Speakers
Owner
Saratoga Cleaners and Launderers
Owner
Saratoga Cleaners and Launderers
Jim Adler
Owner
Saratoga Cleaners and Launderers
James (Jim) Adler is the owner of Saratoga Cleaners and Launderers, a fast-growing hospitality and food & beverage laundry located in Saratoga Springs, NY. His entry into the linen industry began with his ownership of LinenMaster, a leading solution for linen management and software distribution. During his tenure at LinenMaster (now TEXO), Jim directed the company's technology, development, and cybersecurity initiatives. In June 2019, he acquired the business using personal capital, and later, in April 2023, sold a majority interest to Mainsail Partners. Jim’s experience also includes over a decade in middle market private equity, where he was focused on investing in and expanding family-owned businesses.
Jim graduated from the College of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He subsequently earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jim resides in New York City with his wife and two children. His leisure activities include hiking and camping in National Parks with his son Luke, as well as exploring modernist baking with his daughter Lucy.
Executive Chair
Ecotex
Executive Chair
Ecotex
Randy Bartsch
Executive Chair
Ecotex
Randy Bartsch is an entrepreneur, businessman and the founder, Chairman and CEO of Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, a major provider of healthcare laundry and linen services to hospitals, sub-acute and medical facilities across Canada and the mid-west and western United States. Believing in the importance of paying-it forward, Randy chaired the TRSA Healthcare Conferences in Dallas (2012), Philadelphia (2013), and San Diego (2014), and is a Past-Chair of the Healthcare Committee. He remains active in the association and is on the Executive Committee of the TRSA Board of Directors.
Working together with his sons Bryan and Brendon, the focus of the family’s privately-owned and operated business is to deliver Smarter Linen Solutions to its many customers. Using the industries best management practices Ecotex helps to create a safe, comfortable environment for patient care. Combined Ecotex, with its more than 1,000 employees, processes over 155 million pounds of Hygienically Clean® linens annually, for more than 400 hospitals and health facilities in the United States and Canada. Away from business Randy was a global governance leader with the Young Presidents’ Organization, (YPO) and remains an active member its alumni organization. In 2013 Randy was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, in recognition of his community service and philanthropy in his home country of Canada.
Randy and his wife Patsy live on a small acreage in the country where he has been working remotely for most of the coronavirus pandemic.
Vice President of Client Service Infinite Laundry/LinenMaster
Steve Cooker
Steve Cooker is a Sales Executive at LinenMaster & Infinite Laundry. As a seasoned marketing professional with extensive experience within the commercial laundry industry, Steve is skilled in crafting social media strategies, enhancing brand awareness, lead generation, driving sales, and customer acquisition strategies. In his day-to-day, Steve leverages his expertise to help Infinite Laundry clients attract and retain customers. Steve currently resides in Boynton Beach, Florida, with his wife and three children.
Vice President, Corporate Accounts
Gurtler Industries
Vice President, Corporate Accounts
Gurtler Industries
Jake Gurtler
Vice President, Corporate Accounts
Gurtler Industries
Jake Gurtler, Vice President Corporate Accounts, represents the third generation in the family business. After graduating from Calvin College in 2008, he joined the company as a sales representative providing service to customers across the Midwest. Jake is a member of TRSA’s Next Generation Leaders Committee, and a graduate of PMI and EMI.
Gurtler Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of advanced detergents and specialty chemicals for the commercial laundry industry. Founded in 1982, Gurtler is a privately held, family-owned and operated business, now, with three generations of the Gurtler family in our organization. Gurtler has grown into one of the largest specialists in the laundry chemical supply industry, offering a full line of processing chemicals, injection systems and personalized service across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
B2B and Social Selling Thought Leader
B2B and Social Selling Thought Leader
Shane Gibson
B2B and Social Selling Thought Leader
Shane Gibson is a Vancouver-based International Speaker, author and B2B/Enterprise Sales trainer who has addressed over two-hundred thousand people over the 25 years on stages in North America, Southern Africa, India, Dubai, Malaysia and South America. He is known as one of Canada’s foremost speakers on the topic of social media and sales performance. As a trainer, coach and motivational speaker he combines a diverse background in salesforce leadership, new entrepreneur development and extensive sales and leadership coaching. Shane is the Co-Founder and Facilitator of the Enterprise Sales Professional Certification Program delivered in partnership with the Canadian Professional Sales Association and has been named #5 on the Forbes.com list of “The Top 30 Social Sales People in the World.”
