Division President Earns Lifetime Achievement Award
Patrick R. Garcia, president and CEO of Division Laundry, San Antonio, recently was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Nancy Mendez, director of events for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the award recognizes individuals who are accomplished in both business and civic affairs. “The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to their industry, community, or organization over the course of their career,” she said. “This award typically recognizes decades of dedication, leadership, innovation, and positive impact. The recipient is celebrated not only for their accomplishments but also for their influence on future generations.”
Garcia, who is now in his 51st year with Division, said he was honored by the Hispanic Chamber’s recognition of his life’s work. At an Aug. 29 luncheon that drew roughly 300 attendees, Garcia was the last of seven award winners in a range of categories that included “Small Business of the Year” and “Nonprofit Excellence.” While award recipients weren’t asked to give remarks, Garcia took the opportunity to say a few words. He thanked the chamber for its work on behalf of the community. “I said that the leadership of the Hispanic Chamber is right on track in recognizing San Antonio Hispanic businesses for their accomplishments. I applaud them.”
Founded in 1939 by Garcia’s father, Peter, a Mexican immigrant, Division’s current leader said his main focus now is on guiding the family-owned healthcare and hospitality laundry’s aggressive growth plans. Patrick noted that his daughter Theresa, who is COO of Division, is assisting with that process, along with other family and nonfamily managers.
Division’s expansion efforts include acquisitions in February 2022 of healthcare plants in Dallas and Houston. The company’s latest acquisition centers on a laundry in Muskogee, OK. The plant is slated to open later this year.
Patrick has two other adult children who are full-time managers at the company. His son Patrick A. serves as CFO, while his daughter Patricia is chief administrative officer (CAO). Her husband, Adam Luna, is the director of purchasing for the company’s four plants, including the original plant in San Antonio, one each in Houston and Dallas, and the new plant in Muskogee.
Patrick R. said the Muskogee laundry will have two tunnel washers, as well as dryers, plus several folders recently purchased from Kannegiesser ETECH, he added. Other upgrades include new water-softening equipment and a sprinkler system to guard against fires. Division has planned a “soft start” opening of the plant in the fourth quarter of this year. Their initial strategy is to gradually transfer the company’s Oklahoma-based accounts from the Dallas plant to the Muskogee facility. Patrick R. anticipates that, initially, the Muskogee plant will employ “conservatively” a staff of 40 people. He expects that number to increase as volume rises, although he declined to speculate on anticipated poundage in the new facility.
Meanwhile, Division also is making improvements to its Dallas and Houston plants, a move that has drawn kudos from employees at both facilities. “We just upgraded and remodeled all the bathrooms in both plants and all the lunchrooms,” Patrick R. said. “We finished last week. The gentleman that did all the remodeling told us he got so many compliments from employees that had been there, like 40 years. They just said, ‘You know what, we like this company. They’re doing something for us.’” Companies must maintain their facilities if they want to succeed and keep staff morale high, he said. “We want people to be happy and enjoy the environment there. You’ve got to invest to make it better for everybody.”