Corporate Briefs

IN MEMORIAM

Stephen Bryant, 74, passed away on Dec. 15, 2023. A TRSA Lifetime Operator Achievement Award winner in 2016, Bryant was an industry veteran, having held executive posts with Initial USA and Apparel Master. From 2000-2012, Bryant was CEO of Wildman Business Group, Warsaw, IN, and a subsidiary, You the Fan. He also was CEO Emeritus and a board member until 2018. Wildman and You the Fan credit Bryant for his foundational leadership that served as a catalyst for growth and diversification over more than 20 years. Bryant also served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Memorial gifts can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at T2T.org.

Richard ‘Rick’ Charles Gerlach, 73, passed away Dec. 17, 2023. The retired senior director of safety and health for Cintas Corp, Mason, OH, Gerlach, recently had served as a consultant on safety issues. He leaves a strong legacy as a leader in the industrial safety community. “Gerlach was instrumental to improving the linen, uniform and facility services industry by contributing to the TRSA Safety Committee and Health & Safety Certification program,” said TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci.

DeNeal Feldman, 92, passed away on Nov. 26, 2023. A lifelong resident of Dayton, OH, Feldman attended public schools and The Ohio State University. After graduating, Feldman joined Economy Linen, the family business founded by his father, Harry Feldman. DeNeal helped expand Economy Linen into a thriving company dedicated to its employees and customers. He was a leader in the linen industry as well, serving on the TRSA Board of Directors. His son Bruce, and grandsons Martin and Jason continue to lead Economy Linen.

LINEN, UNIFORM & FACILITY SERVICES NEWS

NOVO’s EcoBrite Acquisition Fuels Chicago-Area Growth

NOVO Health Services, a leading healthcare linen management company, recently acquired EcoBrite Linen, Skokie, IL, a Chicago-area provider of healthcare linen and laundry services for long-term and acute-care facilities. “This is an exciting time for NOVO and for EcoBrite,” said Karl Fillip II, president and CEO of NOVO. “We have a common goal of improving the patient and resident experience, and together, with the team in place at EcoBrite, we can service more healthcare facilities throughout the Chicagoland area.”

HLSG Plans New Midwest Facility

Healthcare Linen Services Group (HLSG), St. Charles, IL, is continuing its Midwest expansion plans with the acquisition of land for a new facility to provide additional laundry capacity for customers in Wisconsin and Illinois. With a current network of 20 plants and two depots, HLSG serves more than 2,000 customers in 15 states. The establishment of a new facility aligns with HLSG’s growth strategy, which aims to enhance its footprint across the Midwest and South Regions.

Wildman Acquires Northern First Aid

Wildman Business Group (WBG), Warsaw, IN, recently acquired Northern First Aid, Hersey, MI. As two family-owned companies with a commitment to customer excellence, Northern First Aid Owner Dave Perales knew Wildman was the right partner. While Wildman is known primarily for uniforms, linen, and mat services, the company has participated in the first-aid and facility services industry for more than 20 years. This strategic focus adds customer value.

Alsco Donates $50K to Maui Fund

Alsco Uniforms, Salt Lake City, recently donated $50,000 to the Maui Strong Fund” to support the island’s recovery in the wake of the August 2023 wildfires. Administered by the Hawai’i Community Foundation, this fund dedicates financial resources to both immediate and long-term recovery efforts.

Cintas Announces 2024 Q1 Results

Cintas Corp. (CTAS), Mason, OH, ecently announced its fiscal year 2024 first quarter results. The company’s revenue for Q1 2024 was $2.34 billion, an increase of 8.1% vs. last year’s Q1. The organic revenue growth rate for the Q1 2024, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions and foreign currency exchange-rate fluctuations, was also 8.1%.

UniFirst Reports 2023 Q4 Results

In its 2023 Q4 report, UniFirst Corp., Wilmington, MA, announced that consolidated revenues increased 10.7% to $571.9 million. Operating income was $36.1 million, a rise of 8.5%.

LINEN, UNIFORM & FACILITY SERVICES PERSONNEL

Third-Gen Ecotex Leader Named CEO

Bryan Bartsch, who has served as president of the Ecotex Group, Vancouver, since 2018, succeeded his father, Randy Bartsch, as CEO of Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, effective Jan. 1. Bryan thus became the third generation of the Bartsch family to lead the business. He joined the company in 2002 and worked his way up from the plant floor.

Ferron Earns Canadian Industry Honor

Pierre Ferron, CEO of Buanderie Blanchelle, Montreal, QC, and a member of TRSA’s Board of Directors, recently was named by FabricareCanada magazine as Canada’s Industry Person of the Year. Ferron exemplifies innovation and leadership, the online magazine said.

