DUBOIS, Pa. — David Stern, CEO of Paris Companies, a uniform rental provider based here, runs the company from Florida during the winter.
During the height of the pandemic, he saw a news report on television about families in desperate need of food to survive.
“I think it hit me about all the people that have extra needs for food, and the food banks were being swamped,” he recalls. “So I called back home. I know we have a local food bank and so we called them and we gave them a nice donation.”
The folks running the food bank called Stern to thank him, mentioning that the Salvation Army also has a food bank, so he called the Salvation Army and donated to their food bank efforts.
“When I got back home, they invited me over and I saw what they do in the community,” he says. “The pandemic continued, and so I told them, ‘Hey, what we’ll do this year (2021) for you is to help you collect money’ because I think they were struggling on the bell-ringing service because people online shop more and it’s a cold time of the year.”
Stern’s idea? Try to “stimulate” people to give by offering a matching donation.
“It was something I would have given them anyway, but this way it helped and it did work,” he shares. “You know, they got so much more than they would have got, so I’m pretty proud of that.”
Stern and Paris Companies’ food bank donations aren’t isolated incidents. Rather, they are examples of the operation’s long history of philanthropic endeavors.
GIVING HEART
Stern shares that for most of his life, he’s been committed to his community.
“Many of the (philanthropic efforts) are with community in mind,” he says. “I was born and raised in this little area. I was schooled in Pittsburgh and came back to this small area, and I just feel like it’s part of a leader’s responsibility.”
The company has been active for years, contributing to more than 30 different charitable organizations every year.
“Paris philanthropic efforts are part of the Paris culture,” Stern says. “We call it ‘Paris Pride.’
“We believe that our community is one of the stakeholders of our company and its part of our philosophy, written and displayed throughout the plant: Community—We believe it is our duty as a member of the community to contribute our fair share through donation and/or volunteering to improve the conditions of our less fortunate neighbors.
“I have an affinity to a couple different philanthropic things and mostly around the youth, working poor and education. Those are the kind of things that I kind of have passion for.”
People in need often touch Stern’s heart, and he is motivated to help out.
“During the pandemic, those food bank efforts touched me because I didn’t realize in our own little community how many people were in need,” he shares. “And I’m down here in Florida and I’m watching it on the news and we had these heartbreaking stories and I was never aware of the severe need.
“There is a women’s shelter we contribute to that touched me. A hospital that we’re giving to is a need. Our local community is building an emotional health hospital, behavioral health hospital.
“Again, once they explained to me like how many people have the need, how many people get refused this type of care, that touched me and made me feel this is something that I believe in and, you know, will really help the community.”
He says the support often comes out of pocket or it’s given through the company. Larger efforts are made through the charitable trust Stern has set up.
“For example, we just donated to the hospital, it’s going to have our name on it that we’re a major contributor, that was done through the charitable trust,” he says.
“Quite frankly, the main reason I think, as a leader, I think it’s your kind of your duty to give back.”
“I’ve worked with Dave for almost 28 years now, and we have always been exceedingly involved in the community,” says Manda Shaw, executive assistant.
“We had a Paris little league team, from the small things like that, and there’s got to be a dozen different community activities that we’re involved with on a regular basis, in addition to the different groups.”
She says that being in rural Pennsylvania, the community is very close.
“We have something called Community Days here and literally 10,000 people come into our area just for this day and a half with that, so we’ve always been a major sponsor of those all these different community-type celebrations and the people, in addition to the philanthropic things with it,” Shaw says.
“There are needs to be met through Haven House, the women’s shelter, full of those types of things.”
SHARING THE SUCCESS
Paris Companies’ ability to donate to various causes in the DuBois community comes from its hard work in the industrial market in Pennsylvania and New York.
The company works 14-hour days, five days a week, processing 17 million pounds of textiles and mats per year out of the DuBois facility.
The plant setup includes eight washer-extractors with two automated shuttles, a steam tunnel, a semi-automated garment sorting system, RFID garment and mat verification equipment, and towel baggers.
“Paris ensures timeliness and quality through its technology,” Stern says. “Using RFID allows Paris to verify all deliveries are complete and accurate. Customers can access their account and manage their products and deliveries online.”
Also, the company is HACCP Certified and Clean Green Certified.
“Paris Companies has many things that make it unique in the uniform services industry; however, having the CEO be the same person as the founder is unique these days,” shares Stern.
“At one time he was the only employee, having to drive truck, wash garments, fix machinery, and then go out and sell and service accounts. Having this firsthand experience with practically every job in the organization is valuable as a CEO but rare.”
Paris has faced many challenges and obstacles over the years. However, Stern says the culture of the company that is outlined in its management philosophy on how to treat employees, customers, vendors, community and shareholders allows its team to stay focused and aligned.
For 45 years, Paris Companies grew every year until it sold its healthcare division in 2020. This was without any acquisitions, according to Stern.
“This was due to the solid leadership team that was developed and the growth discipline that they lived,” he says.
“The company’s future is bright as it is the leading independent uniform rental company in its geography. It has plans to introduce new technology and expand its footprint to continue its unprecedented growth.”
BEST-KEPT SECRET
Amazingly, while Paris Companies has grown in the laundry industry, it has kept its philanthropic efforts quiet.
“It was like the best-kept secret for the longest time,” says Shaw. “We really never told anybody what we were doing.
“Recently, I’ve taken over marketing and I’ve also always been involved in those philanthropic endeavors, so I just thought now’s the time. Our employees need to know how involved we are. We kept the employees in the dark as to what we’re doing here, so now is the time.
“It’s a matter of pride, pride in your company and knowing what they’re doing and feeling good about your company.”
For many years, Stern was concerned about being “braggadocious” about the efforts, and most of the donations were made quietly.
“But, you know, I think Manda makes a good point—the employees feel good that they’re contributing to a company that the leaders give back,” he says.
Stern is keenly aware that there’s a fine line between being boastful and sharing in the company’s endeavors, but they have been more communicative about its philanthropic efforts.
“I didn’t think about the employee side of it for a while, but now I am,” he shares. “I think it does help brand the company as a company you might want to work for that shares in the profits.
“Paris has always had a profit-sharing program with its employees, and I think this is just one of the other things that helps, that shares the profits with the community. That makes the people feel good about working for the company.”
Stern believes that many laundry operators are like Paris Companies. They engage in philanthropic efforts, but they don’t really want to be in the spotlight.
“It’s part of being a good leader to be involved in your community, to be involved in those in need,” he says. “Almost every laundry operator is pretty well off, and I think the more empathetic they are to people who are in need, the better leader they’ll be and the more successful they’ll be.
“They’ll get accounts because people say, ‘You know what, that’s a good company, I want to do business with them.’ They’ll get employees because they’ll say, ‘You know what, that’s a good person, that’s a good company.’
“My main spiel is leadership building trust, and I think philanthropic efforts are part of that effort.”
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].