Drycleaning & Laundry Institute Announces 2025 Hall of Fame Award Recipients

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) is proud to announce the induction of four outstanding industry professionals into its Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the drycleaning and laundry industry.

Jim Barry built Pride Cleaners, sold to Johnson Group in England, formed Green Earth Cleaning, then helped launch Tide as the first franchise owner in the U.S. in Kansas City. He enhanced the prestige of high-end garment care by founding a network that defined excellence in premium drycleaning. His marketing acumen, eye for quality, and passion for partnership helped many cleaners refine their brand and operations. Through his leadership, he created a sense of community among operators and pushed the industry toward higher standards.

Dan Eisen is a teacher who taught many hundreds if not thousands of students how to clean and spot. Eisen worked on many issues like Care Labeling and Developing Professional Wetcleaning. Eisen has written many columns in industry trade press, as well as manuals and books and served as long time Chief Garment Analyst for the National Cleaners Association. Eisen’s contributions often happened out of the spotlight, but they touched nearly every corner of the industry. His legacy is one of practical wisdom and genuine service.

James Peuster revolutionized the route side of the drycleaning business by treating it as a true sales and customer service discipline. His hands-on training and consulting empowered hundreds of operators to grow their delivery programs with professionalism and efficiency. Peuster brings unmatched energy, enthusiasm, and practical insight to every engagement. He has been invited to work at over 300+ drycleaners and has spoken over 100+ times on behalf of garment care associations. His influence can be seen on vans, uniforms, and customer doorsteps across the country.

Jane Zellers spent decades shaping the educational and professional development landscape of the drycleaning industry. Her behind-the-scenes leadership helped countless operators gain certifications, sharpen their skills, and raise the standard of service, industry-wide and with the Pennsylvania & Delaware Cleaners Association. Known for her integrity, reliability, and deep industry knowledge, Zellers made a lasting impact through quiet excellence. She is a model of professionalism and commitment whose influence will be felt for years to come.

Honoring Excellence

These inductees exemplify the highest standards of leadership, integrity, and dedication to the industry. The DLI Hall of Fame Award recognizes industry professionals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence. This year’s group of inductees join the following professionals in receiving this award: Michael Nesbit, Jim Douglas, Dixie Stoddard, Barney Deden, Stan Golomb, Chris Edwards, Jeffrey Miller, Sid Tuchman, Donald Fawcett, Walter “Buster” Bell, and Milton Chortkoff.

“We are grateful to everyone who nominated an industry legend for this award, be they members of DLI or otherwise,” Mary Scalco, DLI’s CEO said. “We know excellence on this level can be found in all corners of our industry. Our goal is to spotlight those professionals whose contributions stand to inspire others and help make our industry stronger.”

DLI’s Board of Directors will present the awards to several of this year’s group of Hall of Fame inductees before the opening education session at the Clean Show of their choosing. Details for the 2026 Hall of Fame nomination period will be released early next year.

For more information on DLI’s Hall of Fame, please visit DLIonline.org/HoF.

DLI’s Board of Directors appreciates everyone who nominated their industry hero for the 2025 awards. The program resumes in April 2026 when nominations open for the next class of Hall of Fame inductees.

DLI exists to help member drycleaners succeed.