Textile/Uniform Rental: William (Billy) Wagg, Wagg’s Linen & Uniform, Orilla, Ontario
I lead a multi-generational company in the industrial laundry industry, primarily servicing floor mats, mops, uniforms, linen, and facility services.
My great-great-grandfather founded the company in 1902, and as we approach 125 years of business, we strive to continue building in the laundry industry, despite the many changes and challenges we face.
Rooted in both Italian and British heritage, I bring a unique blend of tradition and innovation to my leadership style. My cultural background has instilled in me a strong work ethic, attention to detail and a passion for quality values that I have carried into every aspect of my career.
With over 25 years of experience, my mission is to deliver innovative solutions, exceptional customer service and operational excellence to our diverse customers.
Throughout my journey, I’ve driven strategic growth, managed large-scale operations and built lasting relationships with customers and partners.
In 2025, we increased automation in plant production and achieved our sales goals. We also implemented KPIs (key performance indicators) in untouched sectors by listening to employee requirements.
I’m committed to fostering a culture of trust, integrity, and excellence, ensuring that Wagg’s remains a trusted name in the textile rental industry.
Equipment Manufacturing: Frank E. Rowe, R&B Wire Products, Santa Ana, Calif.
Growing up in Weston, Mass., outside of Boston, was a great environment for me. New England was a wonderful place to start life. We had freedom and few worries in those early years.
Later, through my paper route, I began to understand the challenges of responsibility. Wanting to increase my income, I moved on to caddying at the exclusive local Pinebrook Country Club. Making some real money at $3.50 a bag per loop. Maybe that needed some reflection!
Having raised sons, now men — Spencer, 38, and Tucker, 34 — both outstanding athletes and individuals, I understand the challenges of raising children. My wife Linda and I just celebrated our 44th anniversary (yes, she is a saint). Spending many hours on lacrosse and soccer fields as our sons grew up was time-consuming but so rewarding. It’s nice to see that today they are now great men.
Coming from a hockey family, we were on the ice early and often. My uncle, Paul Rowe, played in the 1936 Olympics in Germany, where the U.S. team took the bronze medal. Hockey has continued to have a strong presence in my life, playing in high school, prep school, and at Norwich University and beyond. (Yes, I am still a faithful Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots fan!)
I spent a great deal of my career in healthcare with American Hospital Supply. I was with TheraTx and a few other companies prior to landing at R&B Wire Products 22 years ago.
TheraTx was a startup company providing geriatric rehabilitation in skilled nursing homes and grew from $300,000 to $550 million in a seven-year period. We reconfigured the entire industry. This was a real-life test of vision and unbridled growth and commitment that rewarded TheraTx employees, patients and physicians, and our clinicians in real time. What a ride.
These business opportunities took me to New Jersey and Texas before landing in Southern California where I currently reside. Through my years at R&B Wire Products, I have learned a great deal about all aspects of the multi-faceted laundry, to say the least.
When I got to R&B Wire Products, they were looking for sales and growth leadership. I’ve been able to provide that leadership. I’ve witnessed massive change in the many segments of the laundry industry to where we are today. It has required a unique vision and commitment to keep up with where the industry has transitioned from the more conservative place when I started.
It is critical to stay abreast of changing needs in any industry if you want to survive and not be left behind. At R&B Wire Products, we’ve had to transition and diversify significantly during my tenure, and I am proud of how we have progressed to the diversified company we are today.
R&B Wire Products is a truly U.S.-based manufacturer with 94% of our products made here in California. Our state can make it very difficult to operate with its restrictive guidelines. Operations like chrome plating and coating require that stringent guidelines be followed. We may be considered liberal in many beliefs but in manufacturing, it is challenging to say the least. We just get it done.
As a private manufacturing company, we had many challenges in 2025 from tariffs, staffing, and more. We have been diligent in looking for the right employees to staff the company at times, but we are diligent and patient in this process. Sometimes we all just need to do more, and we don’t shy away from that. We just do it — real teamwork.
