Unitec Distribution Systems Inc.

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With nearly a century in business, Unitec Distribution Systems Inc. has built its reputation on enterprise uniform sourcing, fulfillment and management, and is now channeling that legacy into a new era of technology-driven service.

President and CEO Elise Elfman leads the 20-person firm, which is 54% women-owned. Under her direction, Unitec has combined deep compliance expertise with the launch of Proximity, a proprietary uniform management platform designed to simplify complex apparel programs for enterprise clients. Elfman counts the development and rollout of that platform among her proudest achievements, alongside investments in expanded sales channels and strengthened internal systems and processes.

Operating in an industry in which women remain underrepresented, Elfman has made leadership development and mentorship central. She works directly with women entering the workforce after college, offering guidance and professional insight as they establish their careers. That commitment extends inward as well. Unitec fosters an environment built around collaboration and opportunity, with an eye toward building the next generation of women business leaders.

The company’s growth has not come without challenges. Elfman acknowledges the persistent work of building trust and expanding opportunity in a competitive market and credits those pressures with sharpening the organization’s vision and reinforcing its service standards. The result, she notes, is a team that blends institutional experience with emerging talent, a combination she describes as the foundation for the company’s next chapter.

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by forms completed by the honoree. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.

This profile is part of The Daily Record's In the Lead: Best Women-Owned Businesses in Maryland list for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at thedailyrecord.com.