National Clothesline

Florida Department of Environmental Protection law enforcement agents arrested Hyun Il Kim Feb. 11 on charges of illegally storing hazardous waste at his drycleaning facility.

The five-month investigation was launched after DEP emergency responders were called in to clean up perchloroethylene that was dumped close to Countryside Cleaners, located at 7601 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa.

Regulatory and law enforcement agents began concurrent inquiries into operations at the drycleaning facility, which revealed 15 civil violations and illegally stored hazardous waste, a third-degree felony.

Hyun admitted to illegally keeping used perc in the back room of his store for three years because he did not want to pay for its proper disposal.

If found guilty of the felony charge, Hyun could face up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. He also could face a civil fine of up to $25,000 for violating environmental regulations. No court date has been set.

Speakers have been announced for the North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners 97th Annual Convention at Atlantic Beach, NC, May 28-31.

On tap for the Memorial Day Weekend program are Don Fawcett, Fran Sadler, Bill Seitz, John Meijer and Dave Silliman.

Fawcett, who became president of IFI last August, is co-owner of Dependable Cleaners in Quincy, MA. He has also served as president of the New England Sanitone Licensees and as a past chairman of Varsity International.

Sadler owned and operated a drycleaning business for 12 years, then joined the staff at IFI until the late 1990s when she began independent consulting.

Seitz has been in the industry over 60 years, most of them as executive director of the National Cleaners Association. He will share his insights in 90-minute sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Meijer is vice president of membership/marketing at IFI, where he oversees activities of the membership and marketing departments, joint affiliates, and new member retention efforts.

Silliman, co-owner of Uptowne Drycleaning in Phoenix, AZ, is IFI’s District 7 District Committee member and recipient of IFI’s 2003 Commitment to Professionalism Award. He is an expert on presenting a professional profile to the public.

For more information, call NCALC, (336) 389-9011.

The Textile Care Allied Trades Association’s has set the programs for its annual management and educational conference at the Westin Resort in Hilton Head Island, SC, May 12-15.

Two speakers will be featured at the business sessions. On Thursday, Tom Wentz, president of corporate Performance Systems, will address the new reality of being a manufacturer or distributor in today’s business climate.

According to Wentz, the “new reality” is mass customization in which the focus is on the customer. He says a transformational change must occur in the business model and he will tall how to “let go” and make that change.

The Saturday morning program will feature Bruce Merrifield of Merrifield Consulting Group.

Merrifield believes that by being product, volume and cost-driven, companies have competed their way down to a return on capital that does not allow for their survival. He will tell how to “reinvent your business profitability” through a an overhaul of strategic thinking.

Registration for the convention will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 12, and continue through 6 p.m. On the same day, TCATA has planned a board meeting between 1:30 and 4 p.m. In the evening, first-time attendees will have a reception at 6 p.m. The official opening reception is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday will be devoted to the association’s annual golf tournament, which tees off at 8 a.m. Following the competition, a tournament awards luncheon from 1 to 3 p.m. will cap off the day on the green. Later that evening, a “Young Timers Party” will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Preceding Wentz’s presentation on Friday morning will be a distributors’ meeting and a manufacturers’ meeting; each start at 7:30 a.m. and run for about an hour.

A spouse program has also been planned between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The evening will conclude with a 90-minute dessert reception beginning at 9:30 p.m.

After the Saturday business session, TCATA will also host a Silver Circle Luncheon 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. In the evening, a closing reception and party begins at 7 p.m.

More information on the convention is available from the TCATA office at (973) 244-1790 and on the association’s web site: www.tcata.org.

Training sessions for new-to-intermediate service technicians and seasoned veterans, will be offered at UniMac’s World Training Center in Marianna, FL.

The basic service training seminar is scheduled on the following dates: July 26-30 (UC, UX) and November 15-19 (UW).

For those who have completed the basic course, the advanced class will meet this year from March 22-26, and again from September 20-24.

Both advanced and basic class classes will meet from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, and from 8 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. from Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday, training begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at noon.

For more information or to register, call UniMac’s customer service department at (920) 748-3121. Registration may also be conducted at the company’s web site at www.uniwash.com.

A $100 non-refundable fee will be required to reserve a space.

The learnng programs will emphasize the proper operation of On-Premises Laundry (OPL) equipment with in-depth discussions on installation, maintenance and diagnostic methods.

Attendees will gain knowledge in order to help them service UniMac UW, UX, UC, and Tumbler OPL laundry equipment. Everything from reading wiring diagrams to diagnosing electrical problems will be outlined.

In addition to the training, attendees will all receive a plant tour, product manuals and a certificate of attendance.