ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Aug. 1, 2018 — Leaders in the linen, uniform and facility services industry will benefit from new ideas, engage in information-sharing sessions and network with colleagues at TRSA’s 105th Annual Conference & Exchange, Oct. 16-18. Bookending the Napa, Calif. Conference are fresh perspectives from these keynote speakers:

• Michael Mondavi of Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 person of the year, will impart the challenges and evolution of his family’s four-generation tradition in the Napa Valley and his growth from apprentice to international business icon.
• Vivek Wadhwa, tech entrepreneur, columnist and one of TIME’s Top 40 Most Influential Minds in Tech will firm your understanding of the impacts of rapidly emerging technologies on your operations, customers and employees.

Industry management professionals – owner-operators, executives, directors, general, plant and purchasing managers and other laundry-based department heads – will have the opportunity to learn about the latest product innovations and business solutions by participating in the Exchange, which has replaced traditional table-top exhibits. TRSA Members – operators and associates alike – praise the Exchange as an efficient use of time since these customized meetings allow both parties to be prepared to discuss pressing challenges and product innovations or solutions.

TRSA will host two interactive panels providing unique and relevant perspectives. The International panel, Global Opportunities and Challenges in the Linen, Uniform and Facility Services Industry, will explore how shifts in economic and political conditions impact the industry. Moderated by Joseph Ricci, president and CEO, TRSA, the panelists are:

• Jose Luis Jacques, CEO, Lavartex, S.A.P.I. de C.V;
• Enrique Jacques, COO, Lavartex, S.A.P.I. de C.V;
• Chris Sander, CEO and executive director, Johnson Service Group, England; and
• Joe Sullivan, national technical operations manager, Spotless Laundries, Australia.

Enjoy access to a rare gathering of industry leaders with more than two centuries of combined experience when you participate in the Legends of the Industry panel. Moderated by Steve Fellman, principal, GKG Law, this panel will feature:

• Bruce Boynton, former senior vice president of operations, UniFirst;
• Alan Bubes, former president and CEO, Linens of the Week;
• Bill Evans, former CEO, AmeriPride Services Inc.;
• Tom Storm, co-founder, Washing Systems Inc.; and
• Donald Struminger, chairman of the board and CEO, Mohenis Services Inc.

Breakout sessions include the following:

• Employment Law Trials, Tribulations and Best Practices: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You (Joseph Shelton, partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP); and
• Textile Services Bottom-Line Performance (Andrew Wittmann, CFA, director, senior research analyst, Robert W. Baird and Co.).

Additional conference highlights are the Chairman’s Reception and Awards Dinner, honoring individuals and companies for their exceptional service to TRSA and the industry. The association’s top awards will be conferred as follows at the Oct. 17 Awards Dinner:

• TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement: Steve Larson, vice president of Alsco Inc.’s North American Linen Division; and
• TRSA Associate Lifetime Achievement: David Hart, chairman, president and CEO, Mountville Mills Inc.

Learn more about these and other industry honors at www.trsa.org/awards.

Social opportunities perfect for networking include the Welcome Reception and a wine stomping and pizza making event at Peju Family Winery, and there’s also free time to explore the Napa Valley via free shuttle service to downtown Napa, one of the world’s great destinations.

Learn more and register today at www.TRSA.org/AnnualConference.  Save with early registration by Aug. 31.

Posted August 2, 2018

Source: TRSA

SAN DIEGO — July 31, 2018 — Encore Textile Services, a portfolio company of Los Angeles-based private investment firm Highland Avenue Capital Partners LLC, has announced the completion of the acquisition of Emerald Textiles, a San Diego-based healthcare linen service provider. The acquisition brings together the two largest independent healthcare laundry providers in California, with the combined entity having a total of five locations on the West Coast. The combined business will have an unparalleled ability to better serve all the needs of their large regional customers in both Northern and Southern California.

“We are excited to welcome the Emerald team to the Encore family. It is our belief Emerald’s team of experienced and respected professionals will complement the Encore team as we continue to scale the organization through organic growth, acquisitions and greenfield opportunities. Encore and Emerald are committed to providing the best value-proposition for current and future customers and look forward to continuing to serve our combined customer base with continued high-level service,” said Greg Anderson, CEO of the combined Encore and Emerald.

