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LAUREL, Md. — The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) and the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), both sponsors of the Clean Show, are partnering to host a “blockbuster meet-and-greet networking party” for DLI members and top industry suppliers at the upcoming Clean 2013.

All DLI and TCATA members are welcome at the party slated for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 21, in the Royal Sonesta Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

The cooperative effort between major industry associations is designed to strengthen ties between cleaners and the companies who supply them. The party is a way for both associations to thank members for supporting the industry, says DLI CEO Mary Scalco.

“The bond between cleaners and their suppliers is incredibly strong,” she says. “One of our most important roles at the Institute is to create opportunities for our members to associate, network, get together, or whatever you prefer to call it. By working with TCATA on this event, we are creating an informal atmosphere where suppliers and cleaners can relate on a personal level.”

CHICAGO — Quick. Easy. Efficient. Who doesn’t love online banking? Be aware, though, of the danger: Hackers can access your account, drain your funds and threaten the survival of your business.

The risk is growing. Cyber attacks increased some 24% in the first half of 2012 over the same period the previous year, according to a new report from security firm Symantec. Reason? “Any time the economy goes down, white collar crime goes up,” says Bill McDermott, CEO of Atlanta-based McDermott Financial Solutions. “We’re seeing an increase in corporate account takeovers. It’s a huge problem.”

Banks commonly refuse to indemnify companies for funds stolen from commercial accounts. “A lot of people have the misunderstanding that banks offer to business accounts the protection offered to consumers,” says McDermott. “In fact, banks will not hold business account holders harmless for losses from cyber-fraud.”

CHICAGO — The laundry and dry cleaning industry lost two vendor leaders recently with the passings of Steven Katz, CEO of ThermoSteam Industries, and Gene Blumenthal, founder and president of Metro-Chem Inc.

Steven Mark Katz, 1948-2012

Katz, 63, South Bend, Ind., died Monday. He was born and raised in South Bend. He attended Indiana University, where he graduated with a history degree in 1970. He pursued a career in laundry and dry cleaning, and eventually became the CEO of two companies: ThermoSteam Systems, manufacturer of packaged steam boilers, and Kay Industries, producer of phase converters.

Katz was active in the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), having served on its board of directors for four years and as treasurer for two.

He was also active in his local community and his congregation, Sinai Synagogue. He was known as an extraordinary orator and was called upon to emcee various events in the South Bend area over the years.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The Mid-Atlantic Association of Cleaners (MAC) will host its Annual Convention here on Oct. 22-23 at the Holiday Inn.

MAC’s board meeting on the morning of Oct. 22 will be followed by free time so that attendees can visit the area’s attractions. Drycleaning & Laundry Institute CEO Mary Scalco will be the dinner speaker that night.

DLI President Charlie Smith will preside over the Oct. 23 Educational Conference. Scheduled educational sessions include:

• The Most Common Employer Mistakes, by attorney Frank Kollman.
• Conducting Your Business to Minimize Environmental Liability, by attorney Channing Martin.
• Using Data to Provide Better Customer Experiences, by Norman Way, Puritan Cleaners.

Also on the agenda is Frank Briercheck, director of marketing for Phenix Supply and an expert on supply costs, packaging and route sales.

MAC’s allied trades organizations will also stage a tabletop trade expo that day.

ATLANTA — Dates for Clean 2013 in New Orleans have been rescheduled to June 20-22, a Thursday-Saturday show.

“This allows attendees to return home on Sunday to start their workweek on Monday, or gives them an opportunity to stay and enjoy a day in New Orleans after the show,” says David Cotter, chairman of Clean 2013 and CEO of Textile Care Allied Trades Association.

Original dates for the 2013 show announced at Clean 2011 were Friday-Sunday, June 21-23. The three-day-show format in 2013, the first since 1981, is in response to exhibitor and attendee feedback. The show will run three full days rather than close early on the last day to allow time for everyone to fully experience the exhibits.

The 2015 exhibition in Atlanta and the 2017 gathering in Las Vegas were also announced as three-day shows, but Cotter says the biennial event could return to four days if that proves to work better for exhibitors and attendees.

Laurel, Md. — The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute announced it is introducing the Seal of Approval program this year as an update to its Award of Excellence (AOE) voluntary certification.

The program is designed to establish and enforce high standards of operation, quality and service, and communicate that commitment to consumers. AOE membership and the Seal of Approval help differentiate responsible companies and highlight their achievement in quality garment care and customer service, DLI says.

In response to popular demand, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) has again picked Las Vegas as the host city for its annual Five-Star Management Conference, set for Feb. 23-25 at the Wynn Resort.

The event kicks off with a welcome reception on the evening of Feb. 23. Conference activities begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, with opening remarks from DLI CEO Bill Fisher.

HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Butler Capital announced that BankUnited, a large regional bank based in Florida, has acquired its small-business lending operations. The lending operations will become a subsidiary of BankUnited known as United Capital Business Lending (UCBL).

“UCBL will build upon Butler Capital’s national lending platform, as well as the experience and expertise of the Butler Capital staff,” says Larry Butler, who will continue as Butler Capital’s CEO and serve as a consultant to UCBL.

Jolly Belin of France opened the world’s first drycleaning “business” in the 1840s. He accidentally spilled some kerosene on his stained clothing and saw the spots vanish. The rest is history, as they say.

Today, there are more than 30,000 drycleaning establishments in the United States. About 85% of are small, Mom-and-Pop establishments employing approximately five people and generating about $200,000 in annual sales.

Note: Revised 6/30/2010 to Correct Area Code

David Gross, CEO of Gulf Coast Laundry Services in Gulfport, Miss., is coordinating an effort to get much-needed towels to wildlife agencies racing to save birds, turtles, dolphins and other animals affected by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Government officials on Tuesday raised the estimate of the amount of oil spewing into the Gulf to 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day.

LAUREL, Md. — Bill Fisher, CEO of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), recently appeared on the Voice of America (VOA), the official radio and television broadcasting service of the federal government, to talk about the economic state of the drycleaning industry.

In an interview with reporter Ye Yuan, Fisher explained that the drycleaning industry hit hard times long before the rest of economy went into recession, and that the decline is now approximately 30% to 40%.

[Editor's Note: This story was updated June 2, 2009, 11:54 a.m. CT.]

INWOOD, N.Y. — Electrolux brand professional laundry products will be available in North America for the first time at the Clean Show, thanks to Bermil Industries Corp., the business team that makes Wascomat brand equipment available in the United States, according to the company.