‘Round Table’ Business Organization Hosts 76th Annual Meeting

MAUI, Hawaii — The Round Table of Launderers and Dry Cleaners—an informal group of top executives from laundry, linen, industrial and drycleaning companies—convenes annually to learn about innovation in the industry, to address mutual concerns and to openly exchange ideas. Fifteen members, invited to join the organization based on their company’s demonstrated best practices, gathered here earlier this year for its 76^th Annual Meeting.

The gathering featured five days of meetings covering key topics for running a successful business in today’s economic environment. Each day featured a different subject, moderated by a different industry leader.

In keeping with the Round Table’s tradition of hearing from invited guests and potential new members, this year’s invited guest was Jackson, Miss.-based Hallmark Cleaners. Also presenting was the new ownership of Red Hanger Cleaners, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tom Zengeler of Zengeler Cleaners, Northbrook, Ill., and Steven Toltz of Dependable Cleaners, Denver, presented a session on technology advances in the cleaning industry, along with a comparison of U.S. and Japan business models. Zengeler had spent a week in Japan last fall observing best practices from some of that country’s successful cleaning companies.

Also while there, Zengeler attended the Clean Life Vision trade show. He was invited to meet with Japan’s experts because of his business’ success and because he hosted an international delegation of Japan’s industry leaders in summer 2013.

“The Round Table’s 76th Annual Meeting provided great insight regarding our industry’s strategic direction from a variety of highly successful companies,” notes Zengeler. “This exchange of different perspectives will help each of us improve our operations, better meet the ever-changing needs of today’s customer, and leverage advances in technology and equipment to assure the future success of the cleaning industry.”

The Round Table was founded in 1940 when Herb Koch, Lee Workman and Barrett Finn, industry leaders of that era, called for a “Sales Managers Pow-Wow.” The meeting later moved to New York City and became known as the Laundry Management Group. In 1950, the name was officially changed to the Round Table Conference.

The Round Table was founded in 1940 by Herb Koch, Lee Workman and Barrett Finn, industry leaders of that era who called for a “sales managers pow-wow” held in Allentown, Pa. In 1950, the name was officially changed to what it’s known by today.

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