Chairman Zalkin to work toward continued growth and recognition for apparel industry

The North-American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD) today announced the election of its Board of Directors and Officers for 2010-11.  As voted by NAUMD members, the Executive Committee includes Chairman Steve Zalkin, Alamar Uniforms Company; Vice Chairman Steve Robinson, Liberty Uniform Manufacturing Co., Inc.; Treasurer Jim Tewmey, VF Imagewear, Inc.; and Member-at-Large Brian Garry of Cintas. 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 of Samuel Broome Uniform Accessories, Fred Heldman of Fechheimer Brothers Company, Bill Levitt of Mocean Apparel, Sol Jacobs of I. Spiewak & Sons, Inc., Ron Klepner of Superior Uniforms Group, Randy Loftspring of Roy Tailors Uniform Company, Inc., Phil Newman of PSC Uniform Apparel by Cobmex,  Ron Pate of Unison Marketing Group, Gary Pearson of 3M Company, Tom Ronco of Postal Products Unlimited, Gary Shultz of Edwards Garment Company, Matt Sinclair of 5.11 Tactical Series and W. Jerry Vereen of Riverside Manufacturing Company.

Steve Zalkin is President and Founder of Omaha, Neb.-based uniform dealer Alamar Uniforms Co. He has served in leadership positions with NAUMD, most recently as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Dealer Distributor Committee. Zalkin’s roots in the uniform business are equally as deep. In 1983, Mr. Zalkin joined Pioneer Uniforms in his hometown of Omaha, and from 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 locations in Omaha and Kansas City with a total of 32 employees. The operation caters to a wide range of uniform needs, from public safety and security to industrial, postal, medical, imagewear and related accessories. The name of the firm is a combination of the names of his grandfather and father, Alan and Marshall Zalkin, respectively, who owned a wiping cloth manufacturing business in Omaha.

“It is my goal to see that NAUMD will be recognized as the “go-to” organization for all uniform imagewear -related issues,” said Zalkin. ”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 working with a reputable business. In addition, I will work to ensure the NAUMD continues to distribute educational and practical information that is meaningful for members and enhances 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,” Zalkin added. “It is imperative we continue cultivating an environment for conducting business at the annual NAUMD Convention & Exposition as well as other events we will be developing.”

ABOUT the NAUMD
The North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD) has served as the voice of the Uniform Industry since 1933, and is a trade association representing the interests and needs of its 450+ members, who manufacture, design, produce, and or sell uniforms and uniform accessories or who provide products and or services to the uniform industry.

NAUMD represents the interests of the industry to the public, appropriate federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and to the consumer and trade news media. The Association provides services to member firms collectively for the betterment of all member companies and the industry at large. NAUMD also provides the means for the education and interchange of ideas between our members and facilitates communications through several publications and services. For more information, go to www.naumd.com.

Source: Company release,New York, March 22, 2010