Obviously, tariffs have been a huge challenge for all businesses, and it takes real leadership and communication to manage through that. We have successfully made the right decisions.
I look forward to participating in the American Laundry News Panel of Experts during 2026. My hope is that I can provide value, insight, and maybe some smiles from my experience and perspective. I feel privileged to be participating and can assure you I will do my best to be honest and deserving of my panel seat.
Textiles: Lenore Law, Alliance Textile Solutions, Corona, Calif.
Hello, and welcome to 2026, the Year of AI, robots, and tariffs.
Effective interpersonal communication is more important than ever. I’m glad I have a degree in it, and 40 years of experience in the textile rental business, combined with hotel and lodging, hospital, and agriculture business.
My formal name is Lenore but I go by Lee. My company name is Alliance Textile Solutions. We have been in business through many changes for 35 years.
My contract law background helped me with signing contracts while on the rental side years ago, as well as arbitrating from a business perspective after establishing my business.
In 2016, with the help of the Teamsters, I helped communicate on a congressional level to get a federal arbitrator to the Port of Long Beach after our industry had endured a year of container holdups at that port due to longshoreman contract negotiations.
I work with four manufacturers — two U.S.-made, two Pakistan-made. We distribute nationally from California, New York, Georgia and Florida. We distribute sheets of all kinds, all kinds of towels, medical scrubs and patient gowns, and dyes, both direct and reactive, as well as mat overdye kits when needed.
My 2025 accomplishments included continued growth nationally, putting together some webinars, and being chosen to sit on the Panel of Experts. 2025 was the year of far too many changes, and I am looking forward to more consistency in 2026.
I’ve been spoiled by an industry that has always endured financially and gone through very few changes for many years. We are all embracing all the new changes. Service-first AI and robots will be an added plus when implemented properly.
Communication must be front and center to achieve good service and happy customers. We do not want to end up like the car rental business. I’m glad not too many companies are moving too quickly with new technology.
Let’s do this right the first time like we always have as an industry. We’re stronger than ever together.
Consulting Services: Mike Tatch, Tatch Technical Services, Randolph, N.J.
I’m an engineering graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and have an MBA from Akron University.
After 20 years in heavy industrial manufacturing, field construction, and design engineering within the nuclear power and Navy nuclear industries, I formed my own company and have been helping laundry owners with regulatory compliance since 1987.
I’m an experienced engineer, an OSHA instructor/consultant, and have invented products for environmental compliance.
Chemicals Supply: David Dotzauer, Ecolab, Eagan, Minn.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the American Laundry News Panel of Experts during 2026. I am a senior staff scientist in research and development at Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions.
Building on more than 100 years of innovation, Ecolab partners with commercial laundry facilities around the world to deliver data-driven cleaning technology, comprehensive solutions, and unmatched service and consulting to optimize laundry operations.
I earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Michigan State University and a bachelor of science in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. My academic work primarily focused on nanomaterials, surface modification, and thin film characterization, which laid the foundation for my work on a wide range of surface cleaning applications.
I’ve spent the past 16 years in research and development, with most of those focused on cleaning chemical formulation and product development.
At Ecolab, I lead a team of chemists developing cleaning solutions for institutional and industrial laundry. I collaborate closely with marketing, engineering, quality, and supply chain to translate bench chemistry into resilient, scalable solutions for our customers.
I’m excited to serve on this year’s Panel of Experts because it’s a great forum to connect textile manufacturers, equipment and chemical suppliers, and commercial laundry experts to share practical insights from their experiences.
I look forward to sharing insights on laundry chemistry, bringing a customer-centric lens to topics like detergent and oxidizer selection, linen protection, and wash process optimization.
Most of all, I’m eager to learn from the community as we strive to make technical advances in the commercial laundry industry.
Check back tomorrow to meet the returning Panel members.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
