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April 29, 2013
ZIPS Dry Cleaners Appoints Reid Bechtle as CEO

FAIRFAX, Va. — Has spent majority of 33-year career in senior management positions

FAIRFAX, Va. — Reid Bechtle is the newly appointed chief executive officer for ZIPS Dry Cleaners, the Mid-Atlantic dry cleaning franchise chain has announced.

This comes on the heels of the company’s recent acquisition by JPB Capital Partners, a Maryland-based private equity firm that makes control investments in lower-middle market companies located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States.

“ZIPS is the perfect opportunity to work with a proven franchisor and enhance a franchise network that is poised for aggressive growth,” Bechtle says. “Together with JPB Capital Partners, I look forward to moving ZIPS Dry Cleaners through its next phase of growth, including improved execution of the existing system and further geographic expansion of the concept.”

December 17, 2012
In Memoriam: Frank F. Filling Jr. and “Sto” Fox

CHICAGO — Industry mourns passings of business, association leaders

CHICAGO — American Drycleaner has learned of the recent deaths of two prominent leaders in the dry cleaning community:

Frank F. Filling Jr. — Died Nov. 10, 2012

Frank F. Filling Jr., 94, of Landis Homes, formerly of Lancaster, Pa., died Nov. 10 surrounded by family.

Filling was the retired president of Filling’s Inc. Drycleaning, Men’s and Ladies Stores. He retired in 1987 after 53 years with the Filling Corp.

Filling once served as the president of the Central Pennsylvania Drycleaners Guild and the Pennsylvania Association of Professional Dry Cleaners. He was elected to the International Fabricare Institute’s Board of Directors and was instrumental in the formation of the Institute’s school in Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel “Mae,” in 1999. He is survived by a son, daughter, two brothers, two sisters, and three grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Lancaster, or the Millersville VFW Post 7294, 219 Walnut Hill Rd., Millersville, PA 17551.

May 9, 2012
Insurance Firm Encourages Dry Cleaners to Work with Local Agents

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Local brokers need not be fired to access coverage

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Irving Weber Associates (IWA) has been working with local insurance brokers to offer their drycleaning clients protection at competitive rates for many years, but efforts to advise dry cleaners that they don’t need to fire their current broker to gain access to IWA’s insurance program hasn’t reached the audience it had hoped, the company says.

So, IWA has created a new division devoted exclusively to spreading the message that IWA wants to maintain local working relationships while providing dry cleaners and their local insurance brokers access to its coverage, says IWA President Adam Weber.

Christine (Tina) Brazier was selected to head the new division. “We want to educate the dry cleaners and their brokers about their access to our Fabricare Advantage Program, but also educate them on the many coverages designed to provide expanded protection to their business and that are rarely found in their current insurance products.”

John Leidner will serve as broker/agency liaison and Colleen Christner is responsible for marketing support.

April 4, 2012
Thum Elected President of Southwest Drycleaners Association

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Thum, co-founder and president of Five Star Cleaners, was recently elected president of The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA)

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Thum, co-founder and president of Five Star Cleaners, was recently elected president of The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA) at its annual convention.

The regional trade association, with more than 300 members, is an affiliate of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI). The 96-year-old association serves the professional dry cleaners of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Thum served as first vice president of the organization last year, and has served on the SDA board in various capacities for 28 years.

He launched Comet Cleaners in San Antonio in 1981 along with his wife, Sharlene, and the name was changed to Five Star Cleaners in 2004. The Thums own 11 locations across San Antonio.

Thum holds a bachelor of science degree in real estate finance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and has a real estate broker’s license in Texas.

February 23, 2012
Fabritec Mourns Deaths of Veteran Contributors

COLD SPRING, Ky. — Two valued Fabritec International employees and veteran contributors to the dry cleaning industry have died in recent months, the company reports.

Retired Vice President Bob Knippling died Jan. 12 at age 85. Knippling, a U.S. Army veteran who served during World War II, graduated from college with degrees in chemistry and biology. He joined then-Emery Industries in 1951 as a chemist.

While with Fabritec, he was in charge of the Stamford distribution and Emerbrite divisions, and he worked closely with Fabritec’s salesmen. Knippling made major research contributions during his 50 years in the industry. He served as Fabritec vice president for 20 years before retiring in 2001.

Retired Sales Support Manager John Geer died Oct. 22 at age 78. After receiving a physics degree, Geer began his dry cleaning career with his family’s business in Marion, Ohio. In 1976, he joined Fabritec (Emery Industries at the time), where he became director of technical services.

