Get to know our
Convention Speakers

IDC Conventions are not stiff and formal, with speakers on a distant stage and attendees forbidden to approach them. Instead, our conventions are known for the quality of informal information sharing that goes on -- between delegates, and also speakers. Get to know the speakers before you go, so you can spend quality time with them between sessions, over meals, or at other social times.

Lynnette Watterson
Owner, Crystal Cleaning Center
San Mateo, California

I first became involved in the industry upon joining my mom in her business in 1986. She always modeled the importance of industry involvement. I had worked at the FBI for 17 years and left to join my mom. She started Crystal Cleaning Center when I was 12.

Greatest challenge facing the industry: Finding the "perfect solution" for cleaning textiles. To have a solvent that cleans well, is environmentally friendly, cost effective, and the availability of personnel would be wonderful.

What do you like about the industry? I enjoy people and the confidence placed in us to care for their clothes. Involvement in industry associations also provides the opportunity to meet many people and be involved in issues facing us and guiding our future.

Awards and honors: President of the California Cleaners Association; nominated for Dry Cleaner of the Year for the State of California three times; speaks to community groups about drycleaning. Hands-on owner personally involved with day-to-day operations, puts high priority on customer service, greeting customers by name, making them feel valued.

One thing you would change about the industry? Bring back the practice of mandatory licensing to eliminate the prevalence of poor operators who don't have the knowledge necessary to operate a drycleaning establishment effectively.

Favorite food: Cioppino, lamb, creme brulee....
Favorite music: Classical, Broadway musicals, easy listening/lite rock.
Hobbies: Playing golf, gardening, needlework, calligraphy, writing poems for people.
One thing she would never do: sky dive.

David W. Dawson
Senior Vice President,
R. R. Street & Co. Inc.,
Naperville, Illinois.

He is a cleaning industry veteran whose more than 30 years of experience has included executive management responsibility at Streets in advertising, sales, marketing, and customer relations. His current management duties include responsibility for the Company's solvent business and industry relations. He also has experience in plant management and operations.

Dave has served as president of the Textile Care Allied Trades Association, and also as a director of that association. He currently serves as Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for TCATA and serves on its Health and Environmental Leadership Program Committee, and as TCATA delegate to the NFPA32 drycleaning standard. He works along with other TCATA members in advocating the association's interests with government agencies, regulators, and politicians. He recently completed a term as the Allied Trades Director on the IFI (now DLI) Board.

Professional Accomplishments: The invention and commercialization of the closed loop, vapor free solvent delivery system known as CAREfill, which changed the way perc is sold and delivered in North America. Recipient of the IFI Meritorious Service -- Green Fields Award, and TCATAs Young Timer of the Year and J. Morry Friedlander awards for distinguished service. Dave is a speaker to trade groups and has published articles on industry best practices. He has an earned degree in Business Administration from the University of Detroit.

Trudy Adams
Director of Customer Service & Sales
Cleaner's Supply, Inc.
Conklin, New York

Trudy has been in her present position for 7 years and in customer service for over 20 years.

She is active in many national, state and local industry associations and takes great interest in the needs of the drycleaning industry and the changing industry environment. She is a Certified IFI speaker on customer service. She will be sharing ways to enhance the level of customer service you expect from your employees, as well as build customer satisfaction and retention in a fun and professional environment.

Favorite food: Italian.
Favorite music: All types, including Loreena McKennitt, Evanescence, Nickleback.
Hobbies: Reading, horseback riding, gardening.
One thing she would never do: Through the years I have learned the one thing I would never do is say I would never do something, because you just never know....

John P. Jordan
President, Fabritec/Sanitone International
Cold Spring, Kentucky

John got involved in the industry 25 years ago. His father headed the company before he became president.

Greatest challenge facing the industry? Increasing piece counts, profit margins, environmental issues, differentiating from inferior operations.

What do you like about the industry? The entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners.

Awards and honors: John looks with pride at the research patents and processes that Fabritec/Sanitone has developed for all drycleaners to benefit from.

One thing you would change about the industry? More consumers using our services, because most dress pretty badly.

Favorite food: Not much I don't like, but I love Italian!
Favorite music: Rock and Roll will never die.
Hobbies: Since my kids are all grown, I'm looking for some new ones. Music, golf, following the Bengals so far.
One thing he would never do: Lots of things that I used to do!

Becca Anderson
IDC News Editor, Fabricare Canada magazine assistant editor, freelance writer
Longview, Texas

I followed my mother (Marcia Todd) through many, many drycleaning plants when she was doing customer service inspections. I came to the industry full time in 2000 as a writer for her magazine.

