When the Textile Care Allied Trades Association had invited Robbie Freeman to a Silver Circle luncheon recently, he politely declined. "The Silver Circle Club is the part of TCATA that is for members of 25 years or more in the industry," he explained. "I have always told them that I am not old enough to be a member of that club," he said, chuckling. Instead, Robbie spent the day on the golf course at the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay, FL. While he was busy shooting a birdie on a difficult island hole that leaves many professional golfers confounded, the Silver Circle Club was announcing that Freeman was their choice for the Max Zimmerman Honor Man of the Year award at TCATA's annual convention.
"If somebody had given me enough of a clue... I would have been there. I really did not want to play golf that day. I had for four days in a row and I was hitting the ball very badly," he recalled. "When I found out that night at dinner that I had won the award, the only thing I could tell them was, 'I birdied the 17th hole.'" said Freeman.
As for the award, TCATA only gives it to people who have been in the industry for 25 years (whether they admit it or not) and Freeman was deeply touched by the news. "I was very honored and flabbergasted to get the first Max Zimmerman Award because I have known Max for 20-something years and there's never been a finer gentleman in the industry. He was one of a kind. This whole industry misses Max and people like him."
Long before he ever became president of the Tampa Bay office for Phenix Supply Company, Robbie grew up in southeast Georgia playing baseball, tennis and basketball, and every so often, moving from town to town.
Robbie's father served as a Methodist minister and the family relocated about every three years. "I think it gave me a good outlook on life. I was constantly making new friends and I think that's made a lot of difference in the rest of my life, too."
After high school, Robbie went to Georgia Southern College where he earned an accounting degree and had tentative plans after college to join a Big 8 firm as a C.P.A., but he ran into a few problems.
"I didn't apply myself as well in college as I should have, as far as getting good grades, so I wasn't at the top of everybody's recruiting list," he recalled.
When companies asked Robbie why they should hire him over other candidates with 3.8 or 3.9 grade point averages, Robbie told them, "I learned a lot more about people and life while I was in school, where all they did was cram books and figured out what teachers wanted."
Nothing seemed to pan out. Robbie had no job prospects and he also realized that his draft status had become 1-A . To bide his time until he got drafted for the Viet Nam war, Robbie went to work part-time as a laborer at the Brown & Williams Tobacco Company.
He moved to North Carolina and got transferred into the company's accounting department. It was also about that time, in 1969, that a co-worker thought his cousin-in-law named Pennie would be a good match with Robbie on a blind date.
The blind date lead to 29 years of marriage, and still counting.
Before Robbie and Pennie got married in 1971, Robbie was drafted and began his training in February of 1970. He eventually got shipped overseas to Worms, Germany, where he worked with the A.P.O. as a clerk typist. "That was the way any mail from the U.S. got to a service man."
After 18 months of processing mail packages and problems, Robbie came home on leave. "I came home for my sister's wedding. We decided that while I was here, we may as well go ahead and get married, too. So, Pennie and I got married two weeks later and she came over to Germany and joined me in July of 1971. We were there for basically our first six months of marriage."
Oddly enough, the couple just celebrated their 29th anniversary there. They were attending Texcare International in Germany at the same time.
After spending six months together in Germany, the war was winding down and Robbie and Pennie moved to Atlanta, GA.
Once again without a job or any prospects, Robbie made the rounds. Fortunately, his uncle was a purchasing agent for National Linen, a customer of Phenix Supply Company, a drycleaning supply store that has been around since 1899. Robbie's uncle knew that Frank Parker, vice president and general manager of the Phenix Supply Co. in Atlanta, was looking for an assistant.
That was the only break that Robbie needed. Robbie started working with Phenix Supply Co. in 1972. "I worked in the warehouse. I unloaded trucks. I loaded trucks. I worked with the guys in purchasing, learning how to buy. I worked with the girls in the office in billing and credit. Basically, I did everything that I've ever asked any employee to do since I started with the company."
Over the next few years, Robbie moved up through management and continued to learn all facets of the company. In 1977, Phenix's owners had asked Robbie to go to the Tampa Bay branch to find somebody who could fill a general management position.
"I came down and spent a week there, met the employees, came back up and said, 'I found your man -- me.'" Robbie had fallen in love with Florida as soon as he got off the plane.
Two weeks later, he flew back to Florida and took over the Tampa office. Eventually, Robbie would become president of that office in 1990, the same year the employees of Phenix Supply Company formed an ESOP and purchased the company.
In other words, Robbie says, "Anytime you are talking to somebody from Phenix Supply Company, you're talking to an owner."
The change in ownership did not mean a change in reliability. Robbie believes that Phenix stays successful for a number of reasons.
"We feel that we have a higher caliber of people on the street. Our sales force and our driver crew care about the customers they're dealing with. They try to bring more than just a product," he explained.
"Customers can buy a box of hangers or a box of tags from anybody in the world. We have to bring them more than that. We have to bring them consistency, our reliability, the integrity of our operation. If we tell the customer something, they know it's going to happen. That consistency is the foundation of our business."
