Page 44 - BWM March 2013

44 | Business World Magazine | March 2013
exceeding in actions that have included in-
vesting in state-of-the-art equipment, envi-
ronmentally-friendly cleaning processes, de-
veloping effective operational systems, and
combining all with old-fashioned values of
customer service, accountability and reliabil-
ity, Lake Superior Laundry, however small,
has achieved colossal capability to compete.
Originally from Aitkin, Minnesota,
Blaufuss was raised by a family that owned
and operated nursing homes in the area. In
the 60s, after serving for duration with the
U.S. Army’s esteemed “steadfast and loyal”
Fourth Infantry (IVY Division), Blaufuss re-
turned home and answered the call of duties
in healthcare administration. He excelled in
that role for many years, and in 1988, he was
serving as administrator at Pine City’s Lake-
side Medical Center when he received news
that the laundry company with which the
nursing home had contracted was in opera-
tional trouble.
This begs explanation that the cost and
complexity of maintaining laundry servic-
es has been an area of increasing concern
for healthcare systems. The sheer variety of
towels, washcloths, sheets, mattress pads
and garmentry that must be respectively
compartmentalized and sanitized to very
demanding standards of care can be some-