TRSA’s Next-Generation Executives Network met in Chicago on July 23 for the group’s annual in-person workshop and networking event. This year’s program included an interactive workshop on change management facilitated by Tom LaForce, a longtime consultant to the linen, uniform and facility services industry.
During the workshop, attendees picked an initiative currently in progress or planned for the near future at their respective companies. Attendees then broke into small groups based on the following categories that the change fell under:
- Financial and Inventory Systems
- HR, Payroll, Time Management Systems
- Production Systems (Software)
- Employee Policy
- Equipment and Tools
- Work Processes
- Facilities, Hours and Locations
- Roles and Responsibilities (Reorganizations)
- Products, Services, Markets
- Compensation Changes
- Performance Management (Goals and Measurements)
- Other
In these small groups, attendees discussed and gave each other feedback on how to make the case – and assess whether the organization is ready to carry out – the initiative. Members of each group also assessed key stakeholders to consider and how the initiative will impact those groups, as well as how to engage and communicate with those groups to get buy-in for the project. LaForce also walked attendees through managing training, as well as navigating resistance among those involved in the change.
“Change elicits fear and loss in people,” LaForce noted during the workshop. “You need to understand why somebody is concerned, and what they may be afraid of losing with this change.”
Following the workshop, attendees gathered at “The Friendly Confines” of nearby Wrigley Field to network and watch the afternoon baseball game between the hometown Chicago Cubs and visiting Kansas City Royals.
On July 22, the Next-Generation Executives Network had a group dinner with TRSA’s Strategic Planning Committee. Earlier that afternoon, the Strategic Planning Committee held a meeting in Chicago.
TRSA’s Next-Generation Executives Network connects rising leaders in the linen, uniform and facility services industry through networking, knowledge-sharing and professional development. To suggest a participant, contact TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci at jricci@trsa.org. The following TRSA member companies were represented at the July 23 workshop in Chicago:
- Alsco Uniforms
- American Dawn Inc. (ADI)
- Continental Linen Service (CLS)
- Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply Inc.
- Division Laundry & Cleaners Inc.
- EllisLudell
- Falvey Linen Supply Inc.
- G.A. Braun Inc.
- George Courey Inc.
- Gurtler Industries Inc.
- HLS Linen Services
- Halifax Linen Service Inc.
- M+A Matting
- Meese
- Performance Matters
- Roscoe Co.
- Sohn Linen Service
- Superior Linen Service
- Tingue
- U.S. Linen & Uniform
- UniFirst Corp.
- WSI
- Workwear Outfitters
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