National Clothesline

Long after the time clock heralds the end of the work day, many industry members continue to toil away tirelessly — not just for the betterment of their own company — but the entire industry, as well.

At its annual meeting on August 11 at Clean ’03 in Las Vegas, the International Fabricare Institute chose to recognize seven such individuals for consistently engaging in selfless endeavors. This year marked the third time IFI paid tribute to the industry’s elite with its Meritorious Service Awards.

IFI sought nominations from all corners of the industry to generate a pool of worthy candidates to fill every award spot except for the Technology Trailblazer and Diamond Achievement categories.

The honor for Technology Trailblazer remained open at the Meritorious Service Awards at Clean ’01 in New Orleans, also. The only recipient to earn the distinction so far was the Exxon Chemical Company in 1999 for its work on the DF-2000 drycleaning solvent.

As for the Diamond Achievement Award — IFI’s top honor for individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the industry — past honorees include: Barney Deden of Omaha, NE, in 1999 for his support of the “Barton Bill” legislation; and the late Stan Golomb, founder of the Golomb Group in Willowbrook, IL. He was recognized in 2001 for his decades of service to the industry.

Although those categories were unfulfilled this year, IFI found worthy names to honor in the remaining slots.

Industry Positive Recognition Award. Paul Gelpi, owner of Swan Cleaners in Columbus, OH, received this award this year. It is annually given to an individual who consistently procures positive publicity for the drycleaning industry.

Gelpi is a fourth generation cleaner who has long carried on his family’s tradition of community service. Swan Cleaners and its 45 locations have collected and cleaned over 150,000 coats free of charge for Ohio families over the years.

The plant has also demonstrated a deep sense of patriotism by cleaning flags for free for over 50 years, as well as servicing the laundry of the Torch Relay Team as part of IFI’s “Operation Running Clean” during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay procession.

Gelpi, who was once a jet fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force, also supports a multitude of charitable organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House and the Homeless Families Foundation.

“I am deeply honored to be a recipient of this award. It feels just like the day I received my pilot’s wings,” Gelpi said. “I think this is a wonderful industry, and I am proud of the tradition we have here at Swan.”

Joining Gelpi as a recipient of an Industry Positive Recognition Award this year is Emmanuel Azzopardi, owner of Queen’s Dry Cleaning in Balzan, Malta. Azzopardi falls under a newly-created “international” heading added to the award specifically to ensure he wasn’t overlooked during this year’s honors. He impressed IFI with his efforts in bringing the very best in drycleaning to the island of Malta, located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea.

Demonstrating a great enthusiasm for his trade, Azzopardi pays for his own radio broadcasts that seek to educate the public and answer general questions pertaining to the cleaning industry.

Commitment to Professionalism Award. Raising the standards for professionalism in the drycleaning industry is not an easy task by any means, but David Silliman, co-owner of Uptowne Drycleaning in Phoenix, AZ, was one of the industry’s stellar standouts in 2003.

Well-known under the moniker “Dryclean Dave,” Silliman serves as secretary for the Western States Drycleaners and Launderers Association. In his ever-shrinking spare time, he taps into his family’s 80 years of industry experience to answer questions at his web site: www.drycleandave.com.

In a 2001 interview with National Clothesline, he explained why he started the project in the first place.

“I get calls from other drycleaners, as well as many questions from my customers and what I tried to do was to put a web site together that was informative to both consumers and other drycleaners who can raise the bar for this industry,” he said. “The better we all are, the better it is for all of us.”

Legislative/Regulatory Award. IFI bestows this distinction to individuals who have actively worked on critical legislative or regulatory issues of particular concern to the industry.

Dale Kaplan, owner of Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners in Camp Hill, PA, was chosen this year because he has long been a leader in improving industry relations with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. He is currently the only small businessperson working on the Compliance Assistance Advisory Committee of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology.

He has also served as a liaison between the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association and regulators, and he has served as chair of Pennsylvania’s Small Business Assistance Program-Compliance Advisory Program.

Kaplan, who is currently Vice President for Government Relations for PDCA, has previously been the association’s president twice. He has yet to grow tired of volunteering is time.

“Volunteering makes all the difference in the world,” he said. “Each one of us, as an individual, has the ability to make a difference. It’s also personal, because I take it personally. I believe in the next five to ten years we’re going to see more rules and regulations. That’s where I get satisfaction: doing my part to make sure my industry survives for the next century.”

Green Fields Award. Going to people or organizations who make a lasting contribution concerning an environmental-related issue or initiative, the 2003 Green Fields Award was given to Jamie Johnston of Swift Cleaners in Jacksonville, FL.

Johnston is an original founder of the Florida Dry Cleaners Coalition and he also started a movement that successfully ended the 6 percent Florida sales tax mandate for cleaners.

Additionally, he helped create the first drycleaning state cleanup fund in the country in Florida, which, so far, has funded the remediation of 55 sites.

Allied Trades Award. Recognizing an industry supplier or distributor who has provided excellent long-term service for IFI members, this year’s Allied Trades Award went to Bruce Kahn, a field representative for Aristo Craft Supply Inc. in Oxford, MA.

Several nomination forms for Kahn offered high praise for his exemplary resourcefulness. “Bruce is extensively knowledgeable about the industry and knows what his company can and cannot do,” said one.

Another one added: “If Bruce cannot give you an answer he will go out of his way to find one”.

Special Industry Service Award. IFI added a new category to its Meritorious Service Awards in 2003 in order to recognize one individual who has performed years of distinguished service for the betterment of the industry.

Special accolades were given to Hal Horning, editor of National Clothesline, who has kept newspaper readers well-informed with all the latest news in the industry for over 15 years.

Though not part of his job description, Horning has brought it upon himself to make industry news more accessible by creating an invaluable research tool at www.natclo.com. Not only does the web site offer seven years of searchable back story archives from National Clothesline, it also has links to virtually everything industry-related, including sites of drycleaners, allied trades, associations, publications and legislative and regulatory issues.

Additionally, Horning has long strived to improve the industry’s communication capabilities as the moderator and co-creator of the Fabricare Forum, which permits cleaners to share information and discuss cleaning-related topics online.