The Association of Member Cleaners in British Columbia
DIRECTORS' PROFILES
Graham Gilley
Envirogreen Canada
Graham Gilley is President and a partner in Envirogreen Canada, based in Vancouver. With his business partner, Victor Batchelor, Envirogreen Canada has evolved to combine the distribution infrastructure and product selection offered through a sister company, Datamedia Distribution. This has allowed for the introduction for local supply of hundreds of custom and stock products to the fabricare industry, in addition to customized equipment sales and wide distribution of environmentally sensitive products to service the BC dry/wet cleaning, laundry and hospitality industries.
Graham has a successful track record of delivering market leading results with companies such as Gillette and Nintendo where he spent 16 years in senior management positions. For 10 years, as Senior Vice President of Armstrong Group - Rocky Mountaineer, Graham was immersed in the development and leadership of dozens of high profile tourism and hospitality case studies, strategic partnerships and ventures and areas of innovative product development.
More information on Envirogreen may be found at www.envirogreencanada.com
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Nav Bains
Fleetwood Drycleaners
Family owned and operated for over 17 years, Fleetwood Drycleaners employs 8 staff and management. Our dedicated team is committed to providing the best that we can offer to our customers. We take pride in the work we do to make all our customers happy and looking good in their garments.
17 years ago, Mohinder and Surjit Bains took an opportunity to own a drycleaning business. With a lot of hard work and help from their sons, the business became the preferred drycleaners in the Fleetwood area. It's reputation has been accelerated through countless consumer referrals. As the community grew, the Bains family adapted to accommodate the growing demand for quality and timely service. New machinery and staff have been acquired throughout the years to improve the quality and production ability.
In 2007, Navjot and Anchilla Bains purchased the business from his parents. This opportunity gave Navjot and Anchilla the ability to pursue new directions for the company. New customer service staff and a fresh advertising campaign show the dedication they have in improving the strength of the company and the service level to our customers. Their level of experience and desire to make a "good" company "better" can be seen through every decision they make. Providing a positive and enjoyable atmosphere to work in, they continue to serve the Fleetwood and other local Surrey communities.
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Frank Wagner
Wagner’s European Fabricare Cleaners
In 1998, just a year after Frank Wagner had immigrated to
Was Wagner their man?
As restoration firms around
“I was raised in the industry,’ said Wagner. “When I was growing up I would spend my evenings and weekends bagging thousands of orders by hand.”
The family fabric and garment dyeing enterprise was founded in 1841 by Johann Valentin Wagner in
Frank attended an exclusive textile school in
His mother Elisabeth, who has a Masters Certificate in Drycleaning, the highest trade certification in
In 2000, with the help of two employees, the family opened a 1,600-square-foot fabric restoration warehouse in Delta. As of 2005, that space had expanded to 5,500 square feet. There are 25 employees.
“The challenge in this business,” said Frank,“is deciding if we can restore something and how. Because if I accept a job and it’s not done perfectly, I don’t charge for it.”
Wagner is also active in the business community. A past president of the B.C. Fabricare Association, he was the recipient of the Delta Chamber of Commerce Rising Star award in 2005.
The Wagner’s warehouse is in the
Born in 1956 Jim started his first business at the age of 20. In order to accomplish this, Jim found it necessary to sell his beloved Yamaha 350. Jim and his partner worked hard as sign erectors. Among other things, Jim and his partner were responsible for replacing the old round coke a cola signs with the new improved rectangular ones. While the business was enjoyable Jim felt it was not really the direction he wanted to go. So the business was liquidated and they each moved on.
Jim moved on to kitchen cabinets. After marrying his lovely wife Sharon in 1980 Jim again decided to make a career change.
In 1981 Jim joined Neifer Installations as a junior technician. While working at Neifer Jim attended night school and received his gas fitter ticket. In 1994 Jim’s father-in-law Ernie decided it was time to retire and gave Jim the opportunity to purchase the business. So in September 1994 Jim and Sharon learned firsthand what it is like to own and operate a business.
Jim continued his service work and began selling products of several solid manufacturers and supervising the installations of this equipment. He also does plant layout work for new and existing owners.
These days you will find Jim working hard with his wife Sharon and oldest son Nick.