Association for Linen Management announces 2027 IMPACT Legacy Circle honorees
Nov. 2, 2026 — The Association for Linen Management has selected four distinguished leaders as its 2027 IMPACT Legacy Circle honorees, recognizing careers that have significantly shaped and advanced the textile care industry. Phil Hart, Joseph J. LaPorta, Rocco Romeo and Doug Story will be formally honored at IMPACT 2027, ALM’s annual conference, Feb. 28-March 3 in Austin, Texas.
Now in its second year, the IMPACT Legacy Circle honors individuals whose leadership, innovation and service have strengthened professional standards, elevated operational performance and guided generations of industry professionals. The recognition extends beyond career achievement. Each honoree commits to making a formal Legacy Contribution to ALM, ensuring their insights, lessons and perspective are preserved for future generations of industry leaders.
These Legacy Contributions are captured through recorded interviews, written reflections and curated insights that become part of ALM’s permanent leadership archive and educational framework. The 2027 honorees join the inaugural 2026 class in building a body of knowledge that will continue to inform tomorrow’s standards.
The 2027 IMPACT Legacy Circle honorees are:
Phil Hart, Kannegiesser North America
For more than 30 years, Hart has strengthened the partnership between equipment suppliers and laundry operators, from leading the 2017 formation of Kannegiesser ETECH to serving as founding chair of TRSA’s Supplier Partner Council and as ALM’s allied trades director.
Joseph J. LaPorta, Healthcare Linen Services Group
LaPorta has helped reshape health care textile services, growing HLSG from three states to 22 through a multiplant model others have since adopted, while investing in the workforce through the Linen Technical Institute and his research on recruitment and retention.
Rocco Romeo, HLS Linen Services
Romeo has led HLS Linen Services for more than 25 years. He has served as president of IAHTM, twice as president of HLAC and as an ALM director, treasurer and vice chairman, and he is known for openly sharing his knowledge with peers and competitors alike.
Doug Story, MorgenBrooke LLC
Over four decades in specialty cleaning chemistry, Story helped launch the first effective blended-enzyme liquid laundry detergents and has taught and mentored generations of professionals as an industry speaker and educator since 1985.
“Our selection committee did an outstanding job,” said Sarah Brobeck, president and CEO of the Association for Linen Management. “We received many nominations, and every one described someone who has made a real difference in this industry. The committee followed a rigorous, distinct process to reach its decision, and we are proud of this year’s honorees and grateful to everyone who took the time to recognize a colleague.”
“The IMPACT Legacy Circle exists to honor the leaders whose work built the standards and practices we rely on today,” Liz Remillong, chairman of the ALM board of directors said. “Each of this year’s honorees has shaped this industry and the people in it. By capturing and preserving their knowledge, we give the next generation a foundation to build on rather than a blank page.”
The IMPACT Legacy Circle reflects ALM’s broader commitment to supporting the full arc of a professional career, from emerging leaders to those whose experience continues to guide and elevate the profession.
Following the recognition, honorees will take part in Wisdom Worth Sharing, a live leadership conversation in which they will reflect on the defining lessons, decisions and experiences that shaped their careers and the industry itself.
About the Association for Linen Management
The Association for Linen Management (ALM) is the industry’s trusted champion for advancing excellence in textile care. Through education, certification and operational support, ALM equips laundry and linen professionals at every level — from the laundry room floor to the executive suite — to achieve lasting success.
Visit almnet.org to learn more about the organization, its members and the importance of the laundry industry.
Media contact: Traci Anelli, Association for Linen Management, tanelli@almnet.org, 585-489-6403
