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January 2, 2013
In Memoriam: William K. “Bill” Steiner, 82, Steiner-Atlantic and Dryclean USA

AVENTURA, Fla. — Holds several patents for environmentally safe dry cleaning equipment and processes

AVENTURA, Fla. — William Kalman “Bill” Steiner, founder of Steiner-Atlantic Corp. and Dryclean USA, died Dec. 27 after a three-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

The Chicago-born Steiner worked hard his entire life, beginning as a newsboy at age 9. He held part-time jobs throughout high school and worked his way through Baltimore Business College to earn his accounting degree.

While working as an accountant, a client asked Steiner to help him book rock ’n’ roll shows around Baltimore. Show business soon enthralled him, and he booked prominent 1950s stars such as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the Kingston Trio at concerts around the country. But he eventually tired of the constant travel and moved in 1959 to Miami, where he met his future wife, Sheila. They married in 1961.

It was in Miami that Steiner began a new career in the dry cleaning business. He founded Steiner-Atlantic Corp., a distributor of commercial laundry and dry cleaning equipment, boilers, parts and service, in 1959. Michael Steiner took over the reins of that company in 1987.

After building and selling several of his own dry cleaning plants, Bill Steiner co-founded Dryclean USA, a dry cleaning business franchisor, in 1977. That business also continues through this day under Michael’s leadership.

Bill Steiner constantly sought to improve dry cleaning machinery in order to make the industry more environmentally friendly, and he is the holder of several patents for environmentally safe dry cleaning equipment and processes.

Bill and Sheila Steiner have been members of Beth Torah Congregation in Aventura for many years. They provided the educational center there in memory of son Jim, who died in a 1989 auto accident at age 21. But they were also generous in their community. In honor of their long-time support, the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation renamed a part of the hospital the Bill and Sheila Steiner Family North Lobby.

Surviving Steiner are his wife, Sheila; four sons, Robert, Richard, Michael and David; a brother, Tom; and four grandchildren.

Donations in Steiner’s memory may be made to the Beth Torah Congregation, Jackson Memorial Hospital, or the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.  

October 3, 2012
In Memoriam: Charles R. “Chuck” Clement, Founder, Clean Cycle Systems and Tecni-Quip Carts

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Aeronautics engineer developed enclosed aluminum and fiberglass linen distribution carts

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Charles R. “Chuck” Clement, founder of lint filter manufacturer Clean Cycle Systems and laundry/linen cart manufacturer Tecni-Quip, died Aug. 26 at the age of 94.

Tecni-Quip designed and manufactured the first enclosed aluminum and fiberglass linen distribution carts. In the 1980s, Clement developed the slimline dry-style lint filter and launched Clean Cycle Systems.

Clement was born Oct. 14, 1918, to Shelby and Charlene Clement. His mother died from tuberculosis when Chuck was 11.

In 1940, Clement was inducted in the U.S. Army. He served seven years as a first and second lieutenant and another 10 years as a reservist, earning the rank of captain.

During his tour in the Panama Canal Zone in 1944, Clement met Jane Reynolds, a civil service employee overseeing the canal's finances. They were married a year later.

After the war ended, they relocated to Los Angeles, where Jane worked as an executive secretary while Chuck attended college on the GI bill and earned a degree in aeronautical engineering. He worked many years in aircraft design and manufacturing as chief engineer for Hi-Shear Corp., Torrance, Calif.

The Clements founded Tecni-Quip in 1961 in Long Beach, Calif. She ran the office and he developed the cart product line. Sales were limited to local hospitals at first, but the company grew within a few years to encompass national distribution.

In 1984, after designing and manufacturing lint filters for other companies, the Clements created Clean Cycle Systems, which today offers domestic and international sales.

The couple worked as a team for more than 35 years and were involved in many industry trade associations as well as their church and local civic organizations. Jane died from cancer in 1994.

The companies relocated manufacturing and sales to the San Antonio area in 1996. Today, they are run by the Clements' daughter, Jo Beth, and son-in-law, Mike.

Clement met Edith Conner in 1998, and they were soon married. She died in 2010.

He remained involved in many activities, hobbies, and his church until the time of his death.

He was preceded in death by his first and second wives, his parents, and his sister, Louise Ray. Survivors include his daughter, Jo Beth Clement-Reilly, and son-in-law, Mike; a sister, Mary Tom Monette; and two grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Scout 2012/2013 Troop 317 Projects benefiting the Seguin Community, c/o TQI LLC, P.O. Box 2050, Seguin, TX 78155.

June 18, 2012
Congresswoman Visits N.Y. Healthcare Laundry

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Discusses how government can facilitate small-business investment

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) recently visited Unitex Textile Rental Services’ facility here to meet local constituents and discuss how government can facilitate small-business investment to revitalize the economy.

Hayworth, who is also a doctor, toured the 4-year-old healthcare laundry—a member of the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA)—that employs 220 local residents and processes more than 60 million pounds of rental hospital linens annually.

She met with Unitex Textile Rental Services President Michael Potack and Vice President of Sales & Marketing David Potack, as well as TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci to discuss issues impacting small business and the textile services industry. Their conversation focused on the importance of bi-partisan approaches to developing tax and energy policies that reduce uncertainty, encourage investment and create economic growth.

“Individuals, and the government, must take responsibility and demand accountability to ensure our policies work to improve our economy,” says Hayworth. “We must develop tax, energy and healthcare policies that reward market-driven solutions for companies that create value and invest in their local economy.”

“We need to encourage business investment, not hinder it with regulation, such as efforts to access our nation’s natural gas reserves,” says Michael Potack. “If we switched our 125 vehicles to natural gas, we could save nearly $30,000 per vehicle over a 5-7 year period, while reducing our carbon footprint significantly and reducing our dependency on foreign sources.”

The group also discussed the potential impact on business of pending Supreme Court decision on healthcare reform. Hayworth believes that regardless of the court’s decision, the healthcare system must become more market-driven based on “quality and cost of services.” She also applauded TRSA’s efforts to quantify hygienically clean linen and sustainability as efforts to “self-regulate and demonstrate value.”

November 10, 2011
In Memoriam: Sid Millman, Founder of H-M Commercial Laundry Equipment

CINCINNATI — Sid Millman, founder of H-M Commercial Laundry Equipment, died Oct. 17. He was 81.

Millman, who was raised by his immigrant mother and grandparents, was driven by his humble beginnings. He started selling newspapers at age 5.

In 1957, he purchased a small residential appliance repair shop in downtown Cincinnati, brought in a partner, and created H-M Company, a commercial laundry equipment distributorship now run by his two sons, Mike and Steve.

“H-M Company exists today because of my father’s founding principles and his unyielding belief in honesty and customer service,” says Steve Millman.

“My dad was always a giver, someone who was more focused on other people than himself,” says Mike Millman.

A pioneer in the laundry industry, Sid Millman established H-M Company as General Electric’s first commercial distributor and engineered H-M’s widely used drain troughs.

He was an Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War. Shortly after returning home from the service, he met Bernice Markell. They married in 1956.

Millman is survived by his wife, his sons, and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati or CurePSP.

January 13, 2011
Millions Watch UniFirst CEO Croatti Go Undercover on CBS Series

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Adopting a “hippie look” to go undercover in his company for the CBS series Undercover Boss, UniFirst President and CEO Ronald Croatti often found himself unable to match the speed of the workers training him, as he sought to discover if he could “make the cut” as an employee.

But his week-long journey was as much about seeing the company through his employees’ eyes and learning if the “family culture” he believed to be in place was truly there.