Dulany Noble, Owner of Gala Cloths,
wins the 2009 "George Zell Spirit of NACE" national award from
The National Association of Catering Executives (NACE)

Dulany Noble, noted events industry figure and owner of Reisterstown, Maryland based "Gala Cloths," table linen and chair cover rentals, has won the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) 2009 "George Zell Spirit of NACE" Award. Noble is also Community Service Chair of the Baltimore Chapter of NACE, which won the 2009 Community Service Chapter of the Year award. The George Zell Award is national recognition for one individual NACE member who exemplifies the goals and values of the organization and who has outstanding participation and contributions at the local, national and
humanitarian levels.

Noble has been a member of the Baltimore Chapter of NACE for almost 18 years, and has been Director of Community Service for five years. As chairman of fundraising for the chapter, Noble developed the concept for "Uncorked!" – an auction, wine dinner and event designer competition. Recognized twice for national NACE awards, Uncorked! proceeds benefit the Maryland Food Bank, the Foundation of NACE and the Baltimore Chapter of the NACE Education Fund.

Dulany Noble has dedicated her entire professional career to the special events industry, and a lifetime of giving back to the community benefitting many groups, among them, Family Tree, Shawan Downs, and the Maryland Association of Wildlife Conservancy. She also mobilizes Gala Cloths’ employees for hands-on volunteer work with local charitable causes. Noble attributes her embracing the values of service and the spirit of volunteerism to the life-long example of her late mother, Maude Dulany Jones, who was actively involved in organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Driving for the Disabled, and the Junior League.

Prior to launching Gala Cloths in 1991, Noble was director of Baltimore based Loane Brothers' linen, table and chair rental division, and was manager of the party division of Taylor Rental (formerly ABC) for ten years. She is past-president of the Maryland Rental Equipment Association and has served the American Rental Association on the Party Council, the committee for Local and State Associations, Advertising & Marketing Committee, and Governmental Affairs Committee. She has been a member of the International Special Events Society (ISES) since 1991 and has served two years as an ISES board member.

About Gala Cloths

Gala Cloths provides table linen and chair cover rentals and consultation for the hospitality and corporate/social events industries, serving caterers, event and wedding planners, and hotels, country clubs, historic sites and other venues. Since launching Gala Cloths in 1991, Dulany Noble has developed the company into one of the most recognized and celebrated niche vendors in its industries.

By Gala Cloths' tenth anniversary, Noble had expanded her service area from Greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Metro, to encompass Philadelphia, Wilmington, and South New Jersey. Gala's Washington, D.C. Metro presence subsequently expanded to include West Virginia. The company opened a second showroom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in spring 2009. Gala Cloths has rental consultant sales managers in three defined territories, and also ships linens throughout the U.S.

Gala Cloths is the only specialty linen rental company in the region with all operations
under one roof. The Reisterstown, Md. base of operations includes a showroom, resource center for events professionals, warehouse, administrative offices, and a multi-shift
commercial laundry.

About the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) and the
George Zell Spirit of NACE Award

The award is named in memory of NACE member, George Zell, who passed away in 2000. Zell was the quintessential NACE member, dedicated to his chapter and the national organization through leadership, volunteerism, mentoring and passion for the
catering profession.

NACE is the oldest and largest professional association that addresses all aspects of the catering industry. Through the collective efforts of members, local chapters, committees and the Foundation of NACE, the organization is at the forefront of the issues that directly affect the hospitality industry. The NACE mission is to provide catering and event professionals superior education, networking, and resources to enhance career success and deliver excellence to clients.

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