ALBANY, N.Y. — Bates Troy Healthcare Linen Services , a Binghamton, N.Y.-based industrial laundry, and employee Stephen Schrauger were honored here Sept. 10 as New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) 2012 Corporate Partner of the Year and Employee of the Year.
For more than 35 years, NYSID — a not-for-profit member agency organization — has met the purchasing needs of state and local government agencies while advancing employment for New Yorkers with disabilities. NYSID acts as a “virtual storefront” for a statewide network of 165 community rehabilitation agencies and private-sector business partners to employ skilled people with disabilities in production facilities and community-based jobs.
Bates Troy, a third-generation, family-owned industrial laundry and dry cleaner, has long been committed to employing a diverse workforce. Through a partnership with ACHIEVE and Country Valley Industries (CVI), individuals with disabilities in Broome and Tioga counties have had the opportunity to work on NYSID Preferred Source laundry contracts at the CVI production center in Johnson City and the Westside Binghamton Bates Troy facility since 2003.
“We are proud and honored to receive this distinguished award from NYSID,” says Ara Kradjian, Bates Troy’s chief operating officer. “Our partnership with them has been valued, fruitful and ongoing for a decade now, and it will continue.”
More than 100 Binghamton residents fold and process laundry each day for customers that include SUNY Upstate Medical University, nursing facilities, veterans’ homes and the Greater Binghamton Health center.
Schrauger recently celebrated a decade of working with the Bates Troy partnership. He takes great pride in helping the laundry satisfy its healthcare customers.
“I work on the bath blanket folder,” he says. “I really like my job. Thank you for the money. I like money. I’m going to buy a bike.”
