HYATTSVILLE, Md. — TRSA reports that it held ceremonies in August for its Executive Management Institute (EMI) and Production Management Institute (PMI) graduates.
The association says 26 four-year EMI students were honored during the 59th annual commencement and seven PMI enrollees were presented their two-year certificates after the 34th annual event.
EMI COMMENCEMENT
The EMI event, held at a conference center near the University of Maryland, celebrated the achievements of 26 graduates from this prestigious four-year educational program.
Nearly 170 students from all four classes, along with faculty, staff, and guests, attended the ceremony.
The Year IV graduates represented a diverse group of executives from national, regional and independent commercial laundries across North America, as well as several supplier-partner company representatives.
TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci presented the graduation certificates followed by reflections from Brian Kimmel of Kimmel Corp., Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
Kimmel praised his fellow graduates as “great ambassadors from this industry” and expressed his gratitude for being part of the program.
Kimmel also acknowledged the contributions of Year IV faculty members Dan Gonder and Eric Kurjan. He highlighted Kurjan’s emphasis on the importance of developing skills for individual and company success, quoting Kurjan’s advice on finding the right team players who are “hungry, humble and smart.”
The camaraderie and openness among the students were evident throughout the program. Kimmel notes, “The trust that we have with each other, it’s real. We have some lifelong friends, and it took four years to build.”
The commencement program featured fewer speeches and skits than previous years, with the Year IV group standing out with a parody of “Family Feud.”
Kimmel and fellow graduate Emily Hauber of CITY Clean and Simple, Oelwein, Iowa, entertained the audience with their humorous take on the EMI experience.
Jim Underwood, Year III instructor, paid tribute to the late Les Frankfurt, a Holocaust survivor and psychology professor who co-founded EMI Year III.
Underwood emphasized Frankfurt’s lasting impact on the program and the importance of caring in leadership, a sentiment echoed by Kimmel in his closing remarks.
Ricci concluded the ceremony by recognizing the dedication of the EMI faculty, who volunteer their time and expertise to support the program.
Ricci emphasized the long-term growth and development that EMI fosters, stating, “You are the future of this industry. Your employers invest in you because they believe in your potential."
First-year attendee, Meredyth Ellington, TRSA database manager, adds, “Attending the first year of EMI as an attendee and not as a staffer provided me with a fresh perspective on our industry.
“The expertly taught classes and the invaluable knowledge gained from my peers is significantly enhancing my leadership skills.”
The event concluded with a networking reception at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, where attendees celebrated their achievements and strengthened their professional connections.
PMI CEREMONY
The PMI graduation ceremony, held at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center near the University of Maryland campus, celebrated the achievements of the program’s participants, including a standout group of graduates who dubbed themselves “The Magnificent Seven.”
Wendy Adriano of Crown Linen and Uniform Service, Brockton, Massachusetts, speaking on behalf of the graduates, praised the program, “This year’s experience was great; we were very happy to be here. It’s been outstanding.”
The two-year program saw 30 participants, with the Year II group of seven receiving their graduation certificates.
Adriano encouraged her fellow PMI attendees to maintain the connections they had formed, saying, “Keep your e-mails going. You have great contacts. Just stay in contact with each other.”
She highlighted the camaraderie developed during the week-long program from August 11-15, noting, “We built great relationships—not just with the people we work with, but with different backgrounds and from different areas of the country.
“I think it’s been really helpful for us. We’re excited that we’ll be able to take everything we’ve learned and really make an effort to help our companies become even more successful.”
Named in honor of its founder, the late Roger F. Cocivera, PMI is designed to help new and experienced managers in the linen, uniform, and facility services industry learn and incorporate production-management principles and practices.
The program focuses on developing the core skills and knowledge necessary to operate plants more efficiently and effectively. It includes four days of interactive classroom training followed by a year of self-paced online modules and an additional four days of training in Year II.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
