U.S. Rep. Congratulates CLS on 125 Years in Business
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) recently submitted a Congressional Record (CR) to honor Continental Linen Services’ (CLS) 125th anniversary.
CLS, Kalamazoo, MI, is a fourth-generation family-owned business employing more than 200 team members. Founded in 1899, CLS originally operated as Kalamazoo Laundry Co. before Ted Vander Meer purchased and renamed the company in 1966. CLS has six locations across Michigan serving more than 7,000 customers spanning foodservice, healthcare, hospitality and industrial accounts. In 2023, the company processed more than 24-million pounds of uniforms, linen and other materials. Recently, CLS completed a $7-million, 11,000-square-foot expansion to its processing facility to improve the plant’s capacity for growth.
Facilitated by TRSA, Rep. Huizenga visited two CLS facilities in Kalamazoo earlier this year. Coming from a family business background himself, Rep. Huizenga recognized the values and gratification that come from running a family operation. Rep. Huizenga’s congratulations recognizes the positive local economic and community impacts that CLS has made throughout the past 125 years.
CLS is pulling out all the stops for its 125th anniversary celebration. They rolled out a map to customers and communities to celebrate their history in Michigan and unveiled a mural designed and painted by Western Michigan University art students. They’re also hosting more than 300 people at a minor league baseball game in Kalamazoo and throwing out the first pitch. Sarah Wrubel, CLS owner and senior vice president, thanked TRSA for coordinating with Rep. Huizenga’s office to secure the CR: “Thank you for your support! It takes a village to make it 125 years.”
TRSA member participation is essential to fostering relationships with policymakers. If your company is interested in hosting a congressional plant tour, TRSA is available to facilitate by coordinating with your local representatives, and helping prepare the agenda and talking points for the meeting. Reach out to Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations, at kschwalb@trsa.org for more information.