Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast - Interviews & Insights by TRSA

Fresh off a major legislative victory in Texas, TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb joins the podcast to discuss the economic benefits of reclassifying the industry under the “retail trade” category for tax purposes, the impact of the new law on TRSA members and the linen, uniform and facility services industry, and how TRSA’s advocacy efforts helped get Texas Senate Bill 2774 and House Bill 1769 signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. If you’re interested in getting involved in TRSA’s advocacy efforts, save the date for the 16th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, on Feb. 17-19, 2026. Visit www.trsa.org/legcon [http://www.trsa.org/legcon] for more information.

TRSA Chair Randy Bartsch, Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, Vancouver, British Columbia, discusses his goals for the association and the industry during his two-year term as TRSA Chair, the association’s expanded advocacy efforts in Canada, the benefits of certification, developing the next generation of industry leaders, healthcare trends and more.

Silje Mari Sunde, project manager at Nor Tekstil, the market leader in Norway with 26 facilities and more than 1,300 employees, discusses how the company has increased automation in its facilities to boost the company’s efficiency and throughput. She outlines the benefits and challenges of automation, as well as how to ensure quality and consistency when implementing automation.

TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci gives an overview of the 112th Annual Conference agenda, including several inspiring speakers, a plethora of networking opportunities for attendees, industry award winners and more. For more information on TRSA’s 112th Annual Conference, scheduled for May 13-15 near Palm Springs, CA, visit www.trsa.org/annualconference [http://www.trsa.org/annualconference].

John Harwood, an award-winning journalist known for his impartial analysis of U.S. elections, politics and the presidency, recently gave a keynote address at TRSA’s 15th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. During his keynote speech, Harwood discussed the Trump administration, tariffs, foreign policy and more. For more information on TRSA’s government relations initiatives, contact TRSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org [kschwalb@trsa.org].