GREENBELT, Md. — ZIPS Dry Cleaners recently announced that Bob Barry has been appointed the cleaning network’s new president/CEO, effective immediately.
Barry has been a member of the board of directors of ZIPS for the past eight years and will retain his seat at the table. He spent 12 years as president/CEO of The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille, growing that chain from just a handful of locations to nearly 50 full-service franchised and company-owned restaurants. Prior to The Greene Turtle, he spent nine years as president/CEO of Ms. Desserts/The Great Cookie Ltd., a retail, mobile and e-commerce baked goods business, and worked for Marriott Corp. and W.R. Grace & Co
Barry succeeds Drew Ritger, who held that role for three and a half years. Ritger is leaving to accept a position with a midwestern chain of gourmet coffee restaurants.
“We are thrilled to have Bob step up to the helm of our organization,” says Jim Bolduc, ZIPS’ board chairman. “He is a proven leader and strategic business developer who has been a valued and respected member of our board for almost a decade. We look forward to leveraging his experience in the restaurant/hospitality field and his many connections, especially throughout our Maryland/DC base. With Bob’s leadership, ZIPS will emerge from the pandemic strong and with a bright future.”
Barry says he will concentrate on guiding ZIPS successfully out of the pandemic and expanding the brand’s footprint. This path forward includes increasing unit profitability, innovating and rolling out new programs to broaden the concept’s menu of services (including both consumer and commercial business), developing fill-in strategies for existing markets and determining penetration strategies for new markets.
“I’m honored to lead ZIPS into its next chapter, capitalizing on the many assets that were put in place before the world closed down,” Barry says. “As consumers start returning to the workplace and attending events and experiences, ZIPS will be there to ensure they look their best without impacting their schedules or their wallets.”
In addition to serving on the board of directors at ZIPS, Barry has served on the boards of the American Heart Association and the Restaurant Association of Maryland. He has also been an investor in and advisor for several companies, including Truvelop, a talent transformation company specializing in team member evaluation and development; Lost Ark Distilling Co., a Maryland-based artisanal distillery; and Columbia Treatment Center, a rehab facility supporting individuals confronted by substance use and mental health issues.
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