MLS TEAM

WE ARE AN AWESOME TEAM OF LINEN CLEANING SPECIALISTS

Magic Laundry Services recruits and retains the most talented professionals in the linen cleaning industry to deliver the highest quality services to our clients. Our team constantly improves laundering processes to enhance the client experience, deliver the finest results, maximize efficiency, and minimize our impact on the environment.

Harry Kertenian

CFO, COO

Our COO -CFO, Harry Kertenian, has been with Magic Laundry Services since its birth in 2004. He was introduced to the laundry industry at a very young age, working for his parents who owned and operated their own retail laundry and dry cleaning store. Harry started there after school when he was 16, and upon finishing high school, he was involved full-time and beyond, expanding the business from a six employee cleaners to a two-shift retail store with 15 employees. At the age of 26, Harry began his own Venture and opened a hospitality laundry services company, creating Magic Laundry Services, and since then, he has not looked back.

At MLS, Harry loves that every day is challenging and busy. He also loves making a positive difference in people’s lives. One of our drivers always gives Harry a hug when he sees him. That’s because over 10 years ago, Harry saw this man, an orange seller he noticed daily, sitting by the road with his head down. Harry opened his window, asked him where his oranges were, and when the man said he would have more next week, he needed to get some work first, Harry figured he was honest because he was working instead of begging. So Harry handed him his number, and asked him to call for a job. Little did Harry know, the man came that afternoon and began working in production. Eventually, he earned his Class A driver’s license, and now drives semi-tractor trailers for MLS. How fortunate we are when opportunity is given to us all.

In his spare time, Harry enjoys his church, racing cars (which at one time he did weekly on club circuits), and playing golf with clients. But mostly, he’s dedicated to his family and alongside his wife, raising there children.

Words of Wisdom:

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things shall be added on to you.

Garo Jekmeian

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Garo has been part of the MLS team since 2005. Prior to joining us, he worked in the automotive industry, custom fabrication, and IT. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering. At Magic Laundry Services, he loves keeping busy and setting new challenges for himself. In the decade he’s been here, Garo started as a driver in 2005 and immediately moved to production soon after, in 2008 he became our Chief Engineer and was heavily involved in the growth and expansion of MLS, With his Extensive knowledge and experience company wide , Garo was prompted to our GM in 2013. Garo has grown exponentially and oversees the entire operation of over 500 employees.

In his spare time, Garo enjoys his church, playing basketball, 3D printing, and anything tech-related.

Words of Wisdom:

1 Peter 4:10 and Hebrews 11:1

Crystal Portillo

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR / EXEC. ASST.

Crystal joined our administrative team in 2015, bringing extensive experience as an Executive Assistant / Office Manager. She started off as a Receptionist in her early 20’s and moved up to administrative positions with attorneys, accountants, tribal government, federal/state/county/local government, non-profits, and nuns.  So, to say her administrative experience runs a wide spectrum of environments is an understatement! Crystal is proud of the progress our Admin Team has made since she started at MLS and looks forward to all there is to still be achieved. Crystal oversees the entire office administrative operations.

Outside the office, Crystal is a singer-songwriter, and spends most of her free time as an entertainer performing with three different bands/projects in the rock, doo-wop, and country genres.

Words of Wisdom:

Keep a sense of humor, and always be open to other ideas and opinions.

“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige.  It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”~unknown

Erika Pina

DIRECTOR, PEOPLE & CULTURE

Erika joined the MLS team in 2021 as the Director of People and Culture, spearheading the HR operations and working to build a positive MLS culture. Erika comes from 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, working with MLS as a customer for many years at various hotels in Southern California Region. The hotel experience was exclusively with Marriott, where Erika was able to travel to multiple cities, focus on training employees, and be part of opening new luxury properties. After a successful career with Marriott, Erika expanded her knowledge and experience in the hospitality market by taking a position as the Director of Housekeeping at SoFi stadium at its inception. In being a part of opening a state-of-the-art NFL stadium/event venue, Erika was also able to experience working Superbowl LIV in Tampa, Florida. All these experiences led Erika to her role as the director of People and Culture at MLS. At work, Erika most enjoys being able to help others, as well as develop the leadership team. Her most memorable experiences have always been team building and putting together creative ways to improve teamwork and communication. Outside of the 9-5, Erika loves exploring new places, especially with her pug, Bilbo.

