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Changing Perspectives: Representation at Every Level

March 8, 2022  |  By: WAXIE Editorial Staff

You cannot change what you cannot see. At WAXIE, we are challenging the status quo and we aspire to lead the industry by recognizing and supporting women across our organization through more representation and visibility.

Everyone has the opportunity to help others build their careers regardless of their job description or gender, and we encourage others in our organization and in the industry to actively mentor and assist women at all levels to grow and thrive.

There are many ways that someone can make a difference ranging from teaching women additional skills and knowledge, advocating on their behalf, and actively participating in mentorship programs such as ISSA’s Hygieia Network to guide them through obstacles they encounter in their careers.

We’d like to thank our remarkable female employees for their hard work, dedication, and tenacity in breaking the bias towards increasing diversity, inclusion, and equitability within our company and in the broader Jan/San, packaging, foodservice, and specialty product industries.

Topics: company news

International Women's Day: Challenging What's Possible

March 8, 2021  |  By: WAXIE Editorial Staff

The Jan/San and cleaning industries have historically been considered male dominated, especially in certain career paths and leadership positions. Yet over the last several years there's been a lot more awareness and a paradigm shift as both companies and the industry professionals are making strides to provide tools, access to resources, and mentorship opportunities for women to build meaningful careers.

In 2015, the Hygieia Network (an ISSA charity) paved the way for women in the industry to connect with and support one another, as well as have access to the resources to advance professionally in their careers. WAXIE has been a huge supporter of the Hygieia Network and many of our staff are members. But there's still quite a way to go.

As we've done the last two years, we would like to acknowledge some of the hard working women across WAXIE who are challenging the status quo of what's possible—from operations to leadership roles. This year though, we're including a few words from their coworkers who nominated them for this recognition.

Topics: company news

Longtime Employee Recognized for Superior Efforts and Dedication

Pictured from left: Teresa English, Aaron Gerraughty Sandy Nourian

WAXIE Sanitary Supply Announces Promotion of Sandy Nourian

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY: WAXIE Sanitary Supply
June 30, 2020

SAN DIEGO, CA June 30, 2020 – WAXIE Sanitary Supply announced the promotion of Sandy Nourian to Vice President of Procurement on April 13, 2020.

Sandy began her career at WAXIE in March of 2000 when she was hired as a Purchasing Manager for the Santa Ana branch. Over the years she has held many roles within the Procurement team and today she leads a staff of dedicated professionals.

Topics: press release, company news

Beloved WAXIE Employee Melissa Fortin Has Passed Away

Melissa Fortin and Jim Reed delivering a 'ton' of water to United Food Bank in 2017 as part of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce's Hydration Challenge

By: Briana Smith & Barbara Treadwell  |  June 12, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of Melissa Fortin, HR Administrator for WAXIE Sanitary Supply’s branches in Mesa and Tucson, Arizona from cancer.

Melissa grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota across the Red River from Minnesota that she fondly remembered as being a “small enough town to make it cozy but large enough to not be boring.” During her senior year of high school there was a major flood which closed down the schools and everyone contributed in filling sandbags to save the town. This attitude of pitching in whenever and wherever it was needed was ingrained in Melissa and became part of her tireless work ethic.

Topics: company news

Forging Their Own Paths: Women Making an Impact at WAXIE

Some of the amazing women who work at WAXIE Sanitary Supply: Clockwise from the top – Lettie Parker-Mendoza, Cherisse Mekeel, Barbara Corral and Alisa Konsulian.

March 4, 2020

International Women's Day is this Sunday, March 8th. In honor of that, we'd like to shine a light on four of our amazing staff members who we often rely on for help & guidance.

The Jan/San industry can be a tough one – especially for front-line cleaning & maintenance staff. With long hours and a physically demanding workload, there are so many woman who are working tirelessly to make a difference! Not just in keeping places clean & healthy, but in promoting professional growth & development. This includes being involved in ISSA's Hygieia Network, which actively provides resources, support & mentorship for the advancement of women throughout all levels of the cleaning industry.

