SAN DIEGO – (Business Wire) San Diego-based entrepreneur Tom Gildred announced today the launch of Emerald Textiles, a commercial laundry service offering textile rentals and textile management solutions for Southern California healthcare providers and hotels.
Outfitted with the most technologically advanced and water-efficient equipment available, the laundry, at full capacity, will save an estimated 30 to 40 million gallons of water annually as compared to traditional processes in San Diego. In addition, Emerald Textiles will provide a higher level of cleanliness and industry compliance with the ultimate goal of greater customer satisfaction and safety.
“The healthcare and hospitality communities in Southern California have called for higher cleanliness standards, better service and a quality alternative to the existing options in linen management,” said Tom Gildred, founder and chief executive officer of Emerald Textiles. “We are opening a new, high-quality, advanced technology commercial laundry alternative that will provide a superior experience, unprecedented value and top-notch service for healthcare and hospitality employees, patients and customers.”
Housed in a 111,000 square-foot industrial laundry facility, Emerald Textiles’ new $20 million, San Diego facility exceeds Title 22 compliance standards, which helps hospitals attain accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Emerald Textiles plans to provide enhanced customer service by working hand-in-hand with each client to educate, assist and monitor overall linen satisfaction and usage.
With the opening of the facility this fall, Emerald Textiles will immediately hire approximately 150 employees in a range of positions and plan on hiring an additional 100 employees in the first year.
“Right out of the gate, Emerald Textiles has shown its commitment to being a good corporate citizen through investing in water-saving technology at its new facility,” said Mayor Jerry Sanders. “I’m excited to welcome Emerald Textiles – and the hundreds of jobs they’ll provide to San Diegans – to our local business community.”
A local entrepreneur, Gildred brings significant business experience to the company and serves on numerous boards of directors benefitting local companies and non-profits, including serving as president of the board of The San Diego Museum of Art. He founded and is CEO of FMT Consultants, a business management firm, and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, which has received the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award.
Co-founder and investor of Emerald Textiles is local businessman and philanthropist Bob Payne. Payne has spent the last 65 years laying the foundation for San Diego’s hospitality industry and is San Diego State University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management namesake.
Jaye Park will serve as chief operating officer and brings over 30 years of experience in the linen industry. Prior to joining Emerald Textiles, Park was instrumental in the growth and success of a successful industrial linen provider in the Southwest United States, where he established a reputation as one of the most progressive healthcare linen management experts in the country. His customer satisfaction record is testimony to the tangible cost savings and world-class service his customers have enjoyed throughout the years.
Rounding out the executive team are Brook Logan, controller, and Lisa Kendall, director of marketing. Logan was most recently part of the finance team for Eli Lilly and Company’s San Diego location and Kendall comes to Emerald Textiles with nearly 15 years of marketing experience in the telecommunications, cable and software industries, in both business and consumer marketing.
Read the press release on business wire here.