Under Highland Avenue’s ownership, Encore has grown through significant new customer wins, material investments in upgrading facilities and a universal commitment to servicing the customer.

“I am tremendously proud of what the Emerald team accomplished over the past eight years, and I am confident that the business is well positioned to continue to grow and thrive,” said Tom Gildred, CEO of Emerald.

Chris Sznewajs, co-founder and managing partner at Highland Avenue, added, “Highland’s original investment thesis centered around building scale while enhancing the Company’s ability to service its consolidating customer base. The addition of Emerald to the Encore platform is a realization of that thesis and allows us to serve the entire California market. We are excited about the two entities coming together and wanted to thank Tom Gildred and the entire Emerald team for building a great organization focused on their customers.”

Northleaf Capital Partners and AIG provided the debt financing for this transaction. Jones Day acted as Buyers counsel. Cooley LLP acted as legal counsel to Emerald. Latham & Watkins LLP, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP provided debt counsel. VERCOR acted as financial advisor to Encore and Highland Avenue. Piper Jaffray & Co. served as sell-side financial advisor as well as advisor for the debt capital raise. Grant Thornton LLP and Ernst & Young LLP provided accounting advisory services.

Posted August 1, 2018

Source: Encore Textile Services

PANAMA PACIFICO, Panama — August 1, 2018 — TheraCann International Benchmark Corp., a full service international cannabis business and “seed to sale” technology firm in conjunction with Applied DNA Sciences Inc., the leader in molecular technologies for supply chain transparency, announced the launch of their breakthrough ETCH biotrace™ technology. The molecular “tag and trace” system will be included with TheraCann’s BenchmarkSOLUTION of licensing, project management, security, cultivation, and analysis services.

TheraCann’s ETCH biotrace™ platform is poised to further refine and transform the cannabis regulatory environment by adding capabilities that allow for the forensic tracking of cannabis and cannabis derivatives across the supply chain. Whether it is introduced at the cultivator, processor or manufacturer level, ETCH biotrace links a unique molecular tag to the cannabis plant that will survive conversion or extraction. Using a simple hand-held device, molecular testing can be performed at any point in the supply chain to verify compliance. The technology also has the potential to drive a sea change in the way brands catalog, manage and track their intellectual property.

The rapid global adoption of cannabis legislation has accelerated the need to secure and truly validate cannabis supply chains from seed-to- sale. Current systems, many of which rely on RFID or bar code technologies, are capable of accurately tacking cannabis supply chains through the cultivation stage but cannot forensically track cannabis and/or cannabis derivative products back to a specific source once the physical tags and packaging are removed.

“TheraCann is excited to fully introduce this breakthrough molecular tag and trace technology. Global regulatory bodies and cannabis brands have been limited by their reliance on traditional RFID and stickering systems,” said Jason Warnock, CEO, TheraCann International Benchmark. “The combination of TheraCann’s integration software and EPCIS Standardized blockchain systems through Multichain Ventures (dba the Tokes Platform), with Applied DNA Science’s proven CertainT® platform creates a safe and secure way to manage the legal supply chain.”

“The molecular tags used in the ETCH biotrace system is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), they are non-GMO,” said Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences. “The typical daily diet includes about 100 parts DNA per million parts of food. Orally ingested DNA is hydrolyzed by the pH in the stomach. Our molecular tags are very small; too small to function as genes. Typical tagging levels of use are in parts per billion, levels too small to have any impact on form or function, or the biological properties of cannabis.”

The ETCH biotrace patented technology provides true traceability including the ability to track products from cultivation, extraction and derivative processing into edibles or other forms that will provide a clear method to eliminate black and grey market products from entering the regulated marketplace worldwide.

TheraCann’s ETCH biotrace technology is currently in beta testing with multiple cultivators and will be available to clients, regulatory bodies and cannabis brands in legal municipalities throughout the world.

Posted August 1, 2018

Source: TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation