Ostrow to Get TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement Award

Douglas “Woody” Ostrow, president, CleanCare, Pittsburgh, will be honored at the 112th TRSA Annual Conference in May with the TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement Award. Ostrow, a third-generation owner/operator, has dedicated more than 50 years of service to the industry.

“My father won this award as well,” Ostrow said. “Without any false modesty, I don’t like recognition. I’d rather stay in the background. So, winning this award is a very flattering honor and I’m proud to accept it.”

The award pays tribute to exceptional personal service to TRSA and the linen, uniform and facility services industry as nominated by past operator award peers and voted on by the TRSA Executive Committee. Winners have supported the association for decades, devoting their own time to association activities and facilitating their employees’ involvement in TRSA. Their teams have taken advantage of a wide range of TRSA activities, including certification, in-person and virtual events, and benchmarking surveys.

Ostrow has been recognized for a lifetime of service to TRSA and the industry. For TRSA, he served as chair from 2010-’12, vice chair (2007-’09), treasurer (2005-’07) and a member of the Board of Directors (2004-’07) as well as the TRSA Executive Committee. He also served a pivotal role on the transition committee that oversaw the merger of TRSA with the Uniform and Textile Service Association (UTSA), which served the industry for 75 years and blended with TRSA in 2008. Additionally, Ostrow chaired the search committee that hired current TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci in March 2010.

“We had a really good selection with Joe Ricci,” Ostrow recalled about his time leading the search committee. “That’s been extremely fortunate for us, not only the continuity, but he’s a great association leader.”

Ostrow’s dedication to furthering the industry’s best interests has been reflected in other volunteer leadership positions, as he also chaired TRSA’s Operations Committee from 1981-’83 and served on the association’s Government Relations Committee. During his time on TRSA’s Board of Directors, Ostrow also was an active member of TRSA’s Healthcare Committee. He also is a founding member of HOSLIN, a hospital linen cost and analysis trade group, and served on the MEDtegrity Executive Board.

Michael Potack, a former TRSA Lifetime Achievement Award winner who served on TRSA’s Board of Directors with Ostrow, said that, “Woody was always very tuned in. He paid attention, and was interested in how the industry worked and his company worked. He has provided a lifetime of service to TRSA and other industry groups, and his company has been a good citizen in his community in the Pittsburgh area.”

Ostrow and his family have a long tradition of involvement with TRSA dating back to 1934. Ostrow’s grandfather, Moe Struminger, was president of TRSA’s predecessor organization, the Linen Supply Association of America (LSAA), from 1949-’51, and Ostrow’s father, Gerald Ostrow, was president of TRSA from 1987-’89.

“I knew Woody’s dad,” Potack said. “He was a great guy and really proud of him, and how he handled the business – moving from hospitality to both healthcare and hospitality, expanding the market area and growing his business.”

The award presentation will take place during a May 15 dinner at the 112th TRSA Annual Conference, May 13-15, at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas in Indian Wells, CA. For more information and to register for the Annual Conference, visit www.trsa.org/annualconference.

Ostrow joins 39 past recipients who have received the award since its 1982 inception, the most recent of whom were:

2024: Jim Buik, Roscoe Co., Chicago, IL
2023: Jim Vaudreuil, Huebsch Services, Eau Clare, WI
2022: Brian O’Neil, California Linen Services, Pasadena, CA
2020: Bob Brill, Republic Master Chefs/American Textile Maintenance, Los Angeles, CA
2019: Tom Watts, Prudential Overall Supply, Irvine, CA
2018: Steve Larson, Alsco Uniforms, Salt Lake City, UT
2017: Ronald Croatti, UniFirst Corp., Wilmington, MA
2016: Steve Bryant, Wildman Uniform & Linen, Warsaw, IN
2014: Michael Potack, Unitex Textile Rental Services, Mount Vernon, NY
2013: Richard Senior, Morgan Services, Chicago, IL