NORTH AMERICA
The association for the linen rental industry in North America, (TRSA ), celebrated a record attendance at two flagship events held 18-20 November in Boston: the 14th Annual Healthcare Conference and the 8th Annual Marketing, Sales & Service Summit. Together, these gatherings brought hundreds of industry leaders together for three days of education, networking and innovation.
Marketing, Sales & Service Summit highlights
On 18 November, the Marketing, Sales & Service Summit event welcomed 80 participants, marking its highest attendance to date. The summit featured a dynamic keynote by Shane Gibson, who explored “Future Proofing Your B2B Sales and Marketing” with strategies for leveraging AI to refine client profiles, enhance discovery conversations and accelerate thought leadership.
Additional sessions included:
- Email Marketing Mastery – Steve Cooker, Infinite Laundry by TEXO, shared actionable tactics for high-ROI campaigns using AIDA principles, automation, and CRM integration.
- Service Alignment – Ray Shabandarian, Performance Matters, and David Goolsby, Swiss Uniform Services, led an interactive session on improving communication between service, sales, and marketing teams.
- TRSA Board Member Panel – Four TRSA board members – Randy Bartsch, Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service; Jake Gurtler, Gurtler Industries Inc.; Josh Wildman, Wildman Business Group; and Rich Kramer, City Uniforms & Linen – discussed trends, innovations and the critical role of communication.
- Tech Tools for ROI – Cooker and Jim Adler, Saratoga Cleaners and Launderers, showcased AI-driven follow-up, CRM enrichment, and CX automation, noting early engagement can boost conversions sevenfold.
Attendees also participated in facilitated discussions on lead generation, social media, recruiting, department alignment and media strategies, and viewed “Best of the Best” submissions, with American Dawn Inc. earning first place for its new brand story video.
Healthcare Conference highlights
The Healthcare Conference began with a CEO/executive roundtable discussion and continued with a full day of sessions on 19 November. Keynote speaker Shawn DuBravac, futurist and former chief economist, examined how emerging technologies and AI are reshaping industries, emphasizing the importance of strong processes alongside innovation.
Panels and breakout sessions addressed:
- Infection control and collaboration between healthcare laundry and prevention professionals.
- Contract best practices for healthcare textile services.
- Cost-control strategies and operational efficiency.
- The strategic role of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs).
- Sustainability initiatives and the reusable vs. disposable textile debate.
On 20 November, attendees toured Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services’ Lawrence, MA facility, a 180,000-square-foot plant recognised as TRSA’s 2025 Best Plant of the Year (Gold Level). The state-of-the-art facility produces approximately 58 million pounds annually and employs 300 full-time staff, underscoring Unitex’s commitment to innovation and community impact.
“These events showcased the industry’s collaborative spirit and forward-thinking approach to technology, sustainability, and infection control,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “We are proud to see record attendance and engagement as we shape the future of textile services.”
The Catamaran Resort & Spa in San Diego, CA will be the location for the 2026 events with the 9th Annual Marketing, Sales & Service Summit on 13 October and the 15th Annual Healthcare Conference taking place on 14-15 October.
For more information, visit www.trsa.org/events
