Content about Indiana

TRSA Executive Roundtables offer an opportunity to network with colleagues serving similar markets to discuss operational and market-specific issues impacting major niches of the industry. Owners and top-level management from textile services operations are encouraged to participate in Roundtables to receive updates on issues related to sales, service, legislation, regulation, labor, safety, commodities and energy pertinent to their organizations' niches. Discussion may also address emerging industry standards, best practices, certifications, supply chain sourcing and other topics certain to foster constructive exchange of information critical to the future of national chain operations and their public image.

Register: http://www.trsa.org/node/10379

SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan. — The International Association for Healthcare Textile Management (IAHTM) has announced its officers and board of directors for 2013. Officers include:

• President Ed McCauley, United Hospital Services, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Vice President Deborah Lark, Portland Hospital Service Corp., Portland, Ore.
• Education Officer Rocco Romeo, Ottawa Regional Hospital Linen Service Inc., Ottawa, Ontario
• Treasurer Paul Seigel, Kingston Regional Hospital Laundry Inc., Kingston, Ontario
• Past President John Sealey, London Hospital Linen Services, London, Ontario
• Past President Chas P. Olin, Virginia Hospital Laundry Inc., Richmond, Va.

The IAHTM Board of Directors includes three members from the United States and three from Canada. U.S. directors are Myles Noel, COMTEX, Columbus, Ohio; Mark Smoyer, Shared Hospital Services, Portsmouth, Va.; and Duane Houvener, Michigan Shared Hospital Services, Grand Rapid, Mich.

Canadian directors are Janice Desautels, WRHA, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Colin Lyon, Mohawk Shared Services Inc., Hamilton, Ontario; and Stephen Marois, Alberta Health Services, Red Deer, Alberta. Nancy Jenkins is executive director, based in Shawnee Mission, Kan.

IAHTM is composed of CEOs who run laundry cooperatives. The group is a buying cooperative and hosts two education meetings a year: a Spring Education Conference that provides training for staff and an Annual Membership Conference that provides education for members, as well as networking. Banff Springs Resort in Alberta, Canada, will host IAHTM’s next Annual Meeting in August.

For more information, contact Nancy Jenkins, nancy@iahtm.com, or visit the association’s website, www.iahtm.com.

CHICAGO — The laundry and dry cleaning industry lost two vendor leaders recently with the passings of Steven Katz, CEO of ThermoSteam Industries, and Gene Blumenthal, founder and president of Metro-Chem Inc.

Steven Mark Katz, 1948-2012

Katz, 63, South Bend, Ind., died Monday. He was born and raised in South Bend. He attended Indiana University, where he graduated with a history degree in 1970. He pursued a career in laundry and dry cleaning, and eventually became the CEO of two companies: ThermoSteam Systems, manufacturer of packaged steam boilers, and Kay Industries, producer of phase converters.

Katz was active in the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), having served on its board of directors for four years and as treasurer for two.

He was also active in his local community and his congregation, Sinai Synagogue. He was known as an extraordinary orator and was called upon to emcee various events in the South Bend area over the years.

Surviving him are his wife, Laurie Katz; three children, Hal, David and Jamie Katz; three brothers, Larry, Marty and Stuart Katz; a sister, Debbie Sandock; and four grandsons. Condolences may be sent to the family via McGann Hay Funerals.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sinai Synagogue, 1102 E. LaSalle Ave., South Bend, IN 46617; or to the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, 3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, IN 46615.

Eugene “Gene” G. Blumenthal, 1940-2012

Blumenthal, 71, of Marlboro, N.J., died July 30 at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, N.J.

He began his career in the late 1960s as a sales representative for Stauffer Chemical before moving on to become a regional sales manager for PQ Corp. in the 1970s.

Building on his personable style, technical knowledge and ability to formulate innovative laundry chemistry, Blumenthal became founder and president of Metro-Chem, a formulator of chemicals for the laundry industry, in 1980. He oversaw the company until his death. His partner of 32 years, Pete Potocki, has assumed the role of Metro-Chem’s president.

Surviving Blumenthal are his wife of 26 years, Elizabeth; his son, David; his daughter, Helaine; his mother, Beatrice; his brother, Allen; and four grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to the family via Freeman Funeral Homes.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that any donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — ARCO/Murray National Construction Co. reports that it recently completed a facility expansion, process redesign, and equipment installation project for Hospital Laundry Service, a facility owned by Fort Wayne’s Park View & Lutheran Hospital cooperative.

The project consisted of two expansions, totaling 10,000 square feet, to the facility originally built in 1993. Work included a new clean dock; soil-sort expansion and retrofit; finishing-area redesign and expansion (adding automation, efficiency, and folding capacity); and installation of a new tunnel washer and dryers.

Construction was completed while the plant was fully operational, ARCO/Murray says. The construction schedule was phased and tailored around the dynamic plant schedule, with soil sort starting as early as 3 a.m. and finishing working as late as 7 p.m. Relocation of the finishing equipment was completed in phases to ensure the plant maintained adequate finishing capacity during the move.

ARCO/Murray attributes the project’s successful completion to close coordination with Mark Lennart, plant manager, and Steve Arnold, director of engineering.

Representing ARCO/Murray were Ed Kwasnick, business development lead; Elliot Mata, project executive; and Anthony Lovero, project manager. New equipment was procured through Carl Rees and distributor Loomis Brothers, and the material-handling portion was coordinated with E-Tech, represented by Dan Arbeiter.

NEW ORLEANS — Super Laundry of Ambridge, Pa., has expanded its distribution of Guardian Integrated Services’ commercial laundry products, the companies announced here during Clean ’09.

Previously, Laundry City was named Guardian’s distributor for the state of Indiana. The Ohio and Pennsylvania territories are now being serviced by Ohio Laundry, of Columbus, Ohio, and Super Laundry, respectively.

ASHTABULA, Ohio — Meese Orbitron Dunne Co. (MOD) has contracted to purchase the futuristic Leonardo automated rotational molding system from Italy’s Persico SpA, becoming the first North American company to buy the advanced system.

The Leonardo system is scheduled for installation in MOD’s Madison, Ind., facility and to be in production by January. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

CHICAGO — The pressure to “go green” is making itself felt in the institutional laundry industry. Environmental regulations pertaining to the uses of chemicals are speeding forward and concerns regarding water and energy conservation are more prevalent than ever.

It’s becoming a question of how rather than if an institutional laundry can adopt more environmentally friendly practices.