If you’ve been in the laundry industry long enough, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Adrienne Huntington.
Huntington is the managing partner at Southern Automatic Machinery Co. (SAMCO), and she’s been in the industry for 25 years. But her title doesn’t quite capture the energy, dedication and depth of knowledge she brings to the business. She’s done it all – from answering phones to scheduling installs to ordering a million dollars’ worth of equipment with precision. And she’s still doing a little bit of everything.
“I’ve always called myself the ‘back of the house’ person,” Huntington said. “But I have to force myself to get out and see people, too.” That behind-the-scenes mentality might explain why some people are surprised by her influence – but make no mistake: she’s the one keeping things running.
A 4th of July Start – and No Looking Back
Huntington got her start in the laundry industry after a friend from Sears mentioned a job opening at a company called Southern Automatic. With two young kids at home and a strong work ethic, she jumped in – literally, starting on July 4th during the company party.
“I didn’t know anybody,” she said, laughing. “I showed up at this party and everyone’s like, ‘Who is this?’” But by the following Monday, she was on the phones – and from there, she just kept taking on more.
She found she liked the service side of things, thanks in part to her background with model numbers at Sears. “I enjoyed talking to people and I understood the equipment,” she said. Before long, she was doing install scheduling and ordering equipment. And she was good at it.
“I was ordering all this equipment – million-dollar stores sometimes – and never got it wrong. That was the joy of it. Everything just clicked,” she said.
Eventually, Huntington stepped into outside sales, but she warned her boss: “You’re going to need to hire two people to replace me.” He didn’t. And pretty soon, he asked her to come back. She’s been there ever since.
Co-Ownership and Steady Leadership
Today, Huntington is managing partner and co-owner of SAMCO, a role she stepped into alongside Melissa Roberts when the previous owner, John Sugg, retired in 2019. Roberts is now Regional Business Development Manager at LaundryLux, which left Huntington holding the reigns.
A blend of humility and fierce capability sets Huntington apart. She brings an intense focus to everything she does while holding a deep passion for the work and the people with whom she engages.
“I have customers who’ve been with us for 20 years,” she said. “They keep coming back because they know we’ll make sure the job gets done right.”
Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry
Huntington is quick to acknowledge the laundry industry hasn’t always been welcoming to women.
“People don’t think you know what you’re talking about until you start talking,” she said. “Then they understand what you’re capable of and they’re like, ‘Oh… okay.’”
In the early days, some customers wouldn’t speak to her or would wait until a man was available. These days? Not so much. “I’ll just go get what they need and I can tell they’re a little surprised. I may not look like it, but I know what I’m doing,” she said.
That confidence hasn’t always come easily, but Huntington’s found her own way to push through.
“If I doubt myself, I walk in like I own the place” she said. “I talk my game like there’s no tomorrow and then I walk out thinking, ‘I just did that!’”
Her advice to other women thinking about entering the industry is simple: Take good notes. Be a good listener. And above all, don’t let self-doubt stop you. “Even if you don’t have confidence, find it somewhere,” she said.
The Value of Training – and Listening
For Huntington, one of the biggest opportunities in the industry today is improving customer service – and that starts with training.
“There’s definitely a lack of training out there,” she said. “When people are hired, there’s an opportunity to show them how this industry is all connected. It all matters – from the parts department to the front office to the install crew.”
As someone who has excelled in all those jobs, Huntington sees the value in cross-training and experiential learning. She’s also a visual learner herself and wants to get close to the equipment so she can pass that experience on to their customers.
“Don’t just send me a brochure,” she said. “Come show me how the equipment works. Put it in my hands. I want to understand it so I can explain it to my customers.”
What Makes Huntington Great? The Details.
Ask Huntington what sets women apart in the industry and she’ll tell you: “We listen more. We care more. We pay attention to the details.” And those details matter – especially when it comes to customer service, install planning and making sure a job only has to get done once.
It’s that kind of thinking that keeps SAMCO running smoothly – and customers coming back.
“She may look serious,” she said of herself, “but I want everyone to win.”
Outside the Office: Nature, New York and Wheel of Fortune
Outside of work, Huntington loves to camp, hit the casino (she’s a Wheel of Fortune fan) and take quick trips to New York. “We’ve gone four times – and we’re planning another one,” she said. “I just love walking around, the energy, the people, the food.”
She especially loves going in the winter. “You get to wear a nice coat,” she said, “because you never get to wear one in Atlanta!”
Looking Ahead
As for what’s next in the laundry world? Huntington has got her eye on the evolution of card systems. “There are so many options out there now – and everyone wants to know what’s best,” she said. She’s watching how shifting technology, market slowdowns and equipment costs will affect how stores operate in the next few years.