SUPPLIER PARTNER NEWS

ARCO/Murray Named Contractor of the Year

ARCO/Murray recently was named the “Contractor of the Year” by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Chicago. ARCO’s expertise spans industrial developments, offices, process manufacturing and self-storage facilities. The company has also secured the third position in the Top 100 design-build firms and the 17th spot in the Top 400 General Contractors in the U.S., as determined by Engineering News Record (ENR). Acknowledged by Inc. 5000 as one of the “Fastest Growing Private Companies,” ARCO attributes its success to its innovative design-build approach. In another accolade, ARCO recently was named a “Best & Brightest Place to Work,” a program sponsored by the National Association for Business Resources. The company has a portfolio of over 5,500 projects and a dedicated team of 2,200 employees in 38 offices across North America.

Alliant Systems Announces Alliant Community

Alliant Systems, Irving, TX, a leading provider of business management systems for textile rental companies, recently launched the Alliant Community, an online platform for product information, training resources, information sharing, and customer feedback. Click www.allliantsystems.com for details.

Foltex Marks its 10th Anniversary

Foltex USA, Columbia, SC, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. “Our fresh perspective, combined with our tenacious pursuit of excellence in customer satisfaction makes us the brand of choice for companies seeking reliability and meaningful partnerships,” said Foltex USA President Arnaud Henrard.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Something New from Renegade!

The Renegade Pro-Clean PurePro Deter-gent is the first detergent CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. A top choice for sensitive skin, the Pro-Clean PurePro Detergent is made with a neutral pH formula.

SUPPLIER PARTNER PERSONNEL

Industry Veteran Retires from M+A Matting

M+A Matting, LaGrange, GA, recently announced the retirement of David Watterson, vice president of field and international sales, after 34 years of service to the industry. At M+A Matting, Watterson drove sales efforts for the textile rental business. He was instrumental in developing the company’s internship and management-training programs, which have developed the core leadership team that’s in place today. During his tenure, he’s served as plant manager, Midwest regional sales manager, VP of sales, and senior VP of textile rental & international sales. In a statement, M+A Matting CEO Tyler Fowler said, “David’s unwavering commitment, passion and expertise have left an indelible mark on our organization. As David steps into this new chapter of his life, we express our deepest gratitude for his outstanding contributions.” Levi Nix, director of sales–textile rental, will manage Watterson’s former accounts.

Oliver Advances to VP Sourcing at Venus

Venus Group, Foothill Ranch, CA, a global textile manufacturer and distributor, recently promoted Santhakumar (“SK”) Oliver to vice president of sourcing. Oliver joined Venus Group in 2007. In his new post, he’ll oversee global-sourcing activities and lead R&D on textile innovations similar to the company’s patented Performance Twill® bed linen, which he co-invented. Raj Patel, Venus president, said that “SK’s contributions to Venus in developing innovative products that preempt customer needs are unmatched. We look forward to furthering Venus Group’s portfolio of innovative solutions with SK in this new leadership role.”

Delonardo Joins LinenMaster as Sales VP

Anthony Delonardo recently was named vice president of sales at LinenMaster, Vero Beach, FL. A sales veteran, Delonardo has held several leadership posts.

LAVATEC Hires New Regional Sales Manager

LAVATEC Laundry Technology Inc., Beacon Falls, CT, recently tapped Patrick Cox as Regional Sales Manager. He’ll oversee the southeast region of the U.S. Cox brings 10 years of sales and engineering experience to his new post. He is enthusiastic about joining the LAVATEC team, saying, “The biggest selling point was how the company operates. It’s like one big family and everyone works well together. For 2024, my goal is to meet as many clients as possible and partner with them to help achieve their goals. I take customer satisfaction very seriously.”

Valenzuela Joins Ellis Team

Cisco Valenzuela recently joined Ellis Corp., Itasca, IL, as a wastewater systems customization expert. Valenzuela brings four years’ experience customizing wastewater systems across industries. Ellis is excited about the knowledge and expertise that Valenzuela brings to the team.

LaundryList.com Taps Leader of New Parts Division

TheLaundryList.com Inc., Calabasas, CA, a pre-owned laundry machinery company, recently named Blenda Killebrew as parts manager of their recently launched parts business division. An industry veteran, Killebrew brings a diverse background in parts sales, maintenance management and production supervision to this division. Her expertise in troubleshooting, inventory management and cost-effective procurement makes her an asset for TheLaundryList.com. “With Blenda at the helm, our parts business is positioned to set a new standard of excellence in the industry, offering unparalleled expertise, a vast selection of parts and a firm dedication to ensuring the seamless operation of laundry facilities,” said Brian Cohen, president of TheLaundryList.com.

Starco Adds Dunn as Brokerage Rep

Starco Chemical, a Division of Diamond Chemical Co. Inc., East Rutherford, NJ, recently named Patrick Dunn as Midwest brokerage representative. Dunn brings seven years of customer management experience to his new post in the food service, paper and janitorial markets.

Correction

In a TRSA News article in January’s Textile Services, the term “AlliantCon23” was misspelled. We regret the error.