Words of Wisdom:

A positive attitude changes everything!

Robert Luna

DIRECTOR HEALTH & SAFETY

Mr. Robert Luna joins MLS with over 20 years of Customer Service, Retail, and Security background.  He’s dependable, honest, hardworking, and enjoys interacting with his coworkers.  Robert started with MLS working the graveyard shift as the Safety/Security Officer.  During that time, his work ethic and positive attitude were evident in making difference by helping the employees feel safe in the late hours of the night.  Now, we are blessed to have Robert take over the role of Health & Safety Director.  He is always alert, follows through, and is willing to jump in and assist wherever he can.

When Robert isn’t at MLS, he enjoys watching sports, spending time with his family, and church activities.

Words of Wisdom:

Trust in God all the time and treat people the way you want to be treated.

Jasmine Hovasepian

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND RECEIVABLE

Jasmine has been working in the offices at Magic Laundry Services since 2014. Before joining MLS, she worked as a receptionist and moved into finance, where she handled accounts payable and receivable, billing, bank reconciliation, and more. All totaled, Jasmine has over 20 years of office experience. At Magic Laundry Services, she loves that every day is different, and it never gets boring. She even works in the plant from time to time, shaking things up and getting a work out!

When she’s not at MLS, Jasmine enjoys cooking, exercising, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Words of Wisdom: 

Appreciate and be grateful for what you have, no matter how hard things get at times.

Luis Ramos

DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

Starting in 2015, Luis joined MLS as a Dock employee.  With Customer Service knowledge and a desire to grow, Luis soon joined the Management team as the Director of Logistics.  As he oversees routes, dispatch, and a fleet of trucks that travel all over Southern California, Luis enjoys stepping up to challenges and always looking for ways to make his department better and learn new things.

In his time away from work, Luis likes to go to the gym, play soccer, loves music, and plays his guitars and piano.

Words of Wisdom:

He who fights against monsters should see to it that the does not become a monster in the process.  “When you stare persistently into an abyss, the abyss also stares into you.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Joe Gayton

EXEC. DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING

Joe came to MLS in 2017 with 30 years of Laundry/Mechanical experience.  Having served as an Operations Manager, Chief Engineer, Regional Director of Engineers for several automated plants over the years, Joe has brought his knowledge to the Engineering department.  As the support for the whole company , the department is always busy and each day is never the same.  Joe genuinely enjoys working on equipment, figuring them out, and getting them up and running when they’re down. Joe oversees over 35 engineers, keeping all MLS equipment and automation running smoothly 7 days a week!

When Joe’s not at MLS, he’s hanging out with his family, enjoying music, and people watching.

Words of Wisdom: 

Manage your destiny.  / Be positive and Think positive and it will become your reality.

Berge Manayan

DIRECTOR CUSTOMER SERVICES

Berge joined MLS in February 2019.  With over 20 years of Customer Service experience in the luxury fashion industry, he is no stranger to providing the utmost in excellent service.  One of the things he likes most about being at Magic is the Magic of our Teamwork and that everyone pulls together to make it happen.  Berge loves listening to good music, taking in a lively soccer match, and traveling wherever the wind takes him.  We are very excited to have Berge on Team MLS!

 

Words of Wisdom: 

 “You can’t have a better tomorrow if you’re still thinking about yesterday.”

