USA/INTERNATIONAL
The America’s Best Cleaners Leadership Forums, which have taken place once a month for the past four months, have become a safe haven for any and every interested party in the global drycleaning industry to meet virtually and listen to a curated panel of speakers share their insights and perspectives around the challenges of doing business during the Covid-19 pandemic. The fourth Forum, held virtually in early December, highlighted the value and necessity of strategic thinking, leadership, and positivity.
Attendee Bobby Patel of Kona Cleaners has come away from each Forum with valuable new perspectives he then applies to his own company. “The ABC Leadership Forums have been very helpful in hearing and understanding current perspectives from panelists of peers and vendors from across the country. The Forum is the perfect place to hear new, refreshing ideas on what my fellow businesspeople are doing to not only to survive, but to thrive.” he enthused.
Patel also noted that sometimes it’s the small moments that stand out the most – in this case, the relentless positivity of the panelists. “This past Forum, I particularly enjoyed listening to Tony on how he helped a fellow drycleaner by cleaning his clothes at no charge. Very refreshing to see our industry coming together in these times.”
Art Buckland of Nor’east Cleaners was also moved by the positivity on display. “The forums are exceptionally well run, upbeat, and always on point. The leaders of the drycleaning industry that Chris and Catherine recruit to participate in each event are inspirational, practical, educational, and always valuable. It is an excellent use of time for any and every owner in the textile care industry.”
Catherine McCann, partner and director of operations at America’s Best Cleaners and CEO of Best Cleaners, normally aids in the running of each Forum. This time she also sat on the panel. Her insights, combined with those of Tony Stephen of Tower Cleaners, Tom Stites of Unipress Corporation, James Peuster of The Route Pros, and Mary Scalco of DLI, provided a diverse set of viewpoints for all attendees to engage with.
"It was interesting being on the panel this month. I was much more aware of the attendees and concerned they were getting what they were expecting to get from me. I also felt it went too fast. There is so much more to say regarding strategic leadership that we just didn't get to." McCann said.
Chris White, partner and executive director of America’s Best Cleaners, came away with some valuable takeaways as well. “This exceptional group of panelists really help to set the tone as we move into the new year. The message that resonated with me is that as leaders we need to set the vision for our new business model, clearly communicate that with our teams, and empower ourselves and our teams to meet obtainable goals. We can no longer look back at pre-Covid times. We must move forward. I really appreciated the optimism of all of the panelists and the positive energy they bring daily to their company and community.”
The next forum will take place on Wednesday, 10 February at 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST. To register your interest in taking part, or to catch up on videos of previous events, please visit https://www.americasbestcleaners.com/leadershipforum/
• America’s Best Cleaners is a certification agency and an industry leading team of consultants who assist owners, managers, and team members to realize their full potential while striving for continued personal and professional success. For more information on America’s Best Cleaners and its affiliates, visit http://www.americasbestcleaners.com
