IMPACT Conference

Join us at the stunning Marriott Grand Resort for the 2026 ALM IMPACT Conference. Private beaches, pools, golf, tennis, a spa, and historic Southern charm set the stage for an unforgettable event.

Education, Networking, and Southern Charm—Experience IMPACT 2026.

Get ready to experience the 2026 IMPACT Conference at one of the South’s most scenic and storied destinations—the Marriott Grand Resort in Point Clear, Alabama. With private beaches, sparkling pools, championship golf, tennis courts, a world-class spa, and historic charm, this waterfront resort offers something for everyone.

Whether you come for the education, the connections, or the setting, you’ll leave refreshed, motivated, and equipped to make a bigger impact in your organization and in the industry.

ALM Impact Conference Logo

Inspiring keynote presentations and general sessions that challenge and energize.

Three educational tracks designed to deliver practical knowledge you can put to work immediately.

Impactful Connections, our fast-paced business matchmaking event that helps you meet more people in less time.

Evening events that blend fun, relaxation, and plenty of networking.

Register Now!

  • March 2-5, 2026

  • Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Alabama Gulf Coast

Schedule

Registration

Accommodations

Sponsorship

participants at the 2024 IMPACT Conference
Impactful Connections at the 2024 IMPACT Connection - High Fives given between two members conducting business.
participants at the 2024 IMPACT Conference
ALM President & CEO Sarah Brobeck at the 2024 IMPACT Conference
Sponsor tabletop booth at the 2024 IMPACT Conference

Schedule of Events

The IMPACT Conference blends education, networking, and downtime. Each day features a general session, breakouts, and plenty of opportunities to connect with other attendees.

1-5 PM Registration

1-3 PM  Teambuilding Activity  The Grand Boat Building Regatta  (optional, preregistration required)

Get ready to build, launch, and laugh at The Grand Boat Building Regatta, an exciting team-building event at IMPACT! Teams will design and build a boat, create a team flag and chant, and race to victory. This high-energy activity encourages creativity, communication, and leadership while guaranteeing plenty of laughs and unforgettable memories. Real-time leaderboards, photos, and videos capture the action, and participants can relive the fun afterward through an online gallery. Whether you’re competing or cheering from the sidelines, this event delivers teamwork and entertainment in true IMPACT fashion.

3-6 PM Sponsor Tabletop Set Up

7 AM-5 PM Registration

8-10 AM Opening General Session   Regenerate, featuring Jessica Stollings
Understanding how each generation sees the world can bring clarity to a rapidly changing workplace. Jessica Stollings offers fresh insights and practical tools that help you connect with every generation and tap into their strengths for stronger teamwork and better results.

10-10:30 AM Break in the Hub

The Hub is the central gathering space where tabletop booths make it easy to explore products, ask questions, and connect with suppliers at your own pace. With refreshments available, it’s a comfortable spot to take a break while making meaningful connections.

10:30-11:30 AM Educational Breakouts

  • Innovate & Elevate: Fresh Strategies for Plant Managers and Production Teams, Jim Slatcher
    • Managing a laundry operation requires more than keeping machines running; it demands continuous improvement and a culture of innovation. This panel will share real-world strategies for optimizing workflow, boosting efficiency, and inspiring engaged, accountable teams.
  • Maximizing Efficiency Through Quarterly Par Reviews: Reducing Costs and Improving Linen Utilization, Carlene Young
    • Linen management impacts both operational efficiency and facility costs. Learn how regular par reviews can track usage, identify waste, and translate data into actionable improvements.

11:30 AM-12:30 PM Educational Breakouts

  • Smart Purchasing: How to Evaluate Equipment Quotes and Make Informed Procurement Decisions
    • Choosing the right laundry equipment demands a strategic, data-driven approach. Learn how to evaluate proposals, ask the right questions, and implement systems that deliver lasting operational and financial benefits.
  • From Contract to Partnership: Evolving the Laundry Vendor Relationship for Greater Transparency and Performance, Tiffany Brady & Stephanie Gregg
    • Transforming laundry contracts into strategic partnerships can drive both service excellence and cost savings. Learn practical tools and insights, including a real-world case study, to foster accountability and achieve measurable value.

12:30-1:30 PM Sponsored Lunch

1:45-2:45 PM Educational Breakouts

  • The Cost of Aggressive Driving: Fuel, Wear and Liability
    • Aggressive driving doesn’t just put drivers at risk, it puts laundry and linen operations at risk as well. Breaking down how unsafe driving behaviors drive up fuel expenses, accelerate wear on fleet vehicles, and increase liability exposure. Walk away with a clearer understanding of how safer driving practices can improve margins and protect their operation.
  • From Policy to Progress: Advancing the Laundry & Linen Industry Through Advocacy, Kevin Schwalb
    • Explore the legislative issues shaping our industry and gain practical guidance on how to make your voice heard through effective advocacy.

