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TRSA’s Executive Management Institute Celebrates 50 Years in August

Institute celebrates half-century of leadership development

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A half-century of dedication to developing textile services company leaders will be continued and celebrated Aug. 9-13 when the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) convenes this year’s Executive Management Institute (EMI), 50 years to the month after the annual event began in Washington.

EMI returns to the main campus of the University of Maryland (College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, D.C. suburbs), where it’s been held most often. The program provides participants with practical insight specific to the industry and its operations that can be immediately applied to motivate and inspire co-workers and employees to streamline production, improve productivity and increase profitability, TRSA says.

Edward Zelasko, GM of Morgan Services’ Chicago laundry, attended EMI for the first time last year and describes the program as “a good mix of videos, lectures, group projects, case studies. I am better prepared to analyze the responses of my direct reports, understand them and help them solve problems.”

The program’s founders were textile services association executive Bernard Ehrlich and industry owner-operator Gerald Stempler, both based in the Washington area. The first weeklong session (begun Aug. 27, 1965) covered human relations, delegation of work, decision-making, motivation/morale and leadership quality. These topics are still covered at EMI, to which attendees return for a week in three subsequent years to complete the program.

Prior EMI attendees are welcome to join the celebration by attending the 50th Anniversary Celebration on Aug. 11, at Lucky Strike in downtown Washington.

EMI attracts attendees from all segments of the textile services industry, from independent companies’ owners, executives and next-generation leaders to chains’ headquarters (including HR/administration) and plant- and depot-based management (GMs, branch and department heads). TRSA member associates attend as well.

Individuals who have achieved TRSA’s Certified Professional Laundry Manager (CPLM) certification receive 31 credit hours toward recertification by attending EMI.

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Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].