Vatche Kouyoumdjian

SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER (LA & ORANGE COUNTIES)

Vatche has been part of the MLS team since 2007. He started here as the controller, and now works in sales and customer service, which he truly enjoys. Working with our clients on a daily basis brings Vatche a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment, from traveling to meetings and presentations to going the extra mile for a client guest. In fact, he recently received a call from a mother whose child was missing a white teddy bear. (She thought it might have been sent with the laundry.) Vatche led the search, found the teddy, and returned it the following day.

When he’s not at MLS, Vatche enjoys sports. One of the things he looks forward to each year is attending USC football games.

Words of Wisdom:

Take one day at a time. Matthew 6:34 says it best: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Angie Marquez

PLANT MANAGER 412

Angie is one of our newest leadership members at Magic Laundry Services. She joins us with over 20 years of Industrial Laundry Experience! She has truly done it all: Laundry Supervisor, Quality Control, Customer Support and now she oversees Production Operations for Plant #1. Angie enjoys multi-tasking and working alongside her team members. She likes to be presented with new challenges and coming up with solutions. When Angie is not at work, she enjoys cooking, going to church and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Words of Wisdom

Life is like a camera. Just focus on what is important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out…just take another shot!

Tony Gallegos

DIRECTOR OF WARDROBE & UNIFORMS

Tony has worked at MLS since the opening in 2005. He originally began working at Magic Cleaners in 1998 which later became MLS.  At MLS, Tony was one of first two employees.  He pretty much did everything, which means he has a wide-ranging of experience and knowledge. Tony has 20 years of extensive experience in the dry cleaning and uniform industry.  He oversees the entire operations of the uniform department which cleans and presses over 10,000 garments a day.   He loves the responsibility that comes with his job, and seeing MLS grow like a big family. For Tony, family means a lot—at home and at work.

Words of Wisdom:

Always do your best.

Ricardo Bribiesca

PM PLANT MANAGER

Ricardo has been with Magic Laundry Services since 2010. Before joining our team, he worked for Minson Corporation for 15 years, starting as a regular employee and moving up to a lead-man and then a supervisor. At MLS, he worked for one year as a driver and then he was promoted to a plant  manager in 2011. He loves helping every single employee get better every day, and watching them grow everyday with their hard work. On a daily basis, Ricardo strives to be consistent and energetic, knowing that with a good attitude, you can conquer anything, and all your goals are possible.

In his spare time, Ricardo enjoys sports cars, and he’s fascinated with his home. He loves to spend time with his daughters and wife.

Words of Wisdom:

Always work with discipline, always be positive, and always be honest with yourself and others. Don’t be embarrassed to ask something when you don’t know. Always share your good ideas.

Aaron Baca

ASST. SAFETY & SECURITY

Joining MLS in 2012, Aaron began as a Production Employee.  He quickly moved his way up to Supervisor and now is an important member of the Management Team.  Aaron enjoys the challenges that the job requires and says that “moving things around daily is like playing chess.”

Aaron loves sports but his passion is baseball, especially playing, and most of all, coaching Little League and seeing the kids grow and advance in the game.

Words of Wisdom: 

To be Honest and Kind to Everyone.

Jose Garcia

CHIEF ENGINEER 412 PLANT

Jose joined MLS in 2006, and he has 25 years of experience in the laundry industry. He was with Coca-Cola for 10 years, Gatorade for two years, Tequila Errudura for three years, Texolini Textile for one year, and Flexible Technologies for four years as an automation engineer. At MLS, he likes the daily challenges and learning new technologies and new automation systems that the company continuously invests in, Jose overseers the 412 Plant Engineering department. In fact, his most memorable experience here was resolving a problem on one of the tunnels that was difficult to troubleshoot.

Words of Wisdom:

Do what you like to do to feel good about yourself, and the people you surround yourself with at work.

Johana Gonzalez

PLANT MANAGER 424

Starting in 2012 as a production employee, Johana quickly became a Supervisor.  She feels that it was a good opportunity to learn more about the whole process of production and in 2017 she was made a member of the Management Team.  Johana has enjoyed the growth opportunities and learn more about the industry . “MLS has allowed me to grow and Expand my Horizon and I’m proud to say that running one of the plants has been awesome, as I look to grow even more.”

