Tag: Leadership

Q4 2023

Better Days Ahead: A Positive Attitude Goes a Long Way…

By Kathy Benzinger, DLI President

As we continue to see positive developments in our businesses, we realize just how lucky we are to be a part of this industry. People are returning to work while parties and weddings are in full swing. We are rolling out new services and automation is helping us become more efficient. By now, most of us are barcoding with some assisted assembly, and many are considering or already using automated bagging machines. Metalprogetti is expanding automation on the AIB side, and steam tunnels are growing in popularity.

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Q4 2023

DLI Announces 2023–2024 Board of Directors

Each year DLI’s Board of Directors brings on new members as other members retire or move into Executive Committee positions. This August DLI bid farewell to Chairman Bobby Patel of BeCreative360 and Kona Cleaners in Orange, CA and Ed Longanecker of Iris City Cleaners in Mount Pleasant, IA, while welcoming Dan Sims of Jim’s Formal Wear in Trenton, IL, and David Grippi of Clean Brands in Naples, FL at its Summer Board Meeting. Continue reading “DLI Announces 2023–2024 Board of Directors” →

Q2 2023

On Screen or In-Person, You’re DLI’s Greatest Resource

Jeff Schwegmann, DLI President

It is hard to believe we are already at the end of the First Quarter of 2023. Looking back at this decade, it is hard to believe all the challenges drycleaning businesses have been through over the last three years. What stands out most to me is the level of cooperation and the commitment of drycleaners to share their best practices and work together to improve their businesses. Continue reading “On Screen or In-Person, You’re DLI’s Greatest Resource” →

Q4 2022

DLI Announces 2022-2023 Board of Directors

Volunteer Leadership Guides Institute & Industry

Drycleaning & Laundry Institute officials swore in DLI’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors at its Summer 2022 Board Meeting in Atlanta. DLI’s Board is comprised of fabricare business owners and operators from eight regions around the U.S., an Executive Committee, and Allied Trades representatives. All Board members volunteer their time and energy to guide the Institute toward providing the best benefit to DLI member cleaning professionals.

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Q4 2022

Greetings, Salutations, and Gratitude

Jeff Schwegmann, DLI President

Hello, fellow DLI members and thank you for your membership. My name is Jeff Schwegmann and I have the great honor to be your next DLI President. I am humbled and honored to serve our industry and be in the company of such great business leaders. Little did I know that by attending my local association meeting and being encouraged to attend a board meeting, that I would wind up at our national association. It truly is an honor and privilege to work for the membership and the great people of Drycleaning and Laundry Institute. My family has owned and operated our drycleaning company since 1946. I am the 4th generation of our family to run our company and proud to be a drycleaning business owner.

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Q3 2022

Farewell, Not Goodbye by Bobby Patel, DLI President 2022-2023

By being a member of DLI you are part of a special club or community of owner-operators who face the same challenges day in and day out. Drycleaners are a very giving group, it is fair to say that any member you meet will be willing to help you with your business. Chances are they have overcome the same challenge that is currently keeping you awake at night.

 

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Q2 2022

DLI Board of Directors Steer Institute into the Future

DLI’s Board of Directors posed for a group photo at the entrance to The Institute’s offices and School of Drycleaning Technology, April 1, 2022, 50 years to the day after the formation of IFI when AIL and NID merged in 1972. 
FRONT ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): Ray Kroner, Rhonda Eysel, Kathy Benzinger (Treasurer), Jeff Schwegmann II, CGCP® (President-Elect), Bobby Patel (President), Kyle Nesbit (Treasurer-Elect), Hilary Taylor, Don Holececk, Ed Longanecker.
BACK ROW (L-R): Toran Brown, Norman Way, Allan Cripe, Mark Pollack CPD®, Tom Ustanik, John Mertes, Sassan Rahimzadeh. NOT PICTURED: Joe Blaha, Dru Carlisle, Jess Culpepper (Chair), Larry Fish.

DLI’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS MET IN-PERSON AT DLI’S SCHOOL OF DRYCLEANING TECHNOLOGY IN LAUREL, MARYLAND, APRIL 1, 2022, 50 YEARS TO THE DAY OF THE INSTITUTE’S FOUNDING ON APRIL 1, 1972, WHEN TWO INDUSTRY GIANTS MERGED. The National Institute of Drycleaning (NID, founded 1907) and the American Institute of Launderers (AIL, founded 1883) merged to form the International Fabricare Institute (IFI) on April 1, 1972. IFI rebranded to DLI in 2007 marking NID’s 100th anniversary.

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Q2 2022

Mary Scalco: The Comeback is Always Greater than the Setback

Mary Scalco, DLI CEO

HOORAY!!! I am sure you are celebrating along with me that we can finally get back to the business of doing business. It’s been a difficult two years but we have come out of some really tough economic times. Kudos to you!

We all learned a lot and like you, many of the practices we put in place wound up being best for our businesses.

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