how it helped him transition successfully to a career in the laundry industry.

Episode 2 - Innovation and Leadership with Entrepreneur Josh Linkner Aug 17, 2018

A tech entrepreneur, venture capitalist and New York Times best-selling author, not to mention a talented jazz guitarist, Josh Linkner joined the podcast to share how laundry companies can use innovation to their advantage, as well as his experience serving as a mentor to up-and-coming tech entrepreneurs. Linkner recently gave a keynote address titled “Harnessing Innovation: Turning Raw Ideas into Powerful Results” at TRSA’s inaugural Leadership Summit in Chicago.

Episode 1 - Introduction to the Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast from TRSA Aug 17, 2018

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on the Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast from TRSA. We’ll talk with industry leaders on the latest issues of importance to your business, as well as go in-depth with thought leaders from outside of the industry to get their perspective on topics affecting the broader business community. Subscribe now.

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