At WAXIE, women play crucial roles in many positions, from Maintenance Staff to Drivers to Account Consultants, and we consider ourselves lucky to have so many amazing women working for us! Let’s celebrate.

Topics: company news

Semper Paratus – “Always Ready”: WAXIE’s Michael Gould Honored with Prestigious Military Awards and Advancement to Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves

Petty Officer Michael Gould (center) receiving the 2018 Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year Award and Coast Guard Commendation Medal with Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (left) and Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard Reserves George Williamson (right). 

By: Briana Smith  |  May 29, 2019

WAXIE has great respect and a long history of supporting those in the U.S. military dating back to our founders Morris Wax and Harry Wax who served in the U.S. Army & U.S. Navy respectively. 

So you can imagine how excited we were when it was announced that one of our employees, who was deployed with the Coast Guard at the time, earned the recognition of Coast Guard’s 2018 Enlisted Person of the Year Reserve Component (REPOY) soon after being presented with the Q4 2018 JTF (Joint Task Force – Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) Enlisted Professional of the Quarter award.

WAXIE Santa Ana’s Regional Sales Manager Michael Gould spent six years in the U.S. Navy after graduating high school. Mike began his career at WAXIE in 2003 but said that he always had a “flag shaped hole in his heart” since separating from the military the first go-around and wanted to continue serving his country so he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a reservist in 2012. 

Topics: company news

A Tribute to a WAXIE Trailblazer: Jim Fischer

Jim Fischer and his wife Jan Fischer

By: Rick Hazard  |  May 17, 2019

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of one of WAXIE’s finest, Jim Fischer. Jim passed away suddenly in his home in Scottsdale, AZ on Monday, May 13, 2019. He leaves behind his wife Jan, and their two children Christian and April. Jim was born and raised in Minnesota where he grew up working on the family farm. He would often refer to his childhood as the foundation for establishing a strong work ethic. 

Jim began his career at WAXIE in January of 1987 as a warehouse worker. Over the next 32 years he ascended through the ranks to become Vice President, Business Development working closely with corporate accounts and Network Services, Inc. Along the way he held positions as Warehouse Manager, Operations Manager, Account Consultant, Sales Manager, and General Manager. 

Topics: company news

SustainOne, American Paper Converting & WAXIE Honored by the Seattle Mariners

Pictured from left: Paul Trimberger, Seattle Sales Manager, WAXIE Sanitary Supply; Brian Work, Sales Manager, APC; Paul Rebner, Account Consultant, WAXIE Sanitary Supply; The Mariner Moose; Lydia Work, President & Owner of SustainOne/APC; Jeff Roberts, President & COO, WAXIE Sanitary Supply; and Rick Jones, Seattle General Manager, WAXIE Sanitary Supply. Photo courtesy of the Seattle Mariners.

Hard Work and Exceptional Dedication Displayed by Diverse Suppliers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY: WAXIE Sanitary Supply
May 6, 2019

SEATTLE, WA, May 6, 2019 – On Monday, April 15, 2019, the Seattle Mariners recognized Lydia Work and her company SustainOne, along with Paul Rebner of WAXIE Sanitary Supply for their combined support of the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball’s Supplier Diversity Program.

The Seattle Mariners have established diversity goals that align with the Supplier Diversity Program of Major League Baseball (MLB) in their purchasing practices. SustainOne is a Woman-Owned Small Business as well as a Minority-Owned Business that partnered with WAXIE to help the Mariners exceed their goals.

Topics: press release, company news

WAXIE Sanitary Supply’s Utah Facility Earns Local & Regional 2019 TOBY Award

The Award Recognizes Quality in Commercial Buildings and Rewards Excellence 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY: WAXIE Sanitary Supply, written by Chris Meyer
April 18, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – WAXIE Sanitary Supply’s Inventory Center in Salt Lake City earned The 2019 Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) award in the Industrial Office Building category in March.

The award, which recognizes quality in commercial buildings and rewards excellence in building management, was presented to WAXIE by the Utah Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

Topics: Sustainability, press release, company news