Laundry Today: Breaking News: Vol 9 - Ed 09 -TRSA And UTSA Members Approve Consolidation

Breaking News: Volume 9 Edition 09

October 2005 Edition

TRSA And UTSA Members Approve Consolidation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The memberships of the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA) and Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) have each approved a plan for consolidating into one national association representing the entire textile services industry effective January 1, 2006.

Each association held a special membership meeting to vote on the consolidation plan approved unanimously by both boards of directors in June. TRSA members voted in favor of consolidation this afternoon and UTSA’s members approved the plan Monday morning.

“UTSA and TRSA members have taken a critical step toward ensuring the future success of our industry by unifying our efforts and resources,” said UTSA Chairman James Buik, Roscoe Co., Chicago, who will lead the new group as its first chairman.

TRSA and UTSA each serve corporations engaged predominantly in textile service, e.g. providing commercial, industrial, and institutional accounts with laundered uniforms, linens, walk-off mats, and other workplace textiles through rental agreements. Associate members of UTSA ( Arlington, Va.) and TRSA ( Alexandria, Va.) sell services, equipment, or supplies to textile service members.

The industry’s 2004 sales exceeded $11 billion; employment topped 110,000.

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“The consolidation of TRSA and UTSA also significantly strengthens our industry’s position in Washington, D.C.,” added TRSA Chairman Michael Potack, Unitex Textile Rental Services, Mount Vernon, N.Y., who will serve as vice chairman. “A single national association with the strength of our combined sales volume and employment power certainly raises the decibel level of our message on Capitol Hill.”

With the approval of the consolidation plan, Buik and Potack will be joined by three other members on the new Executive Committee. They are: UTSA Vice Chairman Kevin Crotty, Van Dyne Crotty, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, who will also serve as secretary of the new association; TRSA Treasurer Douglas “Woody” Ostrow, CleanCare, Pittsburgh, Pa., who will also serve as treasurer; and Stephen Donly, Aramark Uniform Services, Burbank, Calif., a member of both associations.

The Executive Committee is empowered by the consolidation plan to conduct a search for the new organization’s first president and CEO, who is expected to be selected by November 1. The consolidation plan also provides for selecting the new Board of Directors.

For more information, contact UTSA President and CEO David Hobson at 703-247-2601 or TRSA President and CEO Roger Cocivera at 703-519-0029.

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