“


During my time in the linen and uniform rental industry, I noticed that there was an enormous need for improved


efficiency and automation. It occurred to me that this would be the perfect application for my work as an engineer. So I began the process of changing the processing facilities from labor-intensive to highly automated and streamlined.


to manage,” notes Struminger. “But over the years we have taken processes such as feeding, folding, and finishing to a new level of efficiency, while significantly reducing water and energy consumption. There used to be zero automation in the industry, but today Mohenis’ affiliated facilities are 75 to 80 percent automated.” Struminger became the company’s President in 1977.


Today, he holds the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. His youngest son David has become the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, making 75-year-old Mohenis one of the few companies to be successfully run by a third generation. Only nine percent of American companies make it to the third generation. Since Struminger has been part of the business, Mohenis


has become affiliated with 16 uniform and linen rental companies in eight states—spanning an area from Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, to Charlotte, North Carolina, and from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Cincinnati, Ohio. Each facility is governed by a strict set of processes and policies created by Struminger to maximize engineering efficiency and ensure profitability. Struminger is a licensed professional engineer in nine states, and has designed and constructed seven state-of-the-art processing facilities. The Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA),


the industry association, awarded its highest honor—the Member Achievement Award—to Struminger in 2007. He is one of only six people to receive this prestigious award. In recognizing Struminger, TRSA noted that he has not only changed the face of his own company’s operations, but has impacted standards and practices across the industry. Struminger has been an active member of TRSA, serving as the Association’s youngest Chairman from 1977 to 1979. He is also an industry policy leader, having testified before Congress and hosted federal lawmakers during tours of his facilities.


Continuing a Family Tradition Along the way, Struminger has matched this professional success with personal happiness. He has been married to his wife Judi for 44 years, and they have five children: Alexander, Michael, Bruce, David, and Rhonda. They are also proud grandparents to nine grandchildren. While David joined his father in the family business,


daughter Rhonda carried on another tradition by earning B.S. degrees in Industrial Management and Applied


History from Carnegie Mellon in 1993. She was also one of the University’s first Fifth-Year Scholars, a program that allows a small number of exceptional students to remain on campus for one full year following graduation to pursue a broadened educational experience while continuing to enhance the Carnegie Mellon community. Today, Rhonda is getting her Ph.D. in Political Science at


Texas A&M University. Alexander is an online communica- tions strategy consultant whose clients include the United Nations Children’s Fund. Bruce is a doctor and is presently head of the Centers for Disease Control program for AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in Vietnam. Michael just completed his Masters degree in Business Administration.


Weaving Together Success and Philanthropy Donald Struminger’s life has been characterized by a strong spirit of philanthropy. He has contributed both time and financial support to a number of worthy causes, including the United Fund of Southside Virginia, where he was a Trustee and Chairman of the Kiwanis Crippled Children’s Clinic. Struminger served as Commissioner and Chairman of the hospital authority for Southside Regional Medical Center and as President of the Tri-City Jewish Community Fund and his synagogue, Congregation Brith Achim. Struminger has also given generously to Carnegie Mellon


and the Mechanical Engineering Department over the years. He created the Struminger Junior Faculty Fellowship to support the teaching efforts of Mechanical Engineering tenure-track junior faculty, a cause that is close to his heart. “I think it is critical that MechE retains its talented young


professors, who might otherwise be tempted to leave aca- demia for the world of industry,” explains Struminger. “By supporting these young professors with the lab equipment or curriculum materials they need, the Struminger Fellowship aims to inspire them and encourage their interest in teach- ing.” To date, six MechE faculty members have received support as Struminger Junior Faculty Fellows. Struminger has been pleased with the results of his


contributions to MechE, and has visited the campus to meet Fellowship awardees and learn about their efforts. “By supporting the efforts of these young professors— which, in turn, benefits Mechanical Engineering students— I believe I am helping to encourage a new generation of engineers,” says Struminger. “It brings me back full circle to my own days at Carnegie Mellon.”•


CARNEGIE MECH 11 ”


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