TRSA Receives Annual “National Association of the Year” Award

TRSA, the association for the linen, uniform and facility services industry, received the 2026 National Association of the Year Award from the European Textile Services Association (ETSA) for its exceptional advocacy and leadership. The award recognizes TRSA’s success in mobilizing industry leaders, engaging policymakers and advancing the industry’s priorities through a coordinated advocacy campaign.

TRSA competed with 13 international associations to win the award, including previous honorees such as the Textile Services Association (TSA-UK). The 2026 National Association of the Year Award was judged independently by Robert Heslop, who serves as head of office and director of government affairs for the British Chamber of Commerce EU & Belgium. ETSA appointed an independent judge for this category to ensure that award submissions were evaluated by external experts rather than the ETSA Secretariat. This was done to ensure an independent and credible assessment process.

ETSA highlighted several key factors in selecting TRSA for the award:

• Organized a landmark Laundry Hill Day that mobilized nearly 100 industry executives for more than 90 meetings with legislators and policymakers in Washington, D.C.
• Expanded the reach of Hygienically Clean certification through a coordinated awareness campaign that included marketing, thought leadership and media outreach, resulting in a significant increase in the inclusion of certification requirements in healthcare RFPs.
• Elevated the industry’s profile and strategic value through strong advocacy, stakeholder engagement and industry partnerships.
• Helped shape a more supportive policy environment by bringing together companies, partners and other allies around a common set of industry goals and priorities.

“We’re honored to receive this award on behalf of TRSA and the companies we represent,” said Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA, who was in Europe to receive the award. “This award reflects the hard work and dedication of our members and staff, who invest their time and expertise to advance our shared priorities. By working together, we can effectively advocate for policies that support the essential services our members provide to countless businesses, workers and communities every day.”

Elena Lai, ETSA Secretary General, added that, “This year, TRSA distinguished itself through exceptional advocacy that demonstrated the power of industry engagement and collective action. TRSA has shown leadership, influence and dedication in advancing the interests of our industry and its members, helping to ensure our voices are heard where policy decisions are being made.”

Photo: (Left to Right) Hartmut Engler, CWS, ETSA Chair; Joseph Ricci, President & CEO, TRSA; Elena Lai, Secretary General, ETSA; and Dr. Thomas Neyers, Alsco Uniforms, Immediate Past Chair, ETSA Board