IRVING, Texas — Billed as the only dry clean and laundry equipment show in the U.S. in 2023, organizers of the Southwest Drycleaners Association’s (SDA) Cleaners Showcase are calling the event a success.
“As always,” the SDA said in a statement, “people enjoyed visiting with other professionals in the industry and joined the Networking Arena to talk about hot industry topics.”
The tradeshow, held April 28-30, at the Irving Convention Center, in Irving, Texas, offered 89 booths, representing 55 businesses.
More than 464 drycleaning and coin-op owners walked the exhibit hall and attended the education sessions, the release states, and were welcomed by 256 exhibitor representatives.
According to survey results, most people came to see dry clean equipment and talk with businesses on how to improve their cleaners and diversify revenue, with education being a close second draw for the Showcase.
SDA Installs New Board Members
After the Western States Dry Cleaners and Launderers Association (WSDLA) merged with the Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA), five new board members from the WSDLA were voted onto the board of directors. These board members were installed during a business meeting, held on April 28.
The new board members are John Cirrilo, David Meyer, Heath Bolin, Phil D'Elia, and Mark Witt Jr. During the same SDA meeting, board members also renewed their term through 2026, and Kurt Lucero was voted in as a new member of the SDA’s board of directors.
Jeff Schwarz Named SDA Volunteer of the Year
Also during the board meeting, SDA President Kyle Nesbit announced Jeff Schwarz, regional vice president of A.L. Wilson Chemical Company, as the SDA Volunteer of the Year.
"SDA doesn't typically present this award,” Nesbit says, “but Jeff has gone above and beyond to share the benefits of SDA with dry cleaners. This year he has already visited with 22 cleaners. Jeff makes it a personal mission to invite every dry cleaner into the SDA family."
After presenting Jeff with the award, Jess Culpepper presented Jeff with a customized "Stain Wizard" bobblehead made in Jeff’s likeness.
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