International CEO Panel Highlights Miami Agenda
Learn More and Register for the Annual Conference
The chief executives of five international linen, uniform and facility services companies, including two who lead European operations, will be panelists at TRSA’s upcoming Annual Conference, Sept. 12-14 in Miami Beach.
Attendees will drive the agenda for the interactive information-sharing forum, “What Would You Ask Industry CEOs?” on Thursday, Sept. 14, the conference’s final business session. Facilitated by TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci, panelists will discuss issues and concerns facing the industry and share their personal insights and perspectives. When you register for the conference, you’ll submit a question to the panel as if you were interviewing them for a position with your company. And you’ll have the opportunity to submit additional questions.
The companies represented on the panel (Alsco Inc., Aramark Corp., Berendsen plc, Cintas Corp. and Lindström Group) are multiplant operations that all have a presence outside North America, although the majority are better recognized as market-share leaders here.
Brad Drummond, chief operating officer for Aramark Uniform and Refreshment Services, which encompasses the role of principal executive officer of Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel. Previously, he was president of the uniform operation. He joined the Aramark corporate team in Philadelphia in 1999 as a business development VP, moving to Burbank, CA, as senior VP of the Western Region for uniform business before the end of the year. He returned to Philadelphia in 2005 to work as an executive VP of Aramark’s Healthcare and Education business units and just a year later became the uniform division president again in Burbank.
James Drummond has served as CEO of Berendsen since 2015. His company is a London-based provider of value-added textile, hygiene, and safety solutions in the United Kingdom and internationally with over 11,000 employees. He joined the company after serving as CEO of London’s Avincis (Bond and INEAR), a provider of helicopter and fixed-wing services for mission-critical operations such as fisheries and marine protection, border patrol and disaster response. He arrived at Avincis from Invensys Rail Ltd., a designer, manufacturer and integrator of railway equipment.
Scott Farmer, Cintas CEO since 2003; he became president and chief operating officer in 1997. Spending the summers of his youth working in a uniform services laundry, he joined the Cincinnati-based company full-time in 1981 as a management trainee. Next he moved onto a variety of positions, including production, sales and service management. In 1985, he developed and integrated a companywide quality program, with later promotions to VP slots in National Accounts, Marketing and Merchandising and the Rental Division.
Steve Larson, VP, North American Linen Division for Alsco, which has 18,000+ employees in 14 countries, covering five continents. This includes the largest family-owned linen, uniform and facility services business in the U.S. and Canada, which he oversees from Salt Lake City. He’s been in this role since 2006, having previously served for nine years as regional manager in California. Alsco has been his employer since high school. He worked part-time in production and service in his hometown of Portland. His first full-time role, after college graduation, was production manager, before shifting to Tacoma as GM in 1984 and Honolulu as GM in 1989.
Juha Laurio, president and CEO of Lindström since 2008. He oversees 3,500 employees in 24 countries from the organization’s Helsinki base. He joined the company in 2006 as executive VP and COO; he also served as its managing director. Prior to Lindström, he held several positions at Perlos Group in Finland and the United States from 2000 to 2005. His last position at Perlos, a global design and manufacturing partner for the telecommunications and electronics industry, was president of the Americas region. Prior to Perlos, he was an engineer for research and development of diesel and gas engines at Wärtsilä NSD Corp. He served as chairman of the European Textile Services Association from 2014-17.
The conference, set for Loews Hotel Miami Beach, begins on Tuesday, Sept. 12, with committee meetings and social events, including the Welcome Reception at 5 p.m. Wednesday will bring keynote and breakout presentations, with local tours in the afternoon and the Chairman’s Reception and Awards Dinner that evening. The executives’ panel takes place Thursday morning followed by a keynote and more local tours. Details are available at www.trsa.org/annualconference.