In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones.

Words of Wisdom:

Always do your best and never be afraid of a challenge.

Maria “Lupe” Velarde

ASSISTANT PLANT 424 MANAGER

Lupe joined MLS 10 years ago.  She started working with us as a Production employee and became adept at running various stations and equipment.  Soon, she too was made a Supervisor and recently promoted to the role of Assistant Manager.  She says that she loves everything about her job and the growth she’s experienced.  Her most memorable times at work have been the acknowledgement of her talents and the opportunity to be given higher positions as she’s grown.  She holds a genuine interest in being a better person every day and to continue to move up the ladder.

Words of Wisdom:

I don’t know the key to success but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.

Oscar Leon Wong

PLANT MANAGER 400

Oscar started at MLS since the opening in 2005. He originally began working for Magic Cleaners at the age of 16 which later became MLS. He started as a supervisor learning each department and perfecting each department he was managing.  Oscar has become one of the most knowledgeable plant managers in this industry.  His hard work and dedication has made him one of the most loved and respected individuals at MLS.  His commitment and dedication to the production team has helped MLS become the industry leader in quality and service to our family of hotel clients.

When he’s not at Magic Laundry Services, Oscar enjoys race cars and playing sports.

Words of Wisdom:

 We need to work together to achieve our goals and succeed in life.

Paul Dominguez

CHIEF ENGINEER 424 PLANT

Paul joined MLS in 2010 with extensive experience in the hospitality laundry industry. He likes challenging himself daily, he’s happy to learn many new and different tasks. On both a personal and professional level, Paul pushes himself to keep learning more. Paul oversees the 424 plant which is one of the most state of the art laundry facilities in the county.  He is continuously striving to keep the equipment running in pristine condition.

Words of Wisdom:

Be responsible and efficient at your job. Never give up easily.

Ivan Quintero

SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE (SAN DIEGO COUNTY / PALM DESERT/ COACHELLA VALLEY)

Ivan is our Customer Service Representative for the San Diego Area. He was promoted into this role in 2021 because of his contagious positive personality. He started working with Magic Laundry back in 2017 as a production worker then was promoted as a supervisor. When the opportunity of Assistant Manager became open, Ivan was the first person that came to mind. Because of Ivan’s background and previous hospitality experience working in a cruise line he had the people skills to be our Customer Service Rep. What he loves most about his job is that he is able to learn new things every day and provide our customers with the best service he can give. When Ivan is not working, he enjoys spending time with family, surfing and reading IT books.

Words of Wisdom: 

El señor es mi pastor y nada me faltara

Victor Garcia

ASST. DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

Victor has been with Magic Laundry Services since 2019. He was previously working at a tire shop for 10 years then decided to make a move and further his career with us. What he loves about his job is the daily challenges, not a single day is the same! When Victor is not at work, he enjoys playing the guitar and working on cars.

 

Words of Wisdom: 

Trust others, but not blindly

Alicia Silva

GENERAL MANAGER SB

Alicia is our newest leader that joined Magic Laundry Services. She comes to us with over 35 years of laundry experience! She has truly done it all, everything from Accounting, HR, Customer Relationship Manager, Operations and now she is our General Manager for our newest Plant located in San Bernardino. Our SB plant is a brand new, smart, state of the art facility and Alicia will be responsible in overseeing that we produce the highest quality linen for our customers. Alicia enjoys working with people, coaching and being able to make our customers happy with our services. Her most memorable experience was working during COVID and managing to get through those tough times. When she is not at work she enjoys reading a good book and spending time with her children.

 

 

 

Words of Wisdom

Never Give up

Believe everything happens for a reason

Don’t Judge the book the cover

Berenice Cortez

RECEPTIONIST

Berenice joined Magic Laundry Services in 2022 as our receptionist. She comes to us with over 10 years of Customer Service Experience! Berenice enjoys the welcoming and supportive environment around her, and she enjoys creating that same environment for all our employees when they come to the reception for help. One of her most memorable experiences she had recently was when the Management Team went out bowling for some team building. Some leaders showcased their skills and Berenice was one of the top bowlers! When Berenice is not at work she enjoys off roading, bike riding, walks at the park and some family time.

