ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Laundry processing equipment manufacturing veteran Blaine Jackson took home the TRSA Maglin/Biggie Associate Lifetime Achievement Award, the textile services industry’s highest honor for its suppliers, from the association’s recent Annual Conference in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
Jackson, of River Ridge, Louisiana, now a consultant, has worked for nearly 45 years with independent, regional and national launderers to improve operations and has supported industry professionalism through his contributions to association education and training programs. His sales and marketing leadership contributed to the growth of several of the industry’s largest machinery manufacturers including Kannegiesser, Pellerin Milnor and Jensen, after beginning his career with American Laundry Machinery. He also served briefly as the general manager for a Cincinnati laundry facility.
His service to TRSA has included creating and delivering content of TRSA professional development programs through membership on the Education and Healthcare committees. Most recently, Jackson has been a driving force behind the re-emergence of the twice-yearly TRSA Production Summit, serving as the plant tour facilitator. He is a frequent author for Textile Services magazine and is contributing to the new Introduction to Production Management online text.
An instructor at TRSA’s Production Management Institute (PMI) for more than a decade, he was also an instructor and facilitator of the American Laundry and Linen College. “His knowledge and experience have helped laundries become more productive and efficient while his personal mentoring and guidance have led to the professional development of many of you and your staff,” Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO, told Annual Conference attendees Sept. 11, 2015 in presenting the honor to Jackson.
“His contributions through his employers and TRSA have impacted nearly every textile services operator in North America, either directly or indirectly, based on his career-long efforts to improve the professionalism and productivity of laundries and laundry management,” Ricci added.
The award is named for Rudy Maglin and James Biggie, two pioneers who dedicated their lives to improving textile services performance and leadership in the industry. Candidates for the honor are vetted for exceptional personal service to industry operators and TRSA, nominated by their Associate Member peers and selected by the TRSA Associate Committee. Past honorees present at the conference included Mark Brim, Brim Laundry Machinery; Jeff Frushtick, Leonard Automatics; and John Schultz, Ecolab Textile Care.
