News

Ron Klepner, VP of Business Development, Named to the NAUMD Board of Directors

(NEW YORK, NY) March 9, 2010 – The North-American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD) today announced the election of its Board of Directors and Officers for 2010-11. In voting by the NAUMD Membership, the Executive Committee included: elected to a 2-year term as Chairman, Steve Zalkin, Alamar Uniforms Company, along with Vice Chairman, Steve Robinson, Liberty Uniform Manufacturing Co., Inc., Treasurer Jim Tewmey, VF Imagewear, Inc. and Brian Garry, Cintas as Member at Large. Richard J. Lerman, NAUMD’s President, was elected Secretary and Roger Heldman, Blumenthal Uniform Company continues as Immediate Past Chairman

Newly elected board members were: Daniel Broome, Samuel Broome Uniform Accessories., Fred Heldman, Fechheimer Brothers Company, Bill Levitt, Mocean Apparel, Sol Jacobs, I. Spiewak & Sons, Inc., Ron Klepner, Superior Uniforms Group, Randy Loftspring, Roy Tailors Uniform Company, Inc., Phil Newman, PSC Uniform Apparel by Cobmex, Ron Pate, Unison Marketing Group, Gary Pearson, 3M Company,Tom Ronco, Postal Products Unlimited, Gary Shultz, Edwards Garment Company, Matt Sinclair, 5.11 Tactical Series and W. Jerry Vereen, Riverside Manufacturing Company.

ABOUT the new NAUMD Chairman Steve Zalkin:
Steve Zalkin is President and Founder of Omaha, Neb.-based uniform dealer Alamar Uniforms Co., Mr. Zalkin has served in many volunteer leadership positions with NAUMD, most recently as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Dealer Distributor Committee. And his roots in the uniform business are deep as well. In 1983, Mr. Zalkin joined Pioneer Uniforms in his hometown of Omaha, and there became involved with the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers, the predecessor of NAUMD.

In 1987, Mr. Zalkin’s entrepreneurial side grew and he decided to start his own business, Alamar Uniforms, which today has two locations – Omaha and Kansas City – with 32 employees. The operation caters to a wide range of uniform needs, from public safety and security, to industrial, postal, medical, imagewear and a variety of uniform accessories. The name of the firm is a compilation of the names of his grandfather and father, Alan and Marshall Zalkin, respectively, who long had a wiping cloth manufacturing business in

Omaha and, unfortunately, neither of whom lived to see Steve succeed. “It was my way of commemorating them,” says Mr. Zalkin.When asked about his term as Chairman Mr. Zalkin replies: “It is my goal to see that NAUMD will be recognized as the “Go-To” organization for any all uniform imagewear -related issues. I would like to see NAUMD develop a business code of ethics for its members so anyone conducting business with a NAUMD member can be assured they are transacting with a reputable business; NAUMD will continue to distribute educational and practical information that is meaningful for members and enhances their profit.

Further, I plan to strongly encourage the NAUMD, and its membership, to continue strengthening its alliance with Washington D.C. so the uniform imagewear industry can be more influential on those issues which directly affect its membership. I also want to continue to create an environment for conducting business amongst members in a positive way at the annual NAUMD Convention & Exposition as well as other events we will be developing .”