Cintas Employee-Partner Celebrates 60 Years and Counting On the Job

Virginia M.'s career began in 1966, seven years before Cintas even became “Cintas.” She has spent a lifetime adapting alongside a constantly evolving business.

Virginia was 16 years old when she started working under her mother at a Willis Linen Supply plant in Mesa, Arizona, during her summer break. She pressed and folded laundry and assembled packages for delivery. When the school year began again, she worked nights in the plant until she graduated. In college, she began working in the office between classes.

While she kept the books and answered phones, 1,800 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio, Acme Uniform and Linen, Inc. was outgrowing its name. In 1973, company leaders rebranded as Cintas to position the business for the future. Virginia’s role was modernizing too.

“When the computers came in, I had to learn how to run the computers,” said Virginia.

Nearly two decades into her career, G&K Services acquired Willis Linen Supply. In 2017, Cintas acquired G&K Services. Virginia stayed through both ownership changes and decades of evolution across the business. She is now the on-site admin for Cintas’ Phoenix, Arizona, location.

“Over the years, Virginia has become a tremendous resource for our location. Her experience, knowledge and perspective are invaluable, and she has seen the company evolve through generations of growth and change,” said Jarred S., General Manager.

In June, Virginia’s location threw her a celebration to mark her 60-year milestone with a food truck, snow cones and an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey with her name and the number 60 on the back.

“It almost made me cry,” said Virginia. “I felt very well appreciated.”

The party gave Virginia a chance to reflect on her career, but not to consider an exit. She hopes to continue working for years to come because she still finds fulfillment in her role and the people she works with each day.

“If you're happy at your job, keep going. I'm sure if I didn't like what I was doing, I wouldn't be here anymore, but I enjoy what I'm doing and the people I work with,” said Virginia.

Though everything about Virginia's daily tasks has changed since her first day in 1966, one thing has remained consistent: her enthusiasm for learning and growing.