He has been published in numerous publications as a speaker and authority on the topics of Leadership, Marketing, Sales, Strategic Communications and Assessing Business Opportunities. He has also addressed the topic of Entrepreneurial Leadership in magazine, radio and television interviews, including Entrepreneur, the Financial Post and Profit Magazine.
President / Chief Operating Officer
City Uniforms and Linen
President / Chief Operating Officer
City Uniforms and Linen
Rich Kramer
President / Chief Operating Officer
City Uniforms and Linen
Rich leverages his 19 years of industry experience into his current role as the head of daily operations at City Uniforms & Linen in Findlay, Ohio. He has notable experience in business development and production management, which his wife would call “sales and telling people what to do.”
Rich is the proud of his dynamic approach, and adaptation to, an ever-changing market by introducing new products and implementing a lean process initiative with the goal of improving customer experience and engaging team members on a broad spectrum.
In that same vein, Rich is particularly passionate about team culture in pursuit of creating value for all stakeholders. He fosters a supportive environment that gives team members permission to take intelligent risks and innovate existing processes. Rich is a proponent of the Baldrige Criteria as a tool to help organizations to consistently provide world class products and services.
Director of Service Consulting
Performance Matters
Director of Service Consulting
Performance Matters
Ray Shabandarian
Director of Service Consulting
Performance Matters
Ray joined Performance Matters in November of 2022 as a Director of Service Consultant. Bringing 24 years of industry experience with Cintas, AmeriPride, and eventually Aramark as a Service Sales Rep, Certified Route Trainer, Service Training Coordinator, Sales Rep, Service Manager, and Branch Manager. He moved into Corporate Service Training to help develop, roll out, and manage numerous best practices and service programs across North America. Ray’s passion is to continue learning, developing, and contributing to the front-line and Management roles. He will take; a lead role in our Training Practice, as well as Circle of Excellence and Product Evaluation Process (PEP). His experience in successfully onboarding, training, and assisting the Service Departments he served will prove to be an excellent addition to the team. Ray and his wife, Carmen, live in Bakersfield, California, and they love to rescue and help various animals, from fur to feathers, and find time to be present when help is needed. Ray believes if you do the right thing, good things will happen.
Chairman & CEO
Wildman Business Group
Chairman & CEO
Wildman Business Group
Josh Wildman
Chairman & CEO
Wildman Business Group
Josh Wildman serves as Chairman and CEO of Wildman Business Group and Managing Partner of You The Fan. As a 3rd generation leader of the Wildman family of companies, Josh has worked the last 25 years at Wildman to fulfill his personal mission of Be Generous and Change Lives. Josh has served in all capacities from delivery service professional, to GM, COO, and now CEO since 2012 while growing the company from $4 Million in annual revenue to a run rate of $90 Million.
Josh’s areas of expertise include enhancing culture, accounting and finance, business development, M&A, strategic planning, and customer relations. Josh attended Point Loma Nazarene, Taylor University, and Grace College before joining Wildman full time. Josh also serves as the Board President at Truth @ Work, board member of C4One and Wakewell, and a Board Director at the Textile Rental Services Association.
Josh is a devoted husband to his high school sweetheart, Leslie, married for 25 years. He is a dad to two sons, Noah and Beaux, who are both amazing followers of Jesus Christ and professional watermen. As a family, the Wildmans live out their family vision together which is to be World Influencers Living Differently.
Josh is a true all-around visionary leader. He is a follower of King Jesus, devoted husband and father, marketplace ministry advocate, growth junkie, and laundryman with “Lint in the Veins”.