Robbie also pointed out that Phenix Supply Company's success has depended on its ability to help its customers maintain success.
"If we go in and all we're trying to do is get however many dollars we can pull out of a plant, regardless of how we do it, then we wouldn't be around," he said. "If we can't go in and offer them ways to improve their business so they are able to offer more to their customers, then we are not doing our jobs. That's what a distributor should be doing."
Robbie's experience in the industry has grown considerably since he first became active in TCATA in 1979. At the time, he was spending most of his time at conventions "networking" until one of the past presidents, Jim Moran, "conned" him into getting on the program committee one year.
"I saw how much work was involved in putting together one of those conventions. I decided that these people deserved to see people attend and actually listen to what has been put together for them," he said.
"All industries have more takers than givers or participants," he pointed out. "And that's the thing that you're always hoping to do -- bring more of those people who are sitting back and not doing anything and getting them involved."
Robbie has refrained from sitting on the sidelines for quite some time, serving on the TCATA board of directors for 12 years, including a stint as the association's president from 1996 to 1998.
"We're always hoping to create a higher image of TCATA in the industry," he added. "TCATA is the only association that's out there for the allied trades or the manufacturers and distributors."
In the future, Robbie sees the industry being affected more by the Internet. "So far, it's been a very minimal effect. I think the future in all business is going to involve the Internet. The Internet is a supplement."
Although, he added, "I think there'll always be a place for the laundry and drycleaning supply salesperson walking into the plant and eyeballing the customer and their business. I hope we don't get to the point that all business is done through a mouse click."
While Robbie focuses on getting Phenix's new web domain up (www.phenixsupply.com), he enjoys watching the future for Phenix take hold. Not only does Robbie work 20 feet away from his wife, but their sons Brandon and Jimmy are already working with the company. Robbie and Pennie's youngest child, Alyson, has designs on pursuing art in college.
"We have several family members that are involved in our business at this point and we're happy to see that, especially when they are starting at the lower levels," he said. "They're working their way up, and to me, that's the only way to do it."
The International Fabricare Institute has a new assistant general manager and a new vice president of finance, IFI CEO William E. Fisher announced last month.
Mary Scalco, who has been serving as education and research vice president for the past few years, has assumed the additional duties of assistant general manager. She will assist Fisher in the overall management of IFI's headquarters activities.
Tim Parris has joined IFI has vice president of finance and will be responsible for accounting, information systems and finances of the institute.
Parris, who has 16 years of financial management experience, has already taken steps to streamline the operations of the Finance Department, Fisher noted.
Scalco worked for IFI from 1978 to 1981 as supervisor of the textile testing laboratories.
She rejoined IFI in 1987 working in the research department as a textile chemist and since becoming vice president of education and research, she has been overseeing a variety of activities such as the certification programs and the residence courses
"For some time, I have delegated a number of critical projects to Mary and this announcement officially gives her the authority to accomplish what I expect of her," Fisher said.
As assistant general manager she will share responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of IFI in addition to continuing her work in education and research.
In addition to her experience at IFI, Scaclo has worked in quality control for a drapery manufacturer and in research and development for a carpet manufacturer. She is a member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, the American Society for Testing Materials and the Americas Society of Quality Control.
She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds a bachelor of science degree in textile chemistry.National Clothesline columnist and industry consultant Dennis McCrory has joined The Golomb Group as creative director.
He will be in charge of developing an ongoing series of new direct mail promotions and finding new marketing ideas especially for drycleaners.
McCrory joins Stan and Min Golomb, Bill Bishop, and Barbara Lueth as a permanent staff member.
His initial contribution will be the Stan Caplan videos and books he produced under the banner of The Successful Management Group. These include "The Caplan Method of Stain Removal," and the newly released, "The Caplan Method of Shirt Laundering and Finishing."
McCrory has 30 years of experience in marketing his own drycleaning plant in New Orleans, as well as a franchise he developed over 20 years ago.Deborah Rechnitz, managing director of Methods for Management Inc., has been elected to the national board of directors of the Institute of Management Consultants, an association that represents 3,000 consultants within the United States. ICM is affiliated with the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes, which has more than 24,000 members.
The association's mission is to promote and enhance excellence and ethics in management consulting through certification, education and professional resources.
Rechnitz earned the designation of Certified Management Consultant in 1996 and was recertified in 1999. The CMC designation, which is recognized worldwide, is based on showing evidence of experience and competence in consulting.
The association developed some 30 years ago when several trade organizations in the management consulting field determined that consultants need a professional association for individual development and certification. From that, the Institute of Management Consultants was created. The primary motivation for joining IMC has always been to develop consulting skills and abilities and to become a more effective consultant for clients.
Perfect Starch Inc. of Rowlett, TX, has awarded marketing and distribution rights of its Perfect Starch product and DuoFlow dispensers to the textile care division of Ecolab Inc.
The alliance should provide better accessibility for shirt laundries to the patented DuoFlow batch cooking system and to the refined, cosmetic-based starch, according to Wayne Mitchell, president of Perfect Starch.
