WITS Committee: Breaking the Ice at PMI

Posted April 15, 2016 at 12:09 pm



TRSA’s Women in Textile Services Committee recently hosted an icebreaker cocktail hour at TRSA’s Roger F. Cocivera Production Management Institute (PMI) in Dallas. The networking event gave female PMI students an opportunity to meet and greet other ladies at the event that they might normally just see in passing. The meeting served as a way to help foster a more comfortable environment which enables networking, open dialogue and a direct connection to a new career resource.

The group enjoyed cocktails and appetizers while discussing everything from linen loss to plant equipment. Female textile services executives discussed their years in the business, as well as some of the pitfalls and benefits of being in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

The end result was new friendships and connections were formed and dinner plans were made. Since the events typically have between 85-92% male participants, the women were excited to see that there were eight women at this year’s PMI between the two classes. The most important takeaway was knowing that they were not alone and there is plenty of support throughout the industry.

Special thanks to the following for participating in the event:

  • Annette Casemero, AmeriPride Services Inc.
  • Cheryl DePodesta, HandCraft Services Inc.
  • Angie Henschel, AmeriPride Services Inc.
  • Lolita Lesking-Domingo, Grand Wailea
  • Betsy Scott, People’s Linen Rental
  • Andrea Skilinski, Clarus Linen Systems
  • Salita Jones, TRSA
  • Mary Beth Porter, TRSA
     

For more information about the Women in Textile Services Committee mission and to see the current members, click here. To join the committee’s LinkedIn group and be a part of the conversation, search “TRSA Women in Textile Services.” If you have any questions, please contact Salita Jones at sjones@trsa.org. 

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