MINNEAPOLIS — America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) hosted its Fall 2025 Accelerator Live event here in early October, theming the gathering “Accountability,” focused on the foundational role personal and team ownership play in achieving excellence in operations, leadership and service delivery.

Over three days, more than 40 attendees — including 10 senior managers from across affiliate organizations — gathered to immerse themselves in workshops, plant walk-throughs and peer-led dialogue, ABC says. They explored how accountability can fuel trust, drive results, and shape a high-performance business culture. 

Tours of All Seasons’ main production plant, Evermore Bridal, and its luxury leather and fur divisions kicked off the program. ABC affiliates collaborated to inspect and provide feedback on specific departments, ensuring a solutions-focused experience for both host and participants. Live demonstrations by Mike Tungesvick of Sankosha USA enriched the walk-through, ABC says, with real-time insights on pressing and finishing systems. 

Later, a Partnering Business Showcase brought insights from several technology and marketing allies: 

• Nicole Kirby of Xplor Spot shared how real-time quality data can drive actionable accountability from front counter to finishing.
• Kate Quintero of BeCreative360 demonstrated how the latest ReviewMyDryCleaner tools and automation — paired with a client-first mindset — can make marketing a measurable and trackable team objective.
• David Lee of SMRT Systems offered a preview of upcoming enhancements to SMRT Deliver, reinforcing the platform’s role in team-wide follow-through. 

Josef Shapiro of Clear and Open delivered the keynote address, “Redefining Accountability: From Fear to Freedom,” challenging attendees to let go of guilt- and shame-based accountability in favor of awareness, alignment and ownership.

And his workshop guided affiliates through the five-step Accountability Path, providing tools to identify roadblocks and empower team members through feedback and clarity. 

ABC Executive Director Christopher White led the presentation “Accountability Starts at the Top,” emphasizing the owner’s role in clearing obstacles, modeling responsibility and creating systems that support team-wide ownership.

“We say accountability drives results, but it’s really about building trust,” says White. “When leaders make accountability a shared value instead of a top-down demand, they unlock performance, clarity and collaboration across every department.” 

Affiliates also participated in an in-depth work group, presenting either a business challenge, a brainstorming session, or a recent success for peer feedback. The cross-collaborative dialogue, ABC says, created momentum that many described as the highlight of the meeting. 

“It was inspiring to be surrounded by such passionate and forward-thinking leaders,” says Miranda Hildebrant, culture operations manager at Jan’s Professional Cleaners. “The accountability theme really hit home, and I left with new tools, fresh ideas and a deeper connection to this incredible community.” 

“The time spent with the other members was invaluable in this meeting,” says Jan Barlow, owner of Jan’s Professional Cleaners. “We came home with great suggestions for bridal, alterations, and the laundromat. Chris shared invaluable insights into circularity and the fashion industry. His connections across the industry — inside and outside traditional dry cleaning — bring information to these meetings that you simply can’t get anywhere else.” 

“America’s Best Cleaners gatherings always showcase high-quality operations,” says Norman Way, president of Puritan Cleaners, “but the real value comes from conversations with top operators who challenge us to grow. Having our team participate ensures all of us at Puritan Cleaners continue getting better together.”