TRSA hosted its Second Annual Marketing & Sales Summit on Dec. 4-5 in Tampa. Key topics discussed by the linen, uniform and facility services industry’s marketing and sales professionals included customer growth and retention, social media and digital opportunities, employee hiring and retention, emotional intelligence, and more.

TRSA has commissioned The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to build a market opportunity assessment for the linen, uniform and facility services industry across 13 countries in six regions to explore market demands and forecast market, service and product opportunities. Based on evidence-driven research, interviews with industry experts and demand sector outlooks, EIU will premiere results at the World Textile Services Congress (WTSC) June 18-19, 2020, in Frankfurt, Germany, immediately prior to the Texcare International trade show.

TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services, recently met with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle during its TRSAPAC Fly-In Meetings on Dec. 10-11. The meetings kicked off on Dec. 10 with a networking dinner with Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and continued the next morning with several meetings on Capitol Hill.

LCT, a specialist in garment management, distribution and wardrobe systems, and Textilligence, a sister company of the ABS Group, a specialist in UHF RFID solutions for textile management, have merged to become a new company named LCT-Textilligence, according to a news release.

Todd Deaton, executive vice president at Wildman Business Group, Warsaw, IN, recently announced his retirement after 42 years in the linen, uniform and facility services industry. His valuable contributions, continued loyalty and dedicated leadership played an integral role in the business and led Wildman to where it is today, according to a news release.

Thermopatch, Syracuse, NY, recently announced the appointment of Mitch Eaton to the controller position at the company.

David Potack, president of Unitex, Elmsford, NY, recently received the Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence from Mount Saint Mary College. This award recognizes individuals or organizations whose professional accomplishments and approach to management reflect the same commitment to quality, concern for neighbors and shared prosperity that have exemplified the career and character of local restaurateur Joseph A. Bonura, according to a news release.

TRSA offices will remain closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas. The association’s global headquarters in Alexandria, VA, also will remain closed on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in observance of New Year’s Day.

Ideal Linen Supply, Scottsbluff, NE, recently acquired a local cleaning and facility services company, according to news reports and a news release from consultant Jim Gutheim, who advised Ideal Linen on its purchase of Bluffs Sanitary Supply.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), who serves as the ranking member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, told a group of TRSA members in Washington on Dec. 10 that he’s optimistic about prospects for a new highway bill that could provide badly needed funding for road and bridge repairs long sought by linen, uniform and facility services companies.