2:45-3:15:  Break in the Hub

The Hub is open during this break with tabletop booths and refreshments available. Take advantage of the time to connect with sponsors and learn more about their products and services.

3-5 PM IMPACTful Connections

IMPACTful Connections pairs operators and suppliers in scheduled 1:1 speed-dating appointments for focused, efficient conversations. These short meetings give operators dedicated time to ask questions, explore solutions, and identify the right partners to continue conversations beyond the conference.

5-6 PM Welcome Reception:  Generations

Kick off the event at our Generations-themed Welcome Reception, set on a scenic patio overlooking the bay. This evening is all about connection and nostalgia, giving attendees a chance to mingle with peers from their own generation while enjoying playful nods to cultural moments from across the decades. Gather around the bayside bonfire, soak in the stunning sunset, and share stories that bridge the past and present in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

8:45 – 9:45 AM General Session:   Wisdom Worth Sharing:  Shaping the Future Through Legacy

This special session features the inaugural members of the Legacy Circle, honored for their lasting impact on our industry. Join us for a candid conversation as these seasoned professionals share the lessons, challenges, and proudest moments from decades of service. Hear their perspectives on how the industry has evolved, what keeps them passionate, and what advice they have for those shaping its future.

9:45 – 10:15  AM Break in the Hub
Take a break in the Hub and spend some time with our sponsors at the tabletop booths. It’s a great chance to explore products, ask questions, and grab a refreshment.

10:15 – 11:15 AM Educational Breakouts

  • RFID in Laundry Operations: Insights, Implementation, and Impact, Jason Hartsell, Ammar Khan, and David Koma
    • Discover how RFID is transforming linen and laundry operations for better visibility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. Industry experts and operators share real-world experiences and strategies for successful implementation.
  • Partnering for Performance: How Hospitals and Laundries Are Cutting Costs and Improving Satisfaction
    • Learn how hospital and supplier partnerships can drive measurable results in linen management. Attendees will explore strategies for analyzing usage, reducing waste, and improving inventory and satisfaction.
  • Overcoming Laundry Challenges in Hospitality: Solutions for Smooth Operations
    • Managing laundry in hospitality requires balancing speed, quality, and costs. Learn strategies to overcome common challenges and elevate operational performance.

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Educational Breakouts

  • Brand by Design: How Purchasing Choices Strengthen Your Market Identity, Ammar Khan
    • From textiles to packaging, every purchasing decision impacts your brand. Learn how to align sourcing with marketing goals and use supplier partnerships to strengthen reputation and customer experience.
  • Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Collaboration Between Laundry and Infection Prevention Teams
    • Linen is a key component of infection prevention, but teamwork between laundry and clinical teams is often lacking. Discover how collaboration and shared processes can improve safety, efficiency, and partnerships.
  • Hospitality Linen Trends: Optimizing Performance, Efficiency, and Value
    • New materials, technology, and practices are reshaping hospitality linen management. This session shows how to leverage trends to improve efficiency, sustainability, and purchasing decisions.

12:15 – 1:45 PM Lunch

2 – 3 PM Educational Breakouts

  • Driving Strategic Sales and Staying Competitive: What It Takes to Win in Today’s Market
    • Learn how industry leaders build long-term revenue, strengthen customer relationships, and stay ahead in a shifting market. This panel shares real examples from OPLs, cooperatives, and commercial laundries on aligning sales strategy with business goals, standing out from competitors, and preparing for disruption. Walk away with practical ideas you can apply right away.
  • From Fiber to Finished Product: Understanding the Textile Manufacturing Process, David Middleberg
    • Learn how every step of textile production, from raw materials to finished goods, affects linen quality, longevity, and cost. This session connects manufacturing insights to real-world laundry challenges for smarter product decisions.
  • Right-Sizing Your Inventory: Setting and Adjusting Par Levels in Hospitality Laundry, Nick Schrader
    • Hospitality laundry success depends on managing linen inventory effectively. Discover methods for setting, monitoring, and adjusting par levels to control costs and prevent shortages.

3 – 3:30 PM Break in the Hub

Head to the Hub during the break to connect with sponsors and see solutions up close. Tabletop booths and refreshments make it easy to stop, chat, and recharge.

