William Blaine Jackson, 74, New Orleans, a longtime industry supplier partner executive and active TRSA volunteer over 43 years, passed away on May 9 after a lengthy illness.

A group of 30-plus Canadian laundry operators and supplier partner executives discussed a range of regulatory concerns affecting the industry during TRSA’s Canadian CEO/Executive Roundtable on May 16.

New York State Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (D-84th District) last week introduced AB 6995. The legislation would amend the New York public health law, and require healthcare facilities to maintain a 50% operating threshold of certain reusable healthcare protective textiles in their inventory. New York State Sen. Cordell Cleare (D-30th District) introduced the New York State Senate companion bill.

Antonio Casillas, a first-generation Mexican immigrant with nine years’ experience working his way up at an Oregon healthcare co-op laundry, says he’s eager for his second year at TRSA’s Executive Management Institute (EMI) this Aug. 6-10 in Hyattsville, MD.

Growth in its clinic and other outpatient business has recently spurred the completion of several equipment upgrades at the Medico Healthcare Linen Service plant in Long Beach, CA, according to Greg Shames, vice president of operations.

TRSA recently held a Legislative Conference in New York’s capital city of Albany, in which 12 members went to visit their respective legislators, both assembly members and state senators. In total, the group participated in 17 meetings and were able to secure co-sponsors to support a key bill currently being drafted in the state assembly.

The Textile Services Association (TSA-UK) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, April 27, at 2:15 p.m. CEST (8:15 a.m. EDT) titled “Building a Global Hygiene Protocol and Potential Future Challenges.” During the hour-long webinar, Professor Katie Laird from De Montfort University will present the results of a research project primarily funded by TRSA, TSA-UK and ETSA.

TRSA recently launched a customer/consumer-facing website to promote the hygiene and environmental advantages and supply-chain sustainability, as well as other benefits of linen, uniform and facility services. Users can view the website at LaundryServices.org. It includes a searchable directory of TRSA members so local businesses can find one near them.

Healthcare Linen Services Group (HLSG) recently announced the start of a new era with the grand opening of its new headquarters on 38th Avenue in Saint Charles, IL.

TRSA has updated its 10-page white paper that portrays uniform rental as the superior risk-minimization option for healthcare wearers and their employers. Published initially in 2018, the updated Curbing the Infection Risk of Healthcare Garments factors pandemic-era research and consumer behavior into explaining why linen and uniform service laundering is more hygienic than home washing.