NexGen II - Louisville, KY, June 12-13,2026

Schedule of Events for NexGen Expo 2.0

Friday,  June 12th

7:00 - 8:00 AM - Heartland Fabricare Association Board of Directors’ Meeting/Continental Breakfast

8:00 AM - DLI Board of Director’s Meeting

-10:30 AM to 4:00 PM - Bourbon Tastings (you will receive your tickets and scheduled distilleries when you arrive and check in) Lunch on your own.

5:00 - 7:00 PM - DLI and HFA Joint Welcome Reception (Appetizers and Cocktails)

Dinner on your own.

Saturday, June 13th

7:00-8:00 AM - Vendor Table Top Displays and Breakfast Buffet

8:00 – 8:05 AM - Welcome

8:05 - 9:00 AM - Don Desrosiers, Tailwind Services

“FlightPlan to Profits”

Don will demonstrate his groundbreaking plant management software.  This new technology is an entirely different way to view plant operations.  It “takes your hand” and shows plant managers how to run their plants at a profitability level that they’ve never dreamed of.

9:00 - 9:15 AM - Break/Visit with Vendors

9:15-10:15 AM - Katey Kratz, Heartland Fabricare Assn,

“Bridging the Gap Between Your Business and the Next Generation”

Katey Kratz presents a sharp, research-backed overview of how Millennials and Gen Z view the drycleaning industry and what that means for its future. This session highlights key perception gaps and offers practical, modern strategies to engage and win over the next generation 

10:15-10:30 AM  - Break with Snacks/Refreshments, Visit with Vendors

10:30-10:45 AM - Meet our Vendors & Sponsors

10:45 - 11:45 AM - Justin Kane, Cleaner Marketing

They're Looking for You — Are You Easy to Find?

Justin Kane shares keen online marketing insights/tactics that go beyond Google: where next-gen customers are actually searching (social, TikTok, Nextdoor, etc.). Justin imparts quick wins to make your business more visible and appealing online today; teaches how your online presence either builds or kills trust before they ever walk in; and outlines why "showing up" consistently across platforms is the new word-of-mouth.

11:45 - 12:00 AM - Break/Visit with Vendors

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Mike Trozzo, VP of Product Innovation, Tide Services

“Innovation in the Drycleaning Guest Experience”

What would it feel like if your laundry was always done?  No more headaches, just clean clothes ready when you need them.  In this talk, Mike will share a vision for reinventing the dry cleaning and laundry experience from the guest’s perspective, with the goal of making laundry pain-free.  He’ll take a look at what role technology can play in transforming laundry into something memorable.