Content about Career Track

KEMCO HIRES BORDEN AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Kemco Systems recently hired Don Borden Jr. as its vice president of global sales and marketing.

Borden has spent his professional career as an operating executive in general manufacturing and high technology industries. A majority of his experience is in the fluid handling industry, primarily in the water and wastewater arena.

Prior to joining Kemco, Borden served as president of Crane Environmental and as international vice president at GAI-Tronics, with a record of implementing Six Sigma and LEAN Manufacturing.

Borden holds a bachelor of science degree in water resource engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

KANNEGIESSER USA ADDS TANNERT TO SALES TEAM

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Dave Tannert has joined the sales team for Kannegiesser USA, where he will serve as a regional sales manager in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Tannert holds a bachelor of science degree in manufacturing technology, and he has experience in OEM sales to the aerospace, heavy equipment and durable consumer goods sectors.

His responsibilities have included business development and account management on a national and global basis.

PHOENIX TEXTILE APPOINTS MAYO TO NEW POSITION

O’FALLON, Mo. — Phoenix Textile Corp. has appointed Geoff Mayo to the newly created position of director of key accounts and commercial laundries.

In his new role, Mayo brings with him more than 25 years of industry experience, and will represent the company to large-scale commercial laundries across the nation.

“His experience and knowledge of the industry will support Phoenix’s mission to serve the needs of its customers,” says Scott Rodgers, vice president of sales.

A graduate of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Mayo previously served as senior vice president of operations and partner with Lintex Corp., as well as executive vice president of the Extended Care Division for Encompass Group and division director of healthcare for American Dawn.

PENN EMBLEM ADDS LEYBELMAN TO MARKETING DEPT. ROSTER

PHILADELPHIA — Rita Leybelman has joined the Penn Emblem Co. marketing department, serving as its Internet marketing coordinator.

Leybelman will oversee and develop social media initiatives and work to increase the company’s Internet presence.

She is a graduate of New York University’s economic and business program in its College of Arts and Science.

Lavatec Laundry Technology Hires Washbrook as VP of Operations

BEACON FALLS, Conn. — Lavatec Laundry Technology continues to expand company resources with the addition of Tom Washbrook as vice president of operations.

Washbrook brings 40 years of industrial laundry experience in multiple disciplines, including machinery manufacturing, facilities and process design, construction management, laundry plant operations, equipment sales management and marketing.

His activities within the laundry community have spanned the globe, as he has provided various sales and technical services throughout North America, Central America, the Middle East, Asia and the South Pacific, the company says.

Fesmire Jr. Returns to Ellis Corp.; Mundt Also Joins Company

ITASCA, Ill. — Bob Fesmire Jr. has returned to the staff of Ellis Corp. in the newly created position of vice president of customer support. Joining him will be Craig Mundt, recently hired as director of customer support, also a new position.

Fesmire worked 13 years for Ellis, rising to vice president and chief operating officer, before leaving to work for Ecolab as corporate account manager and business improvement/SAT lead.

“I am thrilled to have Bob back in the organization,” says Bob Fesmire Sr., president/CEO of Ellis and Bob Jr.’s father. “This business is his passion, and we are very happy that he has returned. Bob will be heading a newly reorganized customer service group to place a stronger emphasis on our customer visibility within our organization.”

Mundt brings more than 30 years experience in sales, service and marketing in the laundry industry. Most recently, he was vice president of sales for Amko America. He is a former president of C&W Equipment, capital equipment manager at ARAMARK, and vice president of sales and marketing for American Laundry Machinery.

“With his years of industry experience on the consultant, customer and supplier side, he is a perfect fit,” Fesmire Sr. says of Mundt.

Tingue, Brown Appoints Bridge as Sales Representative in Northeast

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — Tingue, Brown & Co. has appointed Jamie Bridge as sales representative serving the growing region of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, the company says.

Bridge brings 22 years of laundry experience to his new assignment. Most recently, he spent eight years as general manager of a group laundry for a Boston-based restaurant chain. This operation processed and delivered table linen and uniforms to restaurants all along the East Coast.

“I’m very pleased to have Jamie Bridge join the Tingue, Brown team,” says Mitchell Strauss, Tingue’s North Region sales manager. “His decade-long experience in the laundry industry will strengthen our ability to serve our New England customers.”

Bridge lives in Dracut, Mass., with his wife and two children. In his spare time, Bridge coaches youth sports and has served on the board of directors for Dracut’s youth football program.

IPA Hires Hawthorne as Marketing Specialist

DULUTH, Ga. — Innovative Product Achievements (IPA) has added Kera Hawthorne, marketing specialist, to its expanding team. Her responsibilities are to evaluate, develop and execute on marketing initiatives relative to the mission of the organization, the company says.

Hawthorne has considerable experience overseeing marketing strategies, with recent experience at SunTrust Bank and a large consulting firm within the Manpower Group, says the maker of automated scrub suit and linen dispensing systems for the healthcare market.

Hawthorne is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in marketing communications. She has also served on the American Marketing Association Young Professionals committee as the chair of graduate student recruitment.