Words of Wisdom

Build on your strengths. The struggle you are in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER SAN DIEGO

Boni has been with Magic Laundry Service since 2018 but has had laundry experience since he was 8 years old! His father was a Manager for a laundry department at a hotel and would go with him on take your child to work day! Him and his brother would work together sorting linen impressing all the housekeepers with their abilities being so young! He enjoyed working in the laundry department so much that he got his first job as a houseman for a hotel when he turned 16. He enjoys feeling a sense of belonging and liking the people he works with. What Boni enjoys doing when not working is listening to audio books and being able to multi task. He also enjoys learning new things.

 

 

Words of wisdom

A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work

Carlos Hernandez

ASSISTANT PLANT 412 MANAGER

Carlos has been working for Magic Laundry Services since 2015. He started as a production worker in the towels department. After he mastered that, he was transferred over to the sheets department. He did such a great job that he was then promoted to operate the system where all customer information is entered. After 2 years, he was then promoted to be a Production Supervisor and later to Assistant Manager! Carlos has done it all! He enjoys the responsibilities that come with the role and creating a positive work environment. He is grateful for all the opportunities that MLS has provided to him over the years. When Carlos is not at work, he enjoys spending time with family, reading a good book and being on the computer.

 

Words of Wisdom

Do not give up, keep trying until you reach your goal

Gina Luna

ASSISTANT PLANT 412 MANAGER

Gina has been a part of the Magic Laundry Services team since 2015. She started off as a Production Worker then was promoted to input all our customer information into our system which requires great attention to detail. Gina did such a fantastic job that she was later promoted again to be a Production Supervisor. When the role of Assistant Manager opened, the first person we thought of to be a great fit was Gina! She loves working alongside her team and enjoys learning new things in her role. When Gina is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and watching suspense movies!

 

Words of Wisdom

No matter what others think, never stop believing in yourself and what you are capable of achieving.

Guillermina Ramirez

ASSISTANT PLANT 400 MANAGER

Guillermina has been a Magic Laundry Services employee for over 16 years now. She started off in production and learned how to feed and receive. Later on she was promoted to be a Supervisor and just recently was promoted to be an Assistant Manager. Guillermina enjoys being challenged and meeting her Production goals. Her favorite memory was when she worked alongside her supervisor coworkers during the pandemic. They worked together with low staff but were still able to have great teamwork and get the deliveries out on time as scheduled. When Guillermina is not at work she enjoys spending time with her family.

 

Words of Wisdom

Persistence kills resistance.

Marina Cordero

ASSISTANT PLANT 400 MANAGER

Marina has been working for Magic Laundry Services since 2009. Prior to joining us she was working at a different laundry company, so she already had a lot of experience. After working in production for 3 years she was promoted to be a production supervisor. When the position of Assistant Manager became open, Marina was promoted again! What Marina loves about her job is being able to train new employees and ensuring that her employees are happy. She is proud of the growth that she has had with the company. When Marina is not at work she loves to dance and getting a good night’s sleep.

 

Words of wisdom

Lose the fear, take the risk. Take a chance because later is too late!

Rosa Huerta

ASSISTANT PLANT 400 MANAGER

Rosa has been with Magic Laundry Services since 2011. She was a production worker for 4 years and was then promoted to work the system where she was given more responsibility. After excelling in her role, she was promoted to Supervisor then quickly because as Assistant Manager for Plant #3. Rosa loves coming to work and giving it her all! Every day she learns more and more about her role and enjoys all the improvement Magic Laundry has made for the employees. She enjoys the challenge of meeting production numbers every day. When Rosa is not at work she enjoys spending time with her family.