Greatest challenge facing the industry? The members of the industry don't think as an industry, but as individuals. This makes it much easier for regulators to institute arbitrary rules that govern everyone -- they do because they can.

What do you like about the industry? The professionals in the industry are incredibly intelligent and talented people! They don't give themselves enough credit for how good they are.

Awards and honors: IDC President's Award 2006; speaker at Canadian provincial associations and IDC conventions.

One thing you would change about the industry? More media-savvy operators/associations for a better industry voice.

Favorite food: Pizza.
Favorite music: Classical, Gospel, Big Band.
Hobbies: Reading, writing novels, gardening, turtle care.
One thing she would not do: When I was a child I said I would never follow in my mother's footsteps... look where it got me.

Milton Chortkoff
President, Milt and Edie's Drycleaners
Burbank, California

I was raised in this industry. My parents had a small hand laundry in Brooklyn, New York. I was delivering wet wash bundles to customers in apartment houses in a three-wheel push car in the early 1940s.

Greatest challenge facing the industry today? Training our employees to produce quality work and delivering it to our customers on time and with a smile.

What do you like about the industry? Almost all of the plants I have visited or worked in consist of a "melting pot" of national-ities. In our present plant we have 11 nationalities, speaking 14 different languages.

Achievements: Building 3 plants from nothing to profitable. (One from $1,000 to $10,000 per week in 2,000 square feet. One from nothing to $40,000 per week in 5,000 square feet. Present, from $5,000 to $75,000 per week in 5,000 square feet.)

Favorite food: Salmon.
Favorite music: All types of Latin music, especially sambas and tangos.
Hobbies: Used to be playing handball and dancing.
The one thing he would never do: Intentionally hurt someone's feelings.

Harvey Gershenson
Sterling Consulting (chief cook/bottle washer)
Playa Vista, California

I got involved in the industry in 1954 at age 15. My parents would call my school and say I was needed at the family business. My father taught me to operate a Prosperity 6A cleaning machine, inspect clothing for spots, transfer loads into a reclaim tumbler, wait on the counter, sweep floors, and put paper bags over clothing (no plastic at that time.)

Greatest challenge facing the industry today? Increasing the volume of clothing to be drycleaned. The number of pieces have steadily declined and there does not appear to be an end in sight.

What do you like about the industry? The people who are in it, and their willingness to share information with non-competitors.

Awards and honors: Has held many positions including President of Cleaners and Dyers Guild of Los Angeles, board of directors of California Cleaners Association, board of directors of IFI.

One thing you'd change about the industry: Find a solvent that cleans like perc and not have any environmental issues.

Favorite food: Salad with blue cheese dressing, a good filet mignon or salmon filet and anything chocolate for dessert.
Favorite music: Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald singing anything by Gershwin or Cole Porter.
Hobbies: Photography, reading fiction, gardening, travel.
One thing he would never do: Something I would not want done to me.

Doris Easley
Doris Easley/Fabricare Consultant/ Heirloom Restoration
Roseville, California

I got involved in the industry in 1941, moved to California in 1943 and owned a drycleaning business for 30 years.

Greatest challenge facing the industry today? Environmental compliance.

What do you like about the industry? We provide a service that people need and appreciate. It has allowed me to travel, meet wonderful people and has given me great satisfaction.

Awards and honors: Served as a director of the California Fabricare Institute, and Expert Examiner for (later president of) the California State Licensing Board of Fabricare, Regional VP and also President of IDC, International Drycleaner of the Year (1983) and many other positions.

One thing you would change about the industry? The public image. I wish everyone knew more about the knowledge and skill required of drycleaners, and I wish all drycleaners were committed to providing quality work in a professional manner.

Favorite food: Lefsa (from my Norwegian roots).
Favorite music: Gospel, Classical, Jazz.
Hobbies: Spending time with my family and friends.
One thing she would never do: I would never run out of ways to enjoy life.

Murray Simpson
Chief Executive/Vice President of Textile Services Association/CINET
North Harrow, UK

I joined the industry in 1989, left for a 7 year sabbatical to the motor industry in 1990, and came "home" in 1997.

Greatest challenge facing the industry? Environmental regulation, presenting opportunities and threats.

What do you like about the industry? The people: passionate entrepreneurs willing to share and learn.

Industry achievements: Helped to articulate the case for sensible and proportionate regulation of drycleaners in the UK.

One thing you would change about the industry: Its name. "Drycleaning" is one process option from just one of our ser-vices. We should promote all aspects of professional textile care.

Favorite food: Steak.
Favorite music: The Beatles.
Hobbies: Politics (especially US), current affairs, travel, good food and wine.
One thing he would never do: A bungee jump!

Return to Convention 2007 Program Page

Get to know our Convention Speakers

Get to know our
Convention Speakers