An Interview with Dexter Laundry President Amanda Konczal
Amanda Konczal serves as president of Dexter Laundry, headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa.
Ms. Konczal has been an employee owner at Dexter since 2015, where she has been responsible for the company’s marketing, customer support, and new product development efforts through the years.
Prior to joining Dexter, she spent 13 years working for Whirlpool Corp.
Amanda holds is bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a master’s degree from Indiana University. She also currently sits on the Coin Laundry Association’s Board of Directors.
What sparked your interest in the laundry industry?
I knew nothing about the commercial laundry industry until I was exposed to it at a previous employer. Early in my tenure, someone told me, “Once you get into this industry, you will never get out.” How true that is – more than a decade later, here I am, still serving this amazing industry.
I think I fell in love with commercial laundry because it attracts people who are very similar to me and my core values – individuals who are willing to work hard for a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. We are not afraid to take risks or get our hands dirty. I’m happy that I dedicated my career to serving this great group of people.
What do you consider to be the most valuable resources to help learn about the laundry industry?
I learn from distributors, store owners, and even other vendors every day. I am intentional about making regular connections to help better understand the challenges or opportunities others are seeing. We can learn so much from each other. That’s also why CLA is such a valued resource – it enables these three pillars of owners, distributors, and manufacturers to come together in a neutral, unbiased platform to share best practices.
What do you enjoy most about working in the laundry industry?
The industry seems so simple, yet it is extremely complex. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new. I love that I am challenged and can continue to grow even though I’ve been involved in this industry for more than a decade. The last few years especially have been invigorating – between the rapid rate of changes in technology or industry dynamics to the challenges we’ve faced during the pandemic, there is never a dull moment in this “simple” industry.
What do you find most challenging about this industry?
As a manufacturer, I try to view the challenges of our industry as opportunities for us to develop solutions to help. It makes me proud to know that the investments we make in R&D have a direct impact on the improved success of our customers.
For example, technology has enabled a real transformation over the last few years and will continue to do so. Owners can now manage their businesses better than they ever have before, and they can do so from anywhere in the world. It’s great to know we’ve helped owners enjoy more freedom in their operations. The way I see it, there will always be challenges, and there will always be innovative companies looking for solutions.
What advice would you give to other women looking to get into this industry?
I’d give the same advice to anyone – do your due diligence. This isn’t just about counting your quarters and making a quick return on your investment. A successful laundry business requires a lot of hard work. You need the right site, a solid lease, and a significant capital investment just to get started. Once you are operational, you need to keep the place clean and safe, market your location appropriately, and keep your customers coming back. I encourage everyone to work closely with their distributors and to network with other laundromat owners to learn as much as they can.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Besides getting into the industry earlier and joining Dexter sooner, I would have listened better. I truly believe that everyone has something to teach and something to learn. There were times early in my career where I was focused on teaching when I should have been learning.
What can laundry industry leaders do to encourage more women to enter the laundry industry, especially in more male-dominated roles such as store ownership, engineering, R&D, distributor/manufacturing management, etc.?
This challenge isn’t unique to laundry. It’s a challenge within our society, where we place limits on individuals at too young of an age. I am fortunate to have had a lot of support throughout my life – my parents believed in me, my teachers pushed me, and I had mentors who encouraged me to reach my full potential. Not everyone is so lucky. Encouragement needs to begin at home to shift the dialog from what we can’t do to what we can. These roles aren’t male-dominated, they are just lacking women who believe in chasing their dreams.
Just as this challenge isn’t unique to laundry, it also isn’t unique to women. Our workforce has shifted over the past decade in a very good way. You now see a lot more dual-income families with shared childcare responsibilities or team members from diverse backgrounds that add different perspectives to the conversation. Those challenges that previously seemed unique to women, are now shared by a broader section of our society. Because of this, we as leaders need to create a culture in which all voices are heard and everyone can achieve a work-life balance that fits their personal needs.
Where do you see the industry headed over the next five years, especially regarding women professionals?
I hope that as the make-up of our workforce changes, this becomes less and less of a topic. I believe the discussion on diversity will evolve from a push for inclusion to an acceptance of belonging. This industry is too great to limit participation to only half of our society.
