IFI plans festivities for grand opening of
new headquarters
The International Fabricare Institute does not move very often, so whenever it
changes the location of its headquarters, it’s cause for
celebration.
IFI spent 47 years at its original
location and another 30 at its current spot in Silver Spring,
MD. Soon, that long stay will end when the association
completes a move into new facilities in Laurel, MD. To mark the
occasion, IFI will host a gala Grand Opening and Fall
Conference there from November 12-14.
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The event will feature a tour of the building, cocktails, a meet and greet with IFI’s board and staff, and seminars featuring industry speakers.
“This is the most important thing to
happen to IFI in the past 30 years,” said IFI CEO Bill
Fisher, who really knows what he’s talking about. After
all, he has been with the association for over 39 years.
“We are creating the most advanced
school anyone has ever seen, and it’s going to double as
a showcase for new equipment,” he added. “In short,
we’re outdoing ourselves so we can help our members stay
ahead of their competitors.”
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Cleaners gathering at IFI’s new
headquarters will socialize with each other and meet with IFI
staff and board members, while viewing some of the
industry’s state-of-the-art equipment.
In fact, the new IFI School of Dry
Cleaning Technology has already received commitments for
equipment and supplies from numerous industry manufacturers.
When finished, it should be the most advanced training ground
for cleaners in the world.
“We are packing the school to the
gills with the latest and greatest machinery that many cleaners
only see on the Clean Show floor,” said IFI’s
Fisher. “We want members to have the opportunity to work
with the best technology in the industry because doing so can
save them money. Our school focuses on helping cleaners stay
successful, and technology plays a very large part in that
success.”
Prior to the Grand Opening, IFI’s
board will be meeting earlier in the week along with
representatives from the association’s 16 joint affiliate
state and regional associations.
“We have a great weekend
planned,” IFI President Dan Martino said. “Instead
of just reading about what IFI has to offer, this is an
opportunity for members to actually come and see everything IFI
can do for members and has available to them. Remember, IFI is
your one-stop service center for training, garment analysis,
research, professional development, and business
growth.”
The Grand Opening is Friday, November 12,
and the Fall Conference, featuring a series of seminars, is
November 13 at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore,
Maryland. The cost of the conference is $149.
The conference will include a VIP tour of
the new Laurel facility, as well as seminars presented by Jane
Zellers, Dennis McCrory and Chris Allsbrooks.
Invited guests Baltimore Mayor Martin
O’Malley and U.S. EPA’s Karen Brown will also be
featured at the conference. Call IFI Registrar Susan Bale to
register: (800) 638-2627, ext. 1603.
The Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, located
only minutes from Light Rail (train) and BWI Airport in
Baltimore, is one block from the Inner Harbor which abounds
with shopping, restaurants and other entertainment.
Shuttle buses will be available to
transport hotel guests back and forth to IFI’s new Laurel
facilities on Friday.
The room rate is $159 per night, not
including tax. For reservations, contact the hotel by calling
(410) 962-8300.
Throughout the moving process, IFI plans
to offer uninterrupted service to its members. The address for
its new location is 14700 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707.
Both IFI’s main telephone line,
(301) 622-1900, and the members-only toll-free hotline, (800)
638-2627, will remain the same. However, IFI will have a new
fax number: (240) 295-4200.
IFI’s final classes at its current
location will conclude on August 20. The association will host
its first class, “Introduction to Dry Cleaning,” at
its new School of Dry Cleaning Technology on Monday, October
18.
Following that, a two-week advanced course
will run from October 25 through November 5.
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