Meet the CDC’s newest in-house expert on healthcare textiles, Janet Glowicz, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Preventionist, from the CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, and hear firsthand her concerns and initiatives related to laundry processing and operations, and linen handling and management.

This session, The CDC on Keeping Healthcare Linens Clean, will be Sunday, July 31, at 9 a.m. ET. For full details about all the ALM Clean Show sessions, please visit our Clean Show page. 

We will be recognizing military veterans within the industry at the 2022 Clean Show, and we want any vets you work with to be highlighted! Submitted photos and stories will be shared in conjunction with the ALM Give Back Event, supporting America's VetDogs, and sponsored by Laundry Design Group.

How to participate:

• Submit pics of your veterans by emailing Nicole Morris at nmorris@almnet.org by Friday, July 22. Please include name and rank, branch of service, and the name of the employer facility.
• Swing by the ALM booth #1036 at the Clean Show to see our very special salute to our veterans!

Details about all ALM Clean Show events and education sessions are available at ALMnet.org/CleanShow. We look forward to hearing about your heroes!

Start relaxing after the opening day of Clean Show without leaving the exhibit hall! Join us in our booth #1036 on Saturday, July 30, from 2 – 4 p.m., for this members-only event, sponsored by MIP Inc. There is no charge for ALM members, but we request attendees RSVP by Friday, July 22.

Chip Malboeuf was named the new President-Elect of the ALM Board of Directors. Malboeuf has been a long-time member of ALM, and has over 28 years of experience in the industry, currently serving as vice president of egineering for ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists.

“I am honored and humbled at being selected for this position,” said Malboeuf. “I look forward to working with the ALM leadership and members and am excited for the opportunity to share my knowledge of the industry and to give back to ALM members.”

On June 14, 2022, the Upper Mississippi Valley Chapter of ALM hosted an in-person conference at Treasure Island Resort and Casino near Red Wing, Minnesota, that was well-attended by a group of industry professionals with diverse backgrounds. There were several familiar faces in attendance, providing a warm welcome to many who were attending for the first time. Presentation topics included recruitment and retention strategies, contracted services management, forecasting, cost savings opportunities, an overview of global logistical challenges, and a panel of experts sharing advice on a variety of topics submitted by attendees. Former Chapter President Bob Kremer (Mayo Clinic, retired) presented the current chapter leaders with a plaque of the group’s original charter from 1983! The Upper Mississippi Valley chapter would like to thank conference sponsors:

• Standard Textile
• Ecolab
• IPA
• Weinberg Supply
• American Dawn
• The Minnesota Chemical Co.
• Jensen Equipment

It was great seeing everyone again and we look forward to hearing how the topics discussed will influence your business. We hope to see everyone at next year’s 40th Anniversary celebration! For the latest information as it becomes available, you can find the UMVALM chapter at umvailm.org

ALM is sad to share news that one of our long-time and beloved colleagues, Farley Salmon, CLLM, passed away. An excerpt from the Sigmatex Lanier press release states:

"It is with great sorrow that Sigmatex Lanier announces the untimely death of Raymond Farley Salmon IV, director of sales, following recent health developments for which he was seeking medical attention. Farley joined Sigmatex Lanier in 2010 as an account executive and brought with him innovative thinking, a quick wit and a deep understanding of the industry. He was always one step ahead — sometimes more!"

All of us at ALM give our deepest condolences to all of Farley's family, friends, and coworkers. A sweet soul whose life was cut too short. He will be greatly missed.

Marathon runners train their bodies relentlessly, running hundreds of miles to prepare themselves for a race. They do it to build endurance so they can overcome any conditions, stave off fatigue and finish with a strong sprint to the finish line.

That scenario is similar to the situation where LAVATEC recently installed new equipment at Southern Oregon Linen Service (SOLS). Four years after beginning the process, LAVATEC had only 10 days to remove the old machinery and install an entire new system that centered around a custom-built continuous tunnel washer. They completed it in eight, and SOLS is on the road to achieving their energy efficiency goals.

“For the capacity we handle daily, we’re now able to process everything in less than 10 hours a day compared to 14-18 hours previously,” explained Antonio Casillas, Southern Oregon Linen Service’s general manager. He’s been with SOLS for the last eight years.

National healthcare linen provider, ImageFIRST, expands laundry processing capacities in the Twin Cities with latest acquisition, adds second location in Minnesota.

Edina Laundry Co., founded in 1952, provides commercial rental and laundry services for hospitality and healthcare businesses throughout Minnesota — including the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Edina Laundry Co., located in St. Louis Park, will continue to be led by local leadership. Existing employees have been retained as part of the transaction.

“We are excited to partner with a national organization that shares similar values to us,” said Lee Stotts, President of Edina Laundry Co. “It was essential that Edina Laundry remain focused on customer service, and we are confident that ImageFIRST will continue to meet and exceed our customers’ needs.”

Gurtler Industries recently released a short video that commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the company. The video features the three generations of the Gurtler family — Bill, Greg and Jake — and their thoughts on the company that had its start in 1982.

Khurram Maqbool was recently named president of Sigmatex-Lanier. Khurram joined the company in 2010 and has served as executive vice president.

Current president, Jaggi Anand, will assume the role and duties of executive chairman of the company. Jaggi founded Sigmatex, Inc. in 1976 and has since served as its president. His career in the textile industry has spanned more than 50 years.

ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists recently announced Richard Paradise was named their new chief financial officer, succeeding Jim Malandra. Paradise will report to President and CEO Jim Cashman, as part of the company’s executive leadership team.

“Rich is an exceptionally qualified financial executive, joining us at a time when we are hyper-focused on accelerating towards an exciting future,” Cashman said. “We look forward to the contribution that Rich will make in driving key goals and strategic initiatives.”