It was wonderful seeing everyone in person at The Clean Show! Attendees were raving about the ALM education sessions, sponsored by Encompass and Medline, from discussing infection prevention to how to let go of unprofitable business relationships. As an additional member benefit, we've uploaded the presentation slides to our site for member-only access. Click on the session you wish to view to access the file. Please note, you must be signed in with your username and password to access the files.

If you weren't able to stop by our booth, be sure to visit the ALM Facebook page to view the Laundry Veterans photo album! We had some last-minute additions on site from veterans in attendance, and so appreciated the opportunity to speak with them. 

On the opening day of Clean, we hosted members who were onsite for our Member Social, sponsored by MIP Inc., with hot appetizers and top-notch mixed drinks. The feeling of excitement to be together again was palpable, with smiles from all sides. 

On Sunday, perhaps the most lovable event we've ever hosted began, with pups-in-training from America's VetDogs arriving for the ALM Give Back Event. This event was sponsored by Laundry Design Group, who spoke at length with Joe Worley about the program and his service dog, Galaxie.

The puppy handlers were stopped regularly as they went in and out for the puppies' trips outside. Overall, between our booth, the puppy walks, and assistance from ALM member LinenMaster, who donated to the cause for every badge scanned at their own booth, over $3,000 was raised for America's VetDogs! We thank everyone who contributed to such a fantastic cause.

The next Clean Show will be in 2025 in Orlando, Florida, but there's no reason to wait that long for education and fun ... the next ALM IMPACT Conference will be March 13-15, 2023, in Charleston, South Carolina! Stay tuned to Vital Threads for registration and hotel information, coming soon.

Reducing linen usage is a proven way to cut unnecessary expenses for a hospital. Collecting usage data and comparing it to similar operations is a first step to making the case for modifying practices that rely on linen usage, and can save dollars that add up for the hospital.

Join us for our next webinar, Linen Utilization by the Numbers, on August 18, at 2 p.m. ET, where we’ll examine what data is needed to make decisions, how to track it, and discuss reliable sources for comparison with Stephanie Gregg, CLLM, from Vizient.

Remember, you can have unlimited people participate in ALM webinars from one location for a single low cost, and each attendee receives one hour of credit for participating.

The 2022 Nate Belkin Award for Excellence in Marketing Reusable Textiles Award was presented to ALM member George Courey Inc. (GCI) during ARTA’s Breakfast at Clean Show in Atlanta.

GCI is a family-owned textile supplier to the healthcare, hospitality and fabric markets based in Montreal, Quebec. The company embodies ARTA’s spirit of “reusable first,” only offering reusable products and ensuring that its customers understand the trends in the textile markets and the value of reusables.

Kevin Minnissian, former president and CEO of Norchem Corp, has been posthumously chosen to receive the TRSA Maglin/Biggie Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor recognizing the exceptional lifetime contributions by a supplier partner to improve the association and industry.

Girbau North America (GNA) recently welcomed Muzi Sitshela, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., as inside sales associate.

In his new role as inside sales associate, Sitshela interfaces with GNA staff, distributors and customers on a daily basis; manages GNA’s lead qualification process; and handles inside sales and customer relations duties, including some reporting and product pricing responsibilities.

Sitshela, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2022. He also holds a certification in social media marketing from LinkedIn Learning.

“It's amazing to have such a talented new member as part of our team,” said Director of Strategic Business Efficiencies & Solutions Pam Kuffel. “Muzi will be a great addition to the GNA group. The customer compassion he brings to all our new customers will help grow GNA to new levels.”

“I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity to be part of a hardworking yet caring atmosphere here at GNA,” said Sitshela of his new position. “Everyone here has mutual respect for one another which makes the work environment quite inviting. Furthermore, my role as an inside sales associate is far more interesting than I had anticipated. I get the opportunity to speak and work with people from all over the world.”

Metropolitan Detroit Area Hospital Services (MDAHS) began operations in the spring of 1972. As a newly formed cooperative laundry, its sole purpose was to provide linen service to its four founding members: Pontiac General Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital (Ann Arbor), Sidney A. Sumby Memorial Hospital (River Rouge), and Wyandotte General Hospital.

Reino Linen Service, based in Gibsonburg, Ohio, has announced that it acquired Textile Systems, Inc. in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This acquisition marks the second expansion into Michigan for the company, widening its service area footprint to include southwest Michigan and the surrounding region.

Reino Linen Service is a commercial laundry operation servicing the healthcare industry in Ohio and Michigan. The addition of the third laundry plant increases the annual processing capacity to more than 120 million pounds. “It’s exciting to grow the company and bring our laundry expertise and passion for this business to southwest Michigan healthcare customers,” said Dan Darr, owner and president of Reino Linen Service.

“Healthcare laundry is about more than just delivering flat sheets and washcloths. It's about serving our communities, delivering value-added services, and being the partner of choice for dependable healthcare linen solutions.”

Reino Linen Service will continue to operate the laundry facility located at 817 Walbridge Street and plans to offer employment opportunities to the current associates.

Tingue’s management team attended a week-long executive education program at Duke University’s, Fuqua School of Business earning a certificate in finance.

The Duke program is designed to introduce participants to the essential elements of financial reporting, including managerial and financial accounting. Additional topics include interpreting financial statements and developing capabilities to communicate operating, marketing, sales and growth strategies in financial terms.