PMI – Key Learning Opportunity for Launderers, Suppliers
TRSA’s Roger F. Cocivera Professional Management Institute (PMI) completed its yearly program on Aug. 11 with a commencement ceremony that drew nearly 200 attendees to the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center just off the University of Maryland campus. Fourteen laundry and supplier professionals received their two-year PMI certificates.
TRSA’s 32nd edition of PMI ran from Aug 7-12, with new and returning students participating in classes focused on teaching them best practices for improving their company’s efficiency, as well as their development as industry leaders. “I really liked the program,” said Adriana Reyes of ImageFirst, a first-year PMI student. “It was a lot of learning and I received a lot of great feedback from the instructors and other students. Now I can go back and help my plant and be more successful.”
The week culminated with the Aug. 11 ceremony during which PMI graduates received their certificates for completing the program. Year I students also received certificates for completing their classwork.
The ceremony opened with remarks by TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci, who commended the students for their work and thanked the faculty for helping them achieve their educational goals.
Jon Witschy of Spindle, who serves as the dean of PMI, also addressed the crowd. He posed the following rhetorical question to attendees: “Who in this room has a college, trade school or even a high-school level textile laundry management degree? … When no one responded, he quipped. “Well, I don’t either.” Witschy follow up by saying that, “The reason I ask that is because this (PMI) is that opportunity. I am sure that everyone in this room has had a trial-by-fire experience in their plant. But PMI gives you the opportunity to perfect the details on top of what you’ve experienced in your plants.”
Witschy then invited a PMI student, Chris Thompson of G.A. Braun Inc. to offer attendees his perspective on the program. “When we arrived here, we were 24 individuals representing 16 different companies,” Thompson said. “We had experience levels from 27 years to 2 months. … We’re leaving as one class that plans on returning next year for session 2.”
A key lesson was that operators and suppliers often confront similar challenges in plant operations. “We learned so much about the industry as a whole, but the most important lesson we learned was on a macro level,” Thompson said. “We were 24 individuals who entered the program, but the problems we face are not unique.” He added that while companies at PMI are competitors, they can collaborate on common concerns, such as the need to save energy and water.
Sponsors of this year’s PMI program included Kannegiesser ETECH, Brim Laundry Machinery Co. Inc., G.A. Braun Inc., JENSEN, Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc., Pellerin Milnor Corp. and Unitex International Inc.
Members of the PMI graduating class included:
- Michael Congdon, G.A. Braun Inc.
- Chase Dudley, Servall Uniform & Linen Supply
- Michael Fabiano, Falvey Linen Supply Inc.
- Michael Gaines, U.S. Linen & Uniform
- Chuck Hackenberg, Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply
- Dave Heath, Plymate Inc.
- Tryce Huntington, U.S. Linen & Uniform
- Guillermo Merlos, Morgan Services Inc.
- Ryon Okelberry, Alsco Uniforms
- Adrian Orta, Alsco Uniforms
- Eric Rehfield, G.A. Braun Inc.
- Timothy Ricker, Vogue Laundry & Cleaners Inc.
- Emiliano Sanchez, Crothall Laundry Services, Northern California
- Darrin Smith, Kannegiesser ETECH
To learn more or to register for next year’s PMI, click here.