Midwest
MCA’s annual convention at Mystic
Lake looms near
The underlying theme of this year’s Minnesota Cleaners Association annual convention is fairly simple: In
order to be the best, you must learn from the best. An
assortment of expert presenters will highlight the event,
scheduled to take place from Feb. 22-24 at the Mystic Lake
Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, MN.
Some of the topics to be covered on
the weekend include “Today’s Fabrics: Fine Fabrics,
Shirts and Casual Wear” and “Today’s Solvent
Choices.”
On Saturday morning, nationally-recognized
industry expert Carolyn Schwass will take the floor at 9 a.m.
and discuss profitability issues. In addition to being a member
of the IFI Speakers Bureau and Alumni Society, Schwass has
successfully managed her own cleaning plant, as well as once
overseeing a six-plant, 13-store operation that covered four
cities. She has years of experience with drycleaning,
wetcleaning, shirt laundry and tailoring
Schwass is scheduled to speak twice again
later on the same day, beginning at 10:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Other speakers who will be present at
MCA’s annual convention include Brian Johnson and Norine
A. Larson.
Johnson has been an instructor in the
education department at IFI since 1999. He has an extensive
background in the industry, including a 13-year stint as a
plant manager whose duties also included monitoring route
operation for a Maryland-based drycleaning business.
Larson will bring over 25 years of working
with younger people to her discussion on “Power Managing
Your Young Workforce” at 9 a.m. on Sunday. She has
received two Master’s Degrees in the area of adolescent
education and is the author of the book “Feed Me,
I’m Yours.”
Also during the weekend, license renewal
boiler exams will be offered from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. on
Saturday. A three-hour block between 9 a.m. and noon, also on
Saturday, has been reserved for hands-on pressing
demonstrations.
Room reservations for the Mystic Lake
Casino Hotel can be made by calling (952) 445-9000.
For more information on MCA’s
convention, call (651) 290-6267.
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Swingle steps in as new WFI director
The Wisconsin
Fabricare Institute recently
announced that Brian Swingle will take over as its new
executive director, filling the gap left open when Joe Phillips
retired at the end of last year.
Swingle, who assumed ownership of WFI on
January 1, will maintain the office in the Milwaukee area.
Previously, he worked for the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for
eight years. Additionally, he served as the Program Manager for
Pesticide Certification and Licensing.
Swingle believes he’s up to the
challenge of managing WFI. “We have to be on top of the
issues, and be prepared to deal with adversity or any
challenges posed to the drycleaning industry,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to developing stronger
partnerships and many new friendships with our members.
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Slatten seminars set for Indianapolis
Kenney Slatten will conduct two seminars
in Indianapolis next month in programs sponsored by the Indiana
Drycleaners and Launderers Association and R. R. Street & Co. Inc.
On Saturday, March 9, he will present an
all-day spotting seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program
will focus on basic and advanced stain removal using
Street’s portable stain removal board and display. Lunch
will be offered to participants.
Slatten will present a wetcleaning seminar
on Sunday, March 10 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Other plans on IDLA’s calendar for
the year include an Alaskan cruise, June 17-24, and an
IFI/IDLA-sponsored customer service seminar on Oct. 5.
For more information on any of these
upcoming events, call IDLA, (800) 401-0703.
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