EMI: ‘Hungry, Humble and Smart’ Students Earn Honors

TRSA’s Executive Management Institute (EMI) held its 59th annual commencement on Aug. 15 for 26 graduates of this four-year educational program. The event drew nearly 170 students from all four classes, plus faculty, staff and guests to a conference center near the University of Maryland.

The Year IV graduates included a diverse group of executives from national, regional and independent commercial laundries across North America, as well as several supplier-partner company representatives. After receiving their graduation certificates from TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci, Brian Kimmel, Kimmel Corp., Upper Sandusky, OH, reflected on the Year IV students’ journey to graduation. He called his fellow students “great ambassadors from this industry,” adding that, “I’m honored to have been a part of this industry, so thank you.” He also thanked Year IV faculty members Dan Gonder and Eric Kurjan. Kimmel noted how Kurjan emphasized the importance of people developing their skills so that individuals and companies can succeed. “Eric was saying, it’s something where ‘You get people in the right seats,’” Kimmel said. “You have to understand those people, and you look for your ideal team players, and they’ve got to be ‘hungry, humble and smart.’”

Kimmel added that this trio of words applies to all his fellow graduates. They are intelligent, eager to learn and network with each other, he said. “You’d be amazed how open everybody is.” The students have grown more open to discussing business issues since they began EMI. “The conversation-sharing, the things that in Year I wouldn’t have happened … the humbleness of this crew over here. The hunger, which is all there. And the people … smart people. They’re good people.”

The solidarity that EMI has given the graduates will extend long after Thursday evening’s commencement program. “The trust that we have with each other, it’s real,” he said. “We have some lifelong friends and it took four years to build.”

Compared to past EMI commencements that Textile Services Weekly has attended, the 2024 program continued a trend toward fewer speeches and zany skits put on by various classes. The Year IV group served as an exception with a parody of “Family Feud.” Kimmel served as a mustachioed parody of show host Steve Harvey. Fellow-graduate Emily Hauber of CITY Clean and Simple, Oelwein, IA, served as co-hostess, as the duo served up questions about the EMI program to students from other classes.

Kimmel closed his remarks with a quote that he learned at EMI that emphasized the importance of working with teams to accomplish business and personal goals. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Jim Underwood, Year III instructor, noted that the use of this phrase at EMI originated with his “dear friend,” Les Frankfurt, a Holocaust survivor and psychology professor who developed the EMI Year III to help EMI students enhance their self-understanding, while confronting personal and interpersonal challenges. “He was a founder of Year III, along with Gerald Stempler,” Underwood said, his voice shaking with emotion. “All those folks, they created this. That was amazing. His spirit to me is always there.” Frankfurt passed away in 2018. Internet sources say the “caring” quote originated with President Theordore Roosevelt.

Underwood praised other long-time faculty members, including Year I co-instructor Kent Baker, who has taught at EMI since 1976 and served for many years as dean of the program as well. Another veteran is Joe Currier, who co-taught Year III this year with Underwood. A third Year III instructor, Juliana Gambrell, is new to the faculty this year.

In addition to the Year IV graduating class, attendees from years I, II and III – each group distinguished by color-coded polo shirts – walked to the podium to be recognized for completing their respective year at EMI. Leaders from each group also offered brief remarks. They thanked the faculty for their dedication and fellow students for ensuring a sense of camaraderie among each class.

Ricci, who served as emcee, closed the program by noting that the EMI faculty members, including Kurjan and Year IV colleague Dan Gonder, are not highly compensated for their week at EMI and the months of preparation that precede the yearly program. “They do it because they love coming here and being with our group,” he said, adding that the EMI faculty appreciate what the industry does. They are dedicated to helping students work for the long term on improving their careers and personal lives.

Ricci said the employers of EMI students see their attendance as a way to promote long-term growth.

“You are the future of this industry,” Ricci said. “You have to understand that’s why people are investing money in you. They’re investing time, energy and money to send you here because they believe you are the future of their company.”

Ricci concluded his remarks by asking everyone in the audience to say “Thank You” in unison so that he could record the words and post them on LinkedIn for members of the linen, uniform and facility services industry to see and hear. The group then shouted “Thank You” at maximum volume before moving to the lobby of the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Hyattsville, MD, for networking over cocktails.

TRSA would like to thank its supplier-partner sponsors for supporting the 2024 EMI program. They include Kannegiesser ETECH, JENSEN USA, Ellis Corp., Pellerin Milnor Corp, Unitex International Inc., G.A. Braun Inc., Brim Laundry Machinery Co. Inc., Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc., Monarch Brands, Morgan Olson and Workwear Outfitters. Click here to learn more about EMI.