 

Words of Wisdom

Be persistent because he who does not risk does not win

Teresa Diaz

ASSISTANT PLANT 424 MANAGER

Teresa has been with Magic Laundry Services for 15 years! She started off as a production worker and was quickly promoted to Supervisor. She learned all the different areas and was later promoted to be our Assistant Manager. Teresa has enjoyed learning the whole process of the commercial laundry business. She loves that there is a family environment with her team because she treats everyone like family. Her team enjoys working with her and having her as a mentor. When Teresa is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family!

Words of Wisdom

Challenges are always achieved more easily with the effort and performance of the entire team.

Miriam Gonzalez

ASSISTANT PLANT 424 MANAGER

Miriam has been a part of the Magic Laundry Services team since 2012. She started as a Production Employee then was promoted to Supervisor because of her dedication and willingness to learn and grow. When the opportunity presented itself, she was then promoted again to be the Assistant Manager. Miriam enjoys having different goals and finding ways to meet her goals together with her team. She believes it makes her stronger as a leader and she enjoys a good challenge. When Miriam is not at work, she enjoys making traditional food for her family and going shopping with her daughters.

 

Words of Wisdom

Always stay humble even when you have reached all your goals in life. There is always something new to learn in life.

Eduardo Hernandez

PLANT MANAGER SB

Eduardo joins Magic Laundry Services with more than 25 years of laundry experience! He previously worked at an in-house laundry for a Luxury hotel in Mexico and the United States. He has had the opportunity to work in different cities, different equipment and brands and has also received extensive training in management and attended seminars all related to the laundry industry! Eduardo helps oversee our newest plant in San Bernardino. This is a brand new, state of the art facility that is the latest addition to Magic Laundry Services. Eduardo loves to have the chance to apply all his experience and knowledge gained to help to resolve issues. One of Eduardo’s most memorable experience was when he got the opportunity to meet with the CEO of the Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts. He was amazed on how humble he was and the way he treated the employees. He was open to interact with everyone and was something he will always remember. When Eduardo is not at work he enjoys spending time with his family, watch TV, playing chess and travelling to local areas around.

 

Words of Wisdom 

I’m not believe I’m the one to do it, but I’d like the ones I learn from others, as the golden rule “treat others as you want to be treated”, “lead by example”, “treat other with respect and dignity”,etc. and finally I believe everything begin with a dream, have a dream, allow your self to dream and persuade your dreams.

Edgar Martinez

ASST. CHIEF ENGINEER 400 PLANT

Edgar has been part of the Magic Laundry Services team since 2018. He started off as a mechanic and because of his hard work and determination he was then sent to special trainings to learn more about the laundry equipment. Some of the trainings he has taken include Kanegeisser E-Tech over in Germany and Minnesota. He has also taken electrical courses on his own because he wants to learn as much as he can to further his career. Edgar enjoys working with his team and being able to trouble shoot machines. When Edgar is not at work he enjoys off roading hanging out with his friends and family.

 

Words of Wisdom

Everything is fixable, no pasa nada

Elizabeth Virgen

BILLING

Elizabeth has been part of the Magic Laundry Services accounting team since 2021. She comes to us with over 15 years of accounting experience! She enjoys working in the accounting department because she likes to solve math problems and when you like your job, it makes your day less stressful! When she is not counting numbers she enjoys watching movies, reading and watching Soccer. Especially watching LAFC or Barcelona!

 

Words of Wisdom

Be patient. Patience is the mother of all virtues

Patricia Vasquez

ASST. DIRECTOR OF WARDROBE & UNIFORMS

Patricia has been with Magic Laundry Services for over 10 years. She has been working in the dry cleaning industry for over 20 years total! She came to us with so much experience already and was able to help us launch our dry cleaning department. She is very passionate about the work she does and takes pride in being able to deliver exceptional quality to our clients. Patricia enjoys when all the team gets together and bonds. When Patricia is not at work, she enjoys spending time with family and recharging.

Words of Wisdom

The one who perseveres reaches