OAK BROOK, Ill. — The Independent Textile Rental Association (ITRA) hosted its 2016 Mid-Year Training Conference & Supplier Exhibits here in mid-April.
“I am not sure what was more impressive: the record attendance, the weather Chicago offered us in April or the amount of information we were able to pack into one and a half days,” says Tom Heilman, president of ITRA and general manager of Ace ImageWear in Beaumont, Texas.
The conference included supplier exhibits, a full day of education and tours of two textile rental facilities.
Before the official start of the conference, 40 members, including a few board and committee members, spent Saturday evening, April 16, at an optional, paid event, enjoying a few laughs at The Second City Comedy Club. The next morning, committee and board meetings took place.
Most attendees arrived at the Doubletree by Hilton by Sunday evening for a reception and a chance to explore supplier exhibits. More than 40 suppliers set up in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. ITRA operator members spent the evening meeting with company representatives over appetizers and drinks.
“I met a lot of new vendors and operators at the exhibit reception,” Heilman says.
Before the educational sessions kicked off Monday morning, ITRA announced that it had awarded its $2,500 scholarship, which is given to an employee or immediate family member of an employee of an ITRA operator member, to Heather Homola. Homola, who attends Westchester University in Pennsylvania, is the daughter of an employee at Health Mats in Chester, Pa.
During the first session, a panel discussed best practices in procurement for the industry. This was followed by insights into the investment value of preventative maintenance, which was led by Prudential Overall Supply’s Stefan Schurter, first vice president of ITRA.
Chuck Smith, president of NewHire, took attendees through six steps to be successful at hiring new employees.
The education then went in the direction of route and service management techniques, followed by ways to foster customer service. Marc O’Leary of Prudential Overall Supply led the two-part session.
The day’s agenda wrapped with ideas for sales contests to motivate and energize employees, presented by Samantha Lesniak and Jeff DeLazzer from The Roscoe Co.
“This was the first time we’ve attended an ITRA event, since it’s in the Chicago area,” says Jacqueline Ahasic from Valley Linen Service. “It’s been very good. It’s good to meet with vendors, and I’m learning a lot.”
The conference concluded Tuesday morning with tours of Chicago-area Alsco and Roscoe Co. plants.
ITRA’s 2016 Annual Convention is scheduled for Oct. 2-4 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz. Visit the association website for more details.
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