10 FABRICARE FE ATURE Winter Conference Attendees Share The Excitement DLI-NCA Cooperative Event Offers Information Exchange, Networking Opportunities By John Paul Roggenkamp THE 2018 FIVE STAR BRAINSTORMING CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE DRYCLEANING AND LAUNDRY INSTITUTE (DLI) AND THE NATIONAL CLEANERS ASSOCIATION (NCA) JUST WRAPPED. The conference ran January 12th-14th at the Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, an adults-only resort on Mexico’s world- famous Yucatan peninsula. Surrounded by towering palm trees a stone’s throw from azure Caribbean waters, attendees spent their mornings soaking up knowledge - and their afternoons soaking up the sun. Speakers included Deena Ebbert, who shared insights about the FISH! philosophy; Joseph Grenny, a New York Times bestselling author who spoke on ways to change both employee and employer behaviors; and Brian Rashid, creator and CEO of ‘A Life In Shorts’, a digital media and communications company, who specializes in the art of storytelling in marketing. “The attendees enjoyed and responded to the information being presented,” said Mary Scalco, event organizer and CEO of DLI. “I thought it was good,” said David Suber of Perfect Cleaners in Los Angeles, California. “They had great speakers, very informative.” “My personal favorite was the FISH! speaker,” said Scott Nanfelt of Delken Professional Cleaners in Fall River, Massachusetts. “She highlighted the importance of recognition and customer service. As we all know it could be just one thing that you get from seminar that could change your entire way of doing business!” “I was really impressed with the speaker on the last day,” said Chris Edwards of A Cleaner World in High Point, North Carolina. “He was a TedX speaker. That’s probably where I picked up the most valuable, actionable items.” Dennis Schmitt of Lindeman’s Cleaning in Green Bay, Wisconsin, said that “All the