Rooted in Resilience, Committed to Community: Clarice Wood’s Journey to Entrepreneurship
As we celebrate Black History Month, ZIPS is proud to spotlight one of the newest members of our franchise family, Clarice Wood. In late 2025, Clarice, alongside her business partner Judith Singletary, acquired the ZIPS Cleaners locations in Scaggsville and Ellicott City, Maryland, bringing seasoned leadership, deep community roots, and a people-centered vision to both stores.
A native of Baltimore, Clarice’s drive and determination were shaped early in life. Raised by a single mother, she learned firsthand the values of independence, resilience, and self-reliance. Education became the cornerstone of that foundation. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins University and went on to receive her MBA from the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business. As Clarice often reflects, “I’m blessed to have a great education to springboard from. No one can take that away from you.”
With more than 40 years of executive experience in retail and commercial financial services, as well as business management and operations, Clarice brings a depth of expertise that spans nonprofits, corporations, banking, local government, and home care. Her longstanding passion for entrepreneurship — combined with a commitment to meaningful community impact — made ZIPS Cleaners a natural next chapter.
Clarice’s leadership extends beyond business. As an active community member through board service, church involvement, and mentorship, she believes strongly in philanthropy that “pulls people forward,” particularly through scholarships and guidance that expand access to education and opportunity. The franchise model appealed to both Clarice and Judith because it offers a proven operational framework, allowing them to focus on what matters most: cultivating strong teams and serving their community with excellence.
Their leadership philosophy is both practical and empowering: remove obstacles so employees can excel, create clear pathways for growth, and recognize strong performance. They are intentional about fostering a positive workplace culture where team members can thrive personally and professionally.
As the new owners of ZIPS Cleaners Maryland locations in Ellicott City and Scaggsville, Clarice and Judith are committed to providing affordable dry cleaning and professional garment care with exceptional customer service. Their local dry cleaner stores offer same-day dry cleaning, wash and fold laundry service, and expertly pressed garments, delivering the convenience, quality, and value Maryland customers expect from ZIPS Cleaners.
Please join us in welcoming Clarice and Judith to the ZIPS family. We look forward to seeing their leadership continue to elevate ZIPS Scaggsville and Ellicott City as the premier dry cleaning destinations in their communities.