DULUTH, Ga. —IPA, makers of scrubEx and alEx™, has named Sarah James its director of product management. Serving in a new position created to capitalize on growth opportunities, James is responsible for complete product positioning and strategy for the company.

James earned her MBA from King College in Bristol, Tenn., and has six years of healthcare laundry experience. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Linen Management (ALM) and is currently the chair of the marketing committee.

IPA manufactures automated scrub suit and linen dispensing systems for the healthcare market.

RIPON, Wis. — Alliance Laundry Systems has promoted Jennifer Whitney to financial services manager.

Whitney will continue to work with all of Alliance’s finance groups, including Speed Queen Financial Services, UniMac Funding, Huebsch Financial and IPSO Finance. In her new role, she will be responsible for all equipment loan underwriting and origination, finance program and promotion development, marketing services support, and distributor and customer relationship development.

For more than 13 years, Whitney has been a key member of Alliance’s finance team. She recently worked in a dual role where she successfully developed Alliance’s acquisition financing portfolio and worked as a liaison to marketing services and ALSU.

“We’re extremely honored to offer Jennifer this opportunity, especially since she’s played such a key role in our division,” says Todd Rice, director of Financial Services for Alliance Laundry Systems. “We look forward to her continued success and congratulate her on a job well-done.”

Whitney received her B.B.A. in finance and business administration from Valparaiso (Ind.) University. Prior to joining Alliance, she worked for JP Morgan Chase, formerly known as Bank One.

DENVER, N.C. — Leonard Automatics has added two new employees to its staff, the company reports.

Ron Wilkins (left) joins the company as mechanical engineer. He brings years of engineering and design experience to Leonard, in addition to an understanding of industry-standard software packages and mechanical processes.

Robert Spradley (right) is the company’s newest service technician. He is a career service tech who has worked in high-tech environments all over the world, Leonard says. As a specialist in system installation and integration, he brings years of experience and a wide range of knowledge to the company.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. — David N. Page has been selected as the new vice president of healthcare for the Institution Division of Venus Group, the company reports.

He has been in the healthcare industry for more than 25 years, including 11-plus years with Medline and 10 years with Angelica.

He brings to Venus Group a wealth of knowledge covering topics from utilization of management programs to optimize operational efficiencies and reduce total linen program costs, to product knowledge within the industry, to having key contacts in some of the larger healthcare facilities and buying groups.

Page is a member of several healthcare associations, and the company plans to draw upon his expertise to develop its healthcare business.

INWOOD, N.Y. — Laundrylux has hired Kim Shady as senior executive vice president for OPL and National Accounts, the company reports.

Shady has more than 23 years of experience in the on-premise laundry sector, and previously worked as North American sales manager for UniMac. He serves on the Textile Care Allied Trades Association board of directors and has been a member for more than 15 years.

“We are delighted to welcome Kim Shady, a highly respected industry leader, to Laundrylux to lead the growth and expansion of our OPL and National Accounts business,” says Laundrylux CEO Neal Milch. “Kim will be working closely with Dan Goldman as they expand our sales force to ensure national coverage for both the Electrolux and Wascomat OPL product lines.”

“Kim has been an OPL sales leader for many years, and we have always respected him as a competitor,” adds Howard Herman, Laundrylux president. “Laundrylux and Electrolux Professional are totally committed to OPL as a pillar of our business, and Kim Shady is the ideal professional to lead the charge.”

Shady called his new post “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I never anticipated changing affiliations after so many years, yet I have watched with admiration how the Electrolux brand has steadily succeeded in appliances and professional coin laundry,” Shady says. “I know it has incredible potential in OPL and National Accounts.”

RIPON, Wis. — Alliance Laundry Systems LLC has promoted Michael D. Schoeb to chief executive officer. All executive staff will report to Schoeb in his combined role as president and CEO.

Thomas F. L’Esperance will become vice chairman of the board of directors of parent company ALH Holding Inc. L’Esperance joined Alliance in 1996, having previously served as president of Amana Home Appliances and Caloric Corp. and as a senior executive of Raytheon Co. He will continue to serve as a director and will maintain his office here.

CHICAGO — Kathy Tinker, executive director of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC), will be leaving the organization effective Tuesday, according to an HLAC press release issued this morning. “Ms. Tinker has chosen to pursue other interests and opportunities,” it says.

Tinker joined HLAC as sales director in 2006 and was named executive director in October 2008.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Jensen USA continues its reorganization here with the promotions of President Jens Voldbaek and Executive Vice President Simon Nield.

Voldbaek has assumed a new role as the director of sales activity in the Americas for parent company Jensen-Group, reporting directly to its chief executive officer, Jesper Jensen.

Nield, who was the managing director of Jensen UK before joining Jensen USA, takes over the operational duties of the Panama City facility and assumes the title of Jensen USA president.

RIPON, Wis. — Michael D. Schoeb has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Alliance Laundry Systems (ALS) and will report to CEO Thomas F. L’Esperance in leading a seasoned executive team. Schoeb brings 20 years of operations, marketing and executive leadership experience in both domestic and international operations, ALS says.