Dr. Alex Ellis, an internationally recognized leadership expert, award-winning author, and dynamic motivational speaker. Great businesses are built by great leaders. Your business will never outperform the people behind it. International leadership expert Dr. Alex Ellis shares proven strategies for building a high-performance culture where employees are engaged, accountable, and motivated to excel. Through practical leadership principles and inspiring stories, you’ll learn how to strengthen your team, develop leaders at every level, and create an organization where excellence becomes the standard.

Featured on CNN, Good Morning America, BET, Black Enterprise, and The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Dr. Ellis is widely known for his engaging presentations on leadership, excellence, personal branding, and empowerment.

Join us as we honor the 2026 inductees into the DLI Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals whose leadership, innovation, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the drycleaning and laundry industry. Following the presentation of the awards, each inductee will have an opportunity to share brief remarks reflecting on their journey and the people who helped shape their success.

What separates a good business from a great one? Join an engaging panel discussion featuring DLI Hall of Fame members as they share the decisions, challenges, and lessons that helped build some of the drycleaning and laundry industry’s most successful businesses.

Featured panelists include James Peuster, founder of The Route Pro, and Jane Zellers, one of the industry’s most respected training experts and consultants. Together, they will offer practical advice on leadership, customer service, employee development, business growth, and adapting to an ever-changing marketplace. A third Hall of Fame panelist will be announced soon.

Bring your questions and take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn directly from professionals whose accomplishments have earned them the industry’s highest honor.

John Stricker, is a Fractional CFO, Business Coach, and Certified Profit First Professional of Stricker Co., who specializes in helping business owners gain greater clarity and control over their financial operations.

His presentation will focus on building financial systems that help operators better understand cash flow, improve decision-making, and create a stronger foundation for long-term growth.

Are you making money—but still wondering where it goes? John Stricker will show you how to build simple financial systems that improve cash flow, increase profitability, and give you greater confidence in every business decision. Most businesses don’t fail because they lack sales—they struggle because they lack financial clarity. Learn practical strategies that move your business from reacting to managing with intention.

The future of the drycleaning and laundry industry is being shaped by legislation, regulations, workforce challenges, environmental policy, and economic change. Join Maryland State Senator Mike McKay as he leads an interactive discussion exploring the issues that matter most to independent business owners.

Senator McKay will be joined by fellow legislators for an open conversation on the policies, proposals, and trends impacting businesses like yours. This engaging session is designed to encourage audience participation, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and gain firsthand insight into the legislative process.

Whether you’re interested in labor issues, environmental regulations, taxes, small business policy, or the future of our industry, you’ll leave with a better understanding of what’s on the horizon—and how you can prepare your business for the challenges and opportunities ahead.