November 29, 2011
In Memoriam: Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lieberman, Founder, B&G Lieberman

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gerald “Jerry” Lieberman, founder of B&G Lieberman, died Thursday at his home while surrounded by his family. He was 86.

Lieberman was born Dec. 2, 1924, in Munich, Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1939, was drafted in 1942, and was given his citizenship. He volunteered to the MISB(A), the Soldiers of the 7th Military Information Battalion, and was trained as an interrogator of German soldiers captured during World War II.

In 1949, he started his B&G Lieberman Co., which today is a distributor of sewing equipment and supplies to dry cleaners and tailors. He was a community and environmental activist, serving in various capacities for many organizations during his lifetime.

A memorial service celebrating his life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlotte, with military honors to follow.

Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204.

August 4, 2011
In Memoriam: Leonard Frushtick, Leonard Automatics

DENVER, N.C. — Leonard Frushtick, founder of Leonard Automatics, died Monday at age 80, the company reports.

Frushtick started his career selling buttons to the garment manufacturing industry, and later expanded the business to include a variety of machinery.

In 1969, he moved his family to North Carolina to be closer to the garment industry and founded Leonard Automatics. As garment manufacturing began to decline in the mid-’80s, Frushtick migrated to the laundry industry. His creativity gave him the ability to develop new technologies involved with garment finishing, and has lent itself to promoting an atmosphere of creativity and innovation at Leonard Automatics that exists to this day, the company says.

Frushtick became a prolific painter after his retirement, and he and his wife, Phyllis, traveled extensively, providing a wealth of experiences for him to express on canvas.

A private memorial service for Frushtick is scheduled for Friday in Bluffton, S.C. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice Care of the Low Country, 119 Palmetto Way, Bluffton, SC 29910.

March 29, 2011
DLI’s Fisher Out; Scalco to Lead Association

LAUREL, Md. — The board of directors of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) announced yesterday that chief executive officer William (Bill) Fisher is leaving his position at the association. Senior vice president Mary Scalco will become acting CEO to ensure a seamless transition, DLI says.

“We would like to thank Bill for his years of service and dedication to the industry and our institute,” says DLI President Rick Kasperbauer. “His contributions have been enormous over the last four decades.”

February 14, 2011
ALM Executive Director Jim Thacker Resigns

RICHMOND, Ky. — The Association for Linen Management (ALM) announced last week that executive director Jim Thacker has resigned.

“We thank Jim for his service and his recent chairmanship of the Clean committee,” ALM president Randy Wendland said in the press release. “Mr. Thacker served ALM over 10 years, and ALM wishes him the best in his new endeavors. Jim is currently exploring other professional opportunities.”

February 7, 2011
Alliance Announces Executive Promotions

RIPON, Wis. — Alliance Laundry Systems announced that effective Feb. 1, Thomas F. L’Esperance will become vice chairman of the Board of Directors of parent company ALH Holding Inc., and Michael D. Schoeb will be promoted to chief executive officer of Alliance. The company’s executive staff will now report to Schoeb in his combined role as president and CEO.

January 31, 2011
Dawson Retires from R.R. Street & Co.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — After a career with Naperville, Ill.-based R.R. Street & Co. that has spanned more than 35 years, David Dawson announced his retirement from the company last month.

February 2, 2009
FRSTeam Makes Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, Top 50 New Franchises Lists

HAYWARD, Calif. — Fabric Restoration Service Team (FRSTeam) has been named to Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500” and “Top 50 New Franchises” for 2009.

The 30th annual Franchise 500 lists FRSTeam as No. 416 in terms of overall location and revenue growth among all of the qualified franchise businesses in the country. FRSTeam’s growth also earned it the rank of 35 in the publication’s list of the Top 50 new franchise businesses in the U.S.

February 1, 2008
Adco Buys Laidlaw's Chemical Products Division

SEDALIA, Mo. — Mentor Partners of Boston and Adco Cleaning Products of Sedalia, a leading manufacturer and distributor of chemicals for the drycleaning industry, have purchased the Chemical Products Division of Laidlaw Co., Scottsdale, Ariz.

The two companies merged their chemical-sales teams; Brent McWilliams, formerly vice president of Laidlaw, joins Adco as vice president of sales. Laidlaw’s sales team will continue to service wholesale supply accounts, with end users receiving all Laidlaw products through normal distribution channels.