TRSA and UTSA Members Approve Consolidation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The memberships of the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA) and Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) have each approved a plan for consolidating into one national association representing the entire textile services industry, effective Jan. 1, 2006.

Each association held a special membership meeting this week to vote on the consolidation plan, which was approved unanimously by both boards of directors during the recent Clean Show. UTSA’s members approved the plan on Monday morning and TRSA members voted in favor of consolidation this afternoon.

“This is an historic day,” said UTSA Chairman James Buik, The Roscoe Co., Chicago, who will lead the combined organization as its first chairman. “UTSA and TRSA members have taken a critical step toward ensuring the future success of our industry by unifying our efforts and resources.”

“The consolidation of TRSA and UTSA also significantly strengthens our industry’s position in Washington, DC,” added TRSA Chairman Michael Potack, Unitex Textile Rental Services, Mount Vernon, NY, who will serve as vice chairman of the unified association. “A single national association with the strength of our combined sales volume and employment power certainly raises the decibel level of our message on Capitol Hill.”

With the approval of the consolidation plan, Buik and Potack will be joined by three other members on the new Executive Committee. The other Executive Committee members are: UTSA Vice Chairman Kevin Crotty, Van Dyne Crotty Inc., Dayton, OH, who will also serve as secretary of the new association; TRSA Treasurer Douglas “Woody” Ostrow, CleanCare, Pittsburgh, who will also serve as treasurer; and Stephen Donly, Aramark Uniform Services, Burbank, CA, a member of both associations. The Executive Committee is empowered by the consolidation plan to conduct a search for the new organization’s first president and CEO, who is expected to be selected by Nov. 1. The consolidation plan also provides for selecting the new Board of Directors.

For more information, contact TRSA President and CEO Roger Cocivera at 703/519-0029 or UTSA President and CEO David Hobson at 703/247-2601.

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The Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) is a national trade association representing more than 1,100 company locations in 26 countries worldwide. Since 1913, TRSA members have provided textile maintenance and rental services to commercial, industrial and institutional accounts—over 90 percent of TRSA member companies are small businesses. TRSA members serve hygienically clean textile items to millions of customers in commerce, industry, and other professions from automobile service to manufacturing, restaurants and hospitals. The textile rental industry generates yearly sales or roughly $12 billion. U.S. linen supply and industrial laundering companies employ more than 132,000 people.