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Tuchman Advisory Group Gets Together Again in Texas

Management group’s in-person meeting was first in 18 months

AUSTIN, Tx. — It was a long time in coming, but the Tuchman Advisory Group (TAG) finally reconvened in person.

Because of the pandemic, TAG, a national management and cost group designed to bring dry cleaners in non-competing markets together to compare methods and share information, has been meeting virtually for the past 18 months. But on Nov. 3-5, the group was able to come back together in Austin, Texas, hosted by Karl Schulte, a partner in Reid’s Cleaners & Laundry.

While meeting in person again was always the goal, the time spent meeting virtually was vital, says Ellen Rothmann, president of TAG.

“Whether it was being in our weekly zoom calls, using our group email thread to answer member questions, or just taking a phone call from a fellow TAG member, these were all important in the midst of the pandemic,” she says. “The mutual support, interaction, and exchange of ideas that I witnessed has been inspiring during this unbelievably stressful period in our business and personal lives.”

Still, the group took full advantage of being able to gather in the same place. In addition to hearing company presentations from the members, one of the highlights of the meeting included touring Cobbler Direct, an online shoe, handbag and belt refinishing company. The guest speaker for the meeting was Andrew Underwood, distributor at Covers Etc., who gave an in-depth presentation of his company’s products.

During the meeting, the group also toured Reid’s Cleaners locations and critiqued the company’s operations. “I have been in this business for 10 years and learn so much from members of TAG,” says Schulte. “The site visits are fun and help improve my business tremendously.”

Tuchman Advisory Group Gets Together Again in Texas

The Tuchman Advisory Group met in person for the first time in 18 months in Austin, Texas, hosted by Reid’s Cleaners. Back Row (L to R): Lee Makepeace (Medlin-Davis/North), Ben Combs (Judi’s Cleaners), Bob Singer (Flair Cleaners), Richard Thum (Five Star Cleaners), Cyndee Billoni (Colvin Cleaners), Sharlene Thum (Five Star Cleaners), Erica Billoni (Colvin Cleaners), Grant Carson (Martinizing-Alameda), Heath Bolin (Sparkle Cleaners), Drew Singer (Flair Cleaners), Karl Schulte (Reid’s Cleaners). Front Row (L to R): David Makepeace (Medlin-Davis.North), Dana Boudin (Sparkle Cleaners), Paul Billoni (Colvin Cleaners), Ellen Rothmann (Tuchman Advisory Group), Veronica Cruz (Reid’s Cleaners), Jana Janssen (Martinizing Green Earth), Mary Combs (Judi’s Cleaners). (Photo: Tuchman Advisory Group)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].