Annual Conf.: TRSA Holds Inaugural Management Development Day
After a full slate of committee meetings on the opening day, TRSA’s 106th Annual Conference moved forward with its Management Development Day on Sept. 18. Designed to develop the next generation of linen, uniform and facility services leaders, the Management Development program featured a hospitality keynote and several breakout sessions on topics such as building your corporate culture, effective communication skills, mastering emotional intelligence and more.
The morning kicked off with a keynote address by restaurateur Steve DiFillippo, the owner of the Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse chain, which started in Boston and has expanded nationwide. DiFillippo has deep ties to the linen, uniform and facility services industry with several family members working in prominent roles at UniFirst, including his father, Tony, a former president of the company who passed away last year, and brother, David, who currently serves as a senior vice president at the corporate headquarters in Wilmington, MA. During his speech, DiFillippo shared tales about the restaurant business and emphasized the importance of culture in building his business from a single location to multiple restaurants across several states. DiFillippo signed copies of his book It’s All About the Guest following his presentation.
Following DiFillippo’s keynote address, attendees broke into smaller groups for breakout sessions. Topics included:
- Personal Skills Assessment and Development
- Effective Communication Skills for Managers
- Great Cultures Create the Right Leaders
- Recruiting, Hiring & Retaining Great People
- Making Emotional Intelligence Work for You
- What’s New in Contract Law
The final session of the day focused on the steps that linen, uniform and facility services executives should take to implement a successful ergonomics program in their business. Hosted by Stephen Jenkins, senior director of safety and health, Cintas Corp., the session detailed how a focus on ergonomics cuts down on workplace injuries and worker’s compensation claims, and in turn, improves employee morale and productivity.
The day wrapped up with a Welcome Reception, a prime opportunity for attendees to network with one another.