Content about Texas

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) will host its 2013 Annual Convention on March 26-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas.

For more information, call (404) 816-5759 or e-mail info@aahoa.com.

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.

KANNEGIESSER PROMOTES HART TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — The owner of Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH recently promoted Phil Hart to executive vice president of Kannegiesser USA.

During the company’s recent Canadian sales meeting, owner Martin Kannegiesser announced that Hart’s role in the company will expand, moving him into supervisory positions with different departments, while continuing to be responsible for the company’s daily operations.

Hart joined Kannegiesser USA in 2004 as vice president of marketing, bringing with him more than 10 years of industry and product experience.

TURN-KEY INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING HIRES BERNSTEIN AS SENIOR VP

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A veteran of the textile industry, David Bernstein recently joined Turn-Key Industrial Engineering Services as senior vice president. Bernstein’s role will be in business development, consulting, and adding new services to the firm’s lineup.

The fourth generation of his family in the textile rental industry, Bernstein brings a unique perspective and a diverse work résumé to his new position. He has more than 20 years experience, including stints as president of Consolidated Laundry Machinery Co., as director of the Uniform and Textile Services Association (UTSA), and as chief operating officer of F-MATIC.

“All of us at Turn-Key are ecstatic to be welcoming David as a member of our team,” says Chip Malboeuf, Turn-Key president. “His experience, skill set, intelligence and enthusiasm for the industry will not only enhance our current offering, but will also allow us to provide our clients with additional services to increase their revenue and improve their operations.”

In addition to his professional experience, Bernstein is two-time chair of the UTSA Plant Operations Committee, an inductee into the Plant Operations Hall of Fame, an instructor and task force member for the Production Management Institute (PMI) and Maintenance Management Institute (MMI), and a former member of the board of directors of the Western Textile Services Association (WTSA). He resides in Park City, Utah.

TINGUE, BROWN & CO. PROMOTES LAVIGNA TO PURCHASING DIRECTOR

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — Paul LaVigna has been promoted to the role of purchasing director for the TB division of laundry industry supplier Tingue, Brown & Co. He will work out of TB’s satellite office in Clifton Park, N.Y.

LaVigna brings extensive experience to his new role, much of it gained through his years with the U.S. Army, where he was a procurement and logistics officer. More recently, he was an operations manager for a nationwide retailer. He has been in corporate operations with TB since August 2010.

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, LaVigna lives in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with his wife and two children.

“I am grateful for the opportunity this new position provides,” LaVigna says, “and I look forward to working with all of Tingue, Brown’s partners in the laundry industry.”

VENUS GROUP HIRES INDUSTRY VET MCBRIDE AS SALES MANAGER

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. — Venus Group has a new Midwest regional sales manager. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Mike McBride is now responsible for the textile company’s sales and growth efforts in the Midwest.

His diverse résumé has allowed him to meet many Midwest dry cleaners and laundry owners as well as people with national textile chains. He started with Procter & Gamble as a field representative and trainer, then moved to Cleaners Hangers Co. as a sales representative. His most recent post with Cleaners Hangers was as vice president of sales and marketing.

McBride earned a degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he was also a member of the 1973 NCAA national champion football team.

G.A. BRAUN ADDS SLETTE TO FINISHING EQUIPMENT TEAM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. —The G.A. Braun Finishing Equipment Engineering Team has a new member. Matt Slette brings to the product development team a diverse experience in modeling components in 3D and developing 2D working drawings, bill of materials, and assemblies for production, Braun says.

Slette graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering technology from California Polytechnic State University. He is based at Braun’s corporate headquarters in Syracuse.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Following three years of ownership by Stonebridge Partners, American Dryer Corp. (ADC) has named Joe Bazzinotti its new president and CEO, the company says. Bazzinotti has brought four years of positive change to ADC while playing a number of vital roles, including vice president of operations, chief operating officer and president.

“We have gained a tremendous amount of respect for Joe and his exceptionally capable management team,” says David Schopp, a partner in Stonebridge Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. “We believe that ADC is well positioned to take full advantage of the rebounding economy and look forward to renewed growth in the business.”

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Don Rakow Jr. has joined the staff of Kannegiesser USA as project engineer, the company says.

He comes to Kannegiesser with more than 10 years of project engineering experience.

His background ranges from performing single machine installations to total plant design and machinery installation. His projects have taken him around the world to locations in South America and Asia, which will serve him well with the company’s German manufacturing and North American installations, Kannegiesser says.

Rakow Jr. has a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is also a registered professional engineer.

MMI is a year-round learning initiative combining classroom, hands-on and distance learning for those involved with maintaining and operating industrial, linen and health care laundries. The initial in-person experience consists of 2.5 days of classroom including Core Topics classes plus General Electives, orientation, interactive sessions, hands-on tours and group projects. Over the next year, internet-based learning takes place including group and individual projects with assessment. Students then return for their second MMI hands-on seminar for another 2.5 days of personal instruction and peer interaction.

BURLINGAME, Calif. — Virgin America has awarded a two-year contract to Mission Linen Supply, which will supply white linen napkins for passengers flying the new airline.

Virgin America serves San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Cancun, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Cabos, New York, Orlando, San Diego, Seattle and Washington D.C.

Mission Linen Supply plants in Chino and Sacramento, Calif., and in Dallas will provide the linen service for the California and Texas airports.

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — The assets of bankrupt Washex Inc., including the rights to the “Washex” name, file cabinets filled with engineering prints and machine drawings, and other assets will go on the auction block here next week.

(UPDATED 11/11/10 with additional project details)

ABILENE, Texas — Ground has been broken here for Texas Healthcare Linen (THL), a 48,000-square-foot medical laundry facility that will serve partners Hendrick Health System (HHS), Midland Memorial Hospital and Medical Center Health System in Odessa, along with other healthcare facilities in the region.

“I’ve noticed my plant’s production has begun to lag and I believe that it’s being caused by a bottleneck somewhere in the workflow. Where are the problem areas most likely to be and how can I prevent such delays from occurring in the future?”

Equipment/Supplies Distribution — Donnie Weiland, Tingue, Brown & Co., Alvin, Texas

“At what points during the laundering process are workers most vulnerable to injury or even death, and what precautions should be taken to minimize the risk? I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to protect my staff.”

Equipment/Supplies Distribution: Donnie Weiland, Tingue, Brown & Co., Alvin, Texas

Luckily, the only thing hurt was Ralph McMillan’s pride.

McMillan tells me his Texas company, RAMCO Laundry Machinery, was nearly victimized in a scam perpetrated by someone claiming to be from the United Arab Emirates.

While no money or equipment was lost, he asked if I would alert the industry to the possibility of similar scam attempts.

An individual from “Orion General Trading” contacted RAMCO by e-mail in November, claiming to represent a client who was interested in buying two flatwork ironers.

This year’s contributors introduce themselves, describe their operations, identify challenges and list their accomplishments for 2009.

Textiles: Elizabeth Easter, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.