Spinning Up Success: Spring Conference Highlights
MLA President Denise Savino‑Erichsen warmly welcomed attendees to the coastal shores of Longboat Key, Florida, for the 2026 MLA Spring Conference.
Hosted at the distinguished St. Regis Longboat Key, the elegant coastal environment provided an ideal backdrop for thoughtful dialogue, meaningful networking, and a productive spring convening of industry leaders. MLA was excited to welcome a strong turnout at the Spring Conference, with 92 members in attendance—including a warm welcome to our newest members: Maytag and PayRange.
To kick off the conference, technology expert Victor Calabrese delivered an eye‑opening session designed to demystify IT and help operators better understand the systems that power their businesses.
The presentation explored why technology matters more than ever—driving security, efficiency, and automation across operations. Attendees gained a practical overview of everyday IT components, including networks, servers, cloud software (SaaS), Wi‑Fi infrastructure, and the growing role of connected devices and IoT.
A major focus was cybersecurity. Victor outlined today’s most common threats—phishing, spoofed emails, AI‑generated attacks, and zero‑day vulnerabilities—and explained why email security, multi‑factor authentication, password management, endpoint detection (EDR), backups, and disaster recovery are no longer optional. Real‑world examples illustrated how quickly downtime and data breaches can derail a business—and how the right protections can keep operations running.
The session also challenged attendees to think differently about IT leadership. A “complete” IT environment requires more than a help desk—it takes strategy, infrastructure, security, and thoughtful project management. Participants were encouraged to evaluate whether their current IT provider truly acts as a technology success partner.
Looking ahead, the presentation examined artificial intelligence as a business multiplier—from AI tools that improve productivity, to copilots that generate insights, to agents that take action when data is unified into a single source of truth.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, prompting attendees to assess vulnerabilities in their own organizations and identify technologies they can leverage to strengthen performance and resilience.
On Tuesday, MLA conducted a round table session where members were able to connect, exchange ideas, and explore the latest opportunities and challenges in the laundry industry. Thank you to the round table planning committee – Scott Scarpato, Jr as Moderator, Frank P. D'Annunzio, Ashley Erichsen and Danielle DeMarsh!
Conference discussions focused on three major areas shaping the future of multi‑housing laundry: workforce development, emerging technology, and market shifts.
Recruiting and training technicians remains a top priority as experienced labor becomes harder to find. Operators are increasingly relying on referrals, vocational schools, second‑generation technicians, and vendor‑supported training programs.
AI and emerging technology generated strong interest as attendees shared ways AI is being used to support customer service, organize knowledge, transcribe meetings, and streamline communication, while agreeing that live support remains essential for complex issues like refunds or service needs. The group stressed the importance of introducing AI as a support tool—not a replacement—to keep employees engaged and confident.
Continued coordination between MLA, CLA, manufacturers, and vendors—particularly on issues like microfiber pollution—was highlighted as essential to responding to a changing market.
At the Tuesday evening dinner, MLA was proud to recognize Ross Van Horne of Alliance Laundry Systems for his extraordinary contributions to the multi‑housing laundry industry as he approaches retirement. His commitment to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement has left a lasting impact on both the industry and those who have had the privilege to work alongside him. We extend our sincere gratitude for his dedication and leadership, which will continue to be felt for years to come. Congratulations Ross!
Thank you to Airwallet, Alliance Laundry Systems, Cents, PayRange and Setomatic Systems
for sponsoring the Allied Member Hosted Dinner!