3:30 – 4:30 PM Educational Breakouts

  • Supply Chain Outlook: Risks, Trends, and Resilience, Jeff Courey
    • An update on the key global and environmental factors shaping today’s laundry and linen supply chains, with a focus on risk awareness and building resilience amid ongoing change.
  • Tapping Into Opportunity: How to Use State and Federal Resources to Grow Your Laundry Business, Doug Story
    • Discover how state, federal, and local programs can support your laundry business at minimal cost. Learn how to leverage financial assistance, expert guidance, and development resources for growth and operational improvement.
  • Linen Awareness: Empowering Housekeepers for Operational Excellence, Khawar Qureshi
    • Effective housekeeping directly impacts linen quality, inventory, and workflow. Learn how training and communication can extend linen lifespan, minimize waste, and support efficient operations.

6:30 – 8:30 PM White Party at Julep Point

Celebrate in style at our White Party at Julep Point, where the dress code is all white and the setting is spectacular. With live music, fresh bay-inspired cuisine, and panoramic views of the water, this elegant evening promises an unforgettable experience. Dance, dine, and toast to the week’s accomplishments while enjoying one of the most beautiful waterfront venues imaginable.

8:45-10 AM  Rising Beyond the Impossible:  A Journey of Adversity, Resilience and Redesigning Purpose  featuring JJ Velasquez

From enduring deep injustice to becoming a national voice for hope and resilience, JJ Velazquez shares a powerful story that challenges assumptions about perseverance and potential.

In this keynote, JJ reflects on the adversity that shaped him, the moments that could have broken him, and the inner resolve that allowed him to rise. With honesty, emotion, and touches of humor, he explores the turning points that helped him reclaim his identity and redefine his future.

JJ’s story resonates with anyone who has ever felt underestimated or defined by their circumstances. Attendees leave reminded that hope is not something we wait for. It is something we choose and build, one decision at a time.

10-10:15 AM Break in the Hub
Use this break to visit the Hub and meet the sponsors supporting IMPACT. Explore products, have real conversations, and enjoy refreshments while you’re there.

10:15-11:15 AM Educational Breakouts

  • Inclusive Workforce Strategies: Leveraging Diverse Talent for Stronger Operations, Greg Gicewicz & William Woodson
    • Inclusive workforce development extends beyond disability employment to engaging diverse, underutilized labor resources. This session explores strategies for recruiting, managing, and supporting non-traditional talent to strengthen operations and reduce turnover.
  • Leading with Purpose: Building Resilience, Inspiring Growth, and Driving Continuous Improvement, Khawar Qureshi
    • Leadership in laundry and linen is about mindset, not position. Discover how to empower your team, adapt to change, and create a culture that drives lasting success.

11:30-12:30 PM Educational Breakouts

  • How AI and Automation Are Shaping the Future of Operations
    • AI and automation are reshaping every aspect of laundry operations. This session highlights practical examples and strategies for adopting smart systems to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and operational performance.
  • Tips of Recruiting or Keeping Laundry Employees
    • Practical strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining laundry employees in today’s competitive labor market.

Registration Fees

Early Bird pricing ends February 2, 2026.

Operator Members

$895 Early Bird
$1,145 Regular

Operator Non-Members

$1,095 Early Bird
$1,345 Regular

Supplier Members

$1,095 Early Bird
$1,345 Regular

Supplier Non-Members

$1,095 Early Bird
$1,345 Regular

Need help convincing your boss you should be at IMPACT? Download our handy letter template to make your case!

The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa

One Grand Blvd.

Point Clear, Alabama 36532

Regular Room Rates – start at $249 for Standard Room

Government Room Rate – $163 for Standard Room

*Rooms at the government per diem rate are exclusively available for government employees. Please request the access code to complete your booking.

The ALM room block will close Wednesday February 11, 2026.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Why Sponsor IMPACT 2026?

IMPACT is ALM’s premier event bringing together industry leaders for education, networking, and collaboration at the Marriott Grand Resort in Point Clear, Alabama. Rated 9.8/10 by participants, IMPACT is where operators, vendors, and executives shape the future of laundry and linen management.

Maximum Visibility
Your brand stands out in front of decision-makers—90% of attendees hold management or leadership roles.
Industry Credibility
Align with the industry’s most trusted association and its highest-rated event.
Stronger Connections
Build meaningful relationships with operators, GMs, executives, and key purchasing influencers.
Lasting Impact
Sponsorship connects your brand directly to the conversations, partnerships, and purchasing decisions driving the industry forward.

IMPACT 2026 Sponsors

Calderon Textiles
Jensen
G.A. Braun
TEXO
Pellerin Milnor Corp.
Kannegiesser
American Dawn Inc.
Applied Silver
Unitex International
Streamline Solutions