What does it take to operate your own self-service laundry? Well, obviously it takes the financial resources and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. But, what is required from you on a daily basis? Some basic responsibilities include: equipment repair and maintenance; money collection and coin changer filling; employee hiring, firing, training and supervision; store cleaning and janitorial duties. Of course, there are others including record-keeping, advertising and long-range planning. However, all these can vary based on the type of store and style of the owner.

Learn from three store owners the nuts and bolts of running a successful store. They will share what a typical day looks like and the improvements they have made over time.

Panelists:
– Ken Barrett, Owner, Washin’ Anniston Coin Laundry
-Tom Rhodes, owner, Sunshine Laundry Centers
– Marlena Norris – Managing Partner – The Laundry Centers
– Facilitator Brian Wallace, President/CEO, Coin Laundry Association

The cost to attend this program is $49. Each person who registers will receive a recording of the program.

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Panelist Bios:

Tom Rhodes is a 2nd generation laundromat owner since 1996 and self-professed laundry nerd. He owns 7 laundromats, 1 laundry room at a local college and 4 route locations on Florida’s Treasure Coast. Tom served on CLA’s Board of Directors from 2011 to 2017 and was the FCLA Affiliate President and Vice President from 2007-2018. He was named CLA Member of the Year in 2015and eeceived CLA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2017. He has been a frequent speaker & panelist at CLA events through the years. Tom is married for 25 years… to the same woman. He has 2 children, who are both Florida Gators. He serves on his church’s mission’s team and volunteers weekly as a 2nd grade reading mentor. He loves to windsurf and spend time with my family.

Marlena Norris is the CEO and founder of The Laundry Centers, LLC, laundry facilities that provide self-service, residential and commercial wash, and fold services to metro Atlanta communities.  Marlena has been in the laundry business since January 2015 and has two locations on Atlanta’s westside.

Marlena is a retired senior executive from InterContinental Hotels Group, Inc., who feels she transferred her passion and love of people from one form of hospitality service to another.  She went into the laundry business with the goal of becoming a part of the neighborhoods in which we operate; a “community within the community”.  The long-term objective is to provide opportunities for economic empowerment through growth, job creation and social engagement through education.

Marlena received her B.S. and MBA degrees from Oklahoma City University in Accounting and Finance and attended the University of Tennessee where she pursued a Masters in Tax. Over the course of her career she actively served on the Boards of Jomandi Productions, the YWCA Atlanta and is currently Chair of the Board for Grove Park Foundation.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated and has received several awards for outstanding leadership, mentoring, and coaching and in 2012, she received Atlanta’s Most Powerful and Influential Women award for her business leadership and work in the Atlanta community.

Marlena has been married to Phillip Norris for 38 years and has two sons, John and Stephen and answers to the name “Yaya” from her adorable grandson, Mason.