Every member company of TRSA that operates in the state was represented at TRSA’s inaugural Kentucky Legislative Conference in Frankfort, KY. The conference was developed to build legislative support to eliminate the double-taxation scheme charged to the linen, uniform and facility services industry.

TRSA recently hosted its Market Sector Roundtables, giving linen, uniform and facility services industry executives an opportunity to discuss challenges, opportunities and trends impacting their market sector and business. The event included breakout discussions focused on the food-and-beverage (F&B), healthcare, hospitality/hotel and industrial market sectors.

One year ago, Gurtler Industries Inc. launched Gurtler Logistics, a fully owned and operated division of the company, dedicated to providing product-delivery services to its customers. Over the last few years, the industry has experienced increased challenges with delivery services due to the availability of appropriate trucks and drivers. To meet these challenges, Gurtler invested in its own fleet of semi-tractor/trailers and bulk tankers and hired its own staff of fully qualified drivers.

Four TRSA member operator companies and five supplier partner members’ video work has been honored with a 2023 TRSA Industry Award for such productions, to be acknowledged at a March 22 dinner during TRSA’s 13th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.

Superior Group of Companies Inc. (SGC), Seminole, FL, recently announced that COO Andrew D. Demott Jr. will retire effective March 31. Demott will continue to serve on SGC’s Board of Directors.

Many companies have made great strides in reducing workplace illnesses and injuries, and from 2017 to 2021 the linen, uniform and facility services industry experienced across-the-board reductions in its injury and illness rates. Many TRSA members have reported fewer incidents, according to the 2022 TRSA Industry Safety Report. But not everyone is on the same improvement trajectory.

At TRSA’s Annual Conference in September 2022, the association membership elected six new members to TRSA’s Board of Directors. The March issue of Textile Services will include brief profiles of each of these new leaders. They’ll offer insights on their backgrounds in the linen, uniform and facility services industry and tell why they’re willing to serve on the Board.

The textile business of TRSA supplier partner Milliken & Co., Spartanburg, SC, recently announced that it has successfully eliminated all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, from its textile fibers and finishes portfolio, becoming the first U.S.-based multi-market textile manufacturer to accomplish this goal, according to a news release.

This year’s International Women’s Day is March 8, and the theme is #EmbraceEquity! The campaign is designed to help create a focus on gender equity as part of every society’s DNA.

Linen and uniform services pressed for decades to retain production employees have been relieved to an extent by adopting less labor-intensive technologies most easily accommodated by new or expanded plant floor space. Productivity increases and jobs are more ergonomically sound. In an upcoming series of TRSA virtual roundtable discussions, one member company will facilitate conversation based on its experience starting with a “blank piece of paper” and hitting the “drawing board” with these goals in mind.