Linen Supply: Dyan Troxel, HandCraft Linen Services, Richmond, Va.
As a registered nurse hired to provide linen management education to our B2B customers, I am grateful that my role within the laundry industry is healthcare-related. I get to empower fellow nurses with knowledge I wish I had when I was at the bedside — insights that help facilities reduce linen loss and improve efficiency.
But what fills me with the most pride is knowing that the hygienically clean linen we provide touches patients daily. That connection to care is what makes my work truly meaningful.
As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a nurse. If someone had told me I would one day be working in healthcare laundry, I would have laughed. That is the beauty of nursing, as it is a profession with endless paths. I am thankful for the visionary leaders at HandCraft who saw the value in nurses educating nurses, and for the bright and talented nurses who were in this role before me, paving the way.
Additionally, the hospitals where I worked used HandCraft for their linen rental and laundry needs. HandCraft’s reputation spoke volumes, not just to executives but to frontline staff — and that kind of trust is rare and powerful. This made it easy to apply for a job with a company I believed in. And thankfully, they thought I could have an impact with their organization, their customers, and the patients they serve.
My role continues to evolve, and I am fortunate to work with leaders who welcome bold ideas and support innovation. I am surrounded by a team of passionate specialists who care deeply about their clients and collaborate to deliver not just clean linen, but smart, sustainable solutions. That spirit of teamwork and shared purpose is something I never take for granted.
Looking back, I think that little girl who dreamed of being a nurse would be proud of where I have landed. I am grateful for every person in our laundry operations who shows up with dedication and heart. Together, we make a difference, and that is something worth celebrating every single day.
Consulting Services: Matthew Alexander, Pertl & Alexander LLC, Manlius, N.Y.
What’s better than clean laundry? For me, it’s the satisfaction of mastering both the internal and external logistics required to process and distribute it efficiently — and the relationships built along the way.
When all the parts of a highly productive laundry are working in unison, the plant seems to hum with energy. At its best, it almost feels like the plant is “singing.”
The laundry business provides constant visual feedback that few industries can match. There’s something deeply gratifying about watching a sea of soiled linen transform into neatly stacked bins of clean linen. Even the cadence of automated feeders and folders seems to tell a story to anyone attuned to the rhythm of operations.
When every department — from receiving and soiled-sort to finishing and cart makeup — is in sync, there’s no need to wait for management reports to gauge performance. The proof of success is right there in front of you. Team members see, hear and feel when the laundry is operating at its peak.
The nature of our industry is inherently collaborative and interdependent. Few service businesses are as essential to their clients’ daily operations as laundry. Within the plant, the same principle applies. If the work isn’t sorted, it can’t be washed. If it isn’t washed, it can’t be finished. If it isn’t finished, it can’t be shipped.
This chain of interdependence builds teamwork, fosters respect and often leads to long-lasting bonds — both among co-workers and with customers.
I’m also grateful for the opportunity to continuously improve. Every plant presents a new puzzle — a new way to save water, energy, labor or time while still delivering quality. The sense of accomplishment that comes from optimizing a process or helping a client reach higher efficiency is as rewarding as watching the finished linen roll out clean and pressed.
Ultimately, gratitude in this field comes from knowing our work matters. Whether supporting hospitals that heal patients or hotels that welcome travelers, our efforts ensure comfort, safety, and care. The laundry industry may run quietly in the background, but it remains one of the most vital — and personally fulfilling — services in the world.
Commercial Laundry: Edward Arzouian, Bates Troy Inc., Binghamton, N.Y.
Interesting question. I had to give it some thought because that dirty laundry just keeps coming, doesn’t it, and some days it can all be a bit much. “Thankful” is not necessarily an attribute you would ascribe to it on those days.
Still, I feel grateful for our role in the healthcare laundry sector. I’m grateful that we are providing critical support to critical infrastructure. That point was sure driven home during the COVID pandemic. While other industries and businesses were shutting down, we never missed a day. That role in critical infrastructure is something to be grateful for and something to take pride in.
It is something of a trade secret, though, isn’t it? When you have told people you’re in the healthcare linen services sector, has anyone ever thanked you for keeping their hospital in operation? Probably not.
Often, we will end our plantwide training talks with that important point to keep employees focused and motivated: “You are critical to your community. Keep that in mind. Hospitals and nursing homes are counting on us to get them the best product we can as quickly as we can for their patients.”
Another thing that I feel grateful for (and that others seem to appreciate and be grateful for as well, since they request our services) is that, as a company, we are meeting the challenges we face and succeeding — indeed, excelling — by meeting our goals and servicing our clients. When people reach out and seek your services, you must be doing things right. Be grateful for that.
From a personal aspect in my role as a safety officer (among other things) in our laundry industry, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help keep our employees and the end users of our products safe and healthy. It is not always that obvious, right? If you work in safety, people do not usually reward you for having nothing happen; although, we did get an award from our workers’ compensation insurer for having gone 18 months without lost time. You sure do hear about it if something does happen. Be grateful if nothing happens.
Finally, I am grateful for my colleagues. Despite my 18 years in the industry, I’m a rookie compared to our small, tight-knit management team each with 30 to 40 years of knowledge and experience. If I cannot answer a question or solve a problem, I can turn to them. I have that safety net. How cool is that? So, yeah, I’m grateful about that, too.
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays to all our readers.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