Noting the growth of the Perfect Starch system in the commercial market, Mitchell said, "We needed a business partner with a strong service organization and established distribution channels.
"We were looking for a class operation and couldn't be more pleased with the agreement we have with Ecolab."
Steve Mosh, vice president, Textile Care/Ecolab, said the Perfect Starch product "has all the befits our shirt laundry customers are looking for in starch: smooth finish, greater body, and less garment damage." The system also saves money for its users, he noted.
The patented DuoFlow batch cooker ensures that Perfect Starch is 100 percent dispersed in every wash. It features automated mixing and loading to the washer and automatic cleaning for reduced maintenance.
The cooker can be purchased or leased through Ecolab. Call the company (800) 553-8683 for more information.
Clean Concepts has moved to a larger facility in Dallas. The new address is 3214 Beltline Rd., Suite 426, Dallas, TX 75234-2326. Phone and fax numbers remain the same: (972) 406-8107 and (972) 406-8057, respectively.
Micell Technologies Inc. has appointed Jon Kennedy as its first chief financial officer.
Kennedy will oversee financial operations as Micell expands its liquid carbon dioxide process in the drycleaning industry and developed processes in other industries.
He has more than 15 years experience in financial management and comes to Micell from Gale Force Holdings, L.P., where he served as vice president and chief financial officers and was responsible for human resources and information technology in addition to financial management. Before that, Kennedy was CFO for a technology company and a health care company.
Micell has opened 30 Hangers stores in four states since its first store opened in Wilmington, NC, last year. The company aims to have a presence in seven states with 100 retail locations by the end of 2000. Currently there are nine locations in Wilmington, seven in Greensboro, NC, and two in the Raleigh, NC, area. Outside of North Carolina, there are five locations in Rhode Island, six in Lincoln, NE, and one in Massachusetts.
Jon Erdman has joined Fabritec International as territory manager serving Fabritec and Sanitone customers in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Erdman has a bachelor of science degree with a major in biology and minor in chemistry and has experience in sales, also. Erdman lives in Milwaukee, WI, with his wife, Barbara, and daughters Hannah, Hailey and Maggie.
Fabritec also announced that Norbert Tamblyn has joined the company replacing Rob Morin as the New England area sales/service representative. Tamblyn has a financial services and direct mail marketing background and has created and implemented marketing programs for drycleaners throughout New England.
Tamblyn lives in Lancaster, MA with his wife, Claire, and daughter, Taylor.
Fabritec International manufactures drycleaning, laundry and professional wetcleaning products under the Sanitone, Stamford and Fabritec names. The company has headquarters in Cold Spring, KY.
Multimatic Corp. has expanded the parts department at its headquarters in Northvale, NJ.
Under the direction of George Jessen, the parts department has expanded its warehousing area to increase inventory.
At the same time, Kevin Duffy has joined the company's parts department to provide service to customers.
With the installation of a new phone system that includes voice mail, Multimatic parts department is "open" to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Customers can place orders after normal working hours by leaving a voice mail message or parts order. The department will respond the next working day.
Parts shipments will be expedited with it the new on-line United Parcel shipping service. In most cases orders for in-stock parts will be processed and shipped on the same day as received.
More information is available by calling Multimatic, (201) 767-9660 or faxing to (201) 767-7037. The company's mailing address is 162 Veterans Dr., Northvale, NJ, 07647.
Jeanne Wolf of Morgentahler's Drapery Cleaners was elected chair of the National Fire and Indemnity Exchange at the annual meeting in St. Louis, MO, May 20.
The exchange is owned entirely by its 2,400 fabric care policy holders and is governed by seven fabric care business owners. In addition to Wolf, they are Louis Bader of Park and Wash of Woodstown Inc.; Phyllis Cochran of Artistic Cleaners Inc.; Rick Miller of Barton & Miller Inc.; Leo Soukup Jr., of C.D. Hoff Inc.; Joseph Yoon of House of Kleen; and Harvey Rimell of Decorator Fold Drapery Drycleaning. All seven were re-elected to new terms at the annual meeting.
This will be Wolf's third year on the the Advisory Committee. She is the fourth generation to manage Morgenthaler's Drapery Cleaners in St. Louis. Wolf's grandfather was one of the first subscribers to NIE in 1915.
The next advisory committee meeting will be held in conjunction with the Clean show in New Orleans, LA, on July 18, 2001.
Thermopatch has acquired the entire line of heat seal machines, labels tapes and ink supplies from Natmar Services Co., inclusive of all rights to the Natmar name.
The previous ownership of Natmar will retain the material/handling related products and will operate under the names Precision Engineering and Conveyors from its home office in Walton, KY. Natmar Services Co. will operate independently of Thermopatch under the continued direction of Mike Ryan.
Thermopatch, with headquarters in Syracuse, NY, provides textile and garment identification, marking, mending products and supporting supplies to the laundry industry and to garment and textile manufacturers.
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