What does a successful corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) initiative look like? Angela Howard, vice president, people development and human experience for Spindle, Woodridge, IL, described her vision by citing an analogy from consultant Verna Myers, who said, “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.”

While women still face overt sexism in some instances, it’s the subtler, everyday slights that females typically find are more pervasive and in some ways harder to combat. Gina Radke, a business entrepreneur and author, gave an online audience of nearly 50 women from TRSA member companies a slew of useful tips for dealing with these challenges during TRSA’s Jan. 14 Virtual Roundtable: Women in the Linen, Uniform and Facility Services Industry.

Elena Lai, the recently named secretary general of the European Textile Services Association (ETSA), says she’s eager to work with laundry operators, suppliers and industry trade groups across Europe and North America in order to advance solutions to challenges, including COVID-19 relief/rebuilding, healthcare textile supply chains, advancing a pro-environmental “circular” economy, promoting equal opportunity in a diverse industry and more.

Metro Laundry Service (MLS) provides laundry services for hotels around the “DMV” (i.e., the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) region surrounding the nation’s capital city. Founded in 2002 by Bernard Young and now led mainly by his nephew, COO Steven Young, the company has seen significant growth in recent years, but – like hospitality laundries nationwide – it has suffered from COVID-19-driven losses in business and leisure travel. Diversity issues also have had an impact on this company in Capitol Heights, MD.