January 2014
| Business World Magazine | 75
ambles of formally organized associations
will state that one of their primary objectives
is the free exchange of ideas for the mutual
benefit of the membership. That exchange
of ideas, advice and counsel is alive and well
within the IAHTM membership. Beyond
the high level of education we provide to
members, that exchange of ideas is one of the
reasons we exist.
BW: What are some other advantages of
the collectivity? Any association sells its
value proposition on the idea that we’ll be
a collective, we can bargain together, we
can do this together or that together. But,
in your opinion, what are some of the main
reasons why being a part of this organiza-
tion is better than going it alone?
LARK:
Certainly, the group buying power
that we have – we actually have a number of
vendors in the industry who supply equip-
ment, chemicals, linen, production manage-
ment software and other related supplies.
Jointly, we’ll handle well over 750 million
pounds of laundry per year. This gives us a
great deal of volume purchasing power.
I think one of the greatest benefits that
I’ve seen, is what we call a peer review. This
is a program wherein two or three of our
counterparts will travel to your plant and
do an optional audit and make suggestions
about how you can make changes or maybe
handle some issues you’re having. Given the
wide range of expertise and talent our mem-
bers have, these peer reviews are invaluable.
I think there’s a trust, there’s a code of con-
duct that engenders trust. It’s networking,
too. We’re spread all over North America,
but there’s a great deal of networking that
takes place on a daily basis in addition to our
educational conferences twice a year.
BW: What is the format of the next confer-
ence, in Memphis?
LARK:
That is actually our “Spring” confer-
ence which focuses on growing our junior
Dr. Janet Lapp Speaker - Indianapolis
Conference
