VALDOSTA — My husband recently introduced me to Frank Joseph, the plant manager of Crown Healthcare Laundry Service. Upon our meeting, Joseph told me about his experience growing up in New Orleans East, La., relocating after Hurricane Katrina and working his way to management in the linen industry. Here is his story.

Frank Joseph and his little brother, Erron, were born and raised in New Orleans by their mother, Emma Hunter. Joseph graduated from John McDonough Senior High School in 1991.

The next year at age 18, Joseph began his 12 1/2 year career at a business formerly known as National Linen Service. The business was eventually bought out by a company named Alsco.

“When I started at National Linen, I worked in production,” Joseph said. “During my tenure there, I worked my way up to lead employee, supervisor, maintenance technician and eventually production manager.”

Joseph also met Kendra Blunt, the woman who would become his wife, while working at National Linen. The two began a friendship that lasted for 10 years before they got married.

Joseph left National Linen Service for a brief period in 2004 to work for Loop Linen Service.

Upon returning to National Linen Service, Joseph served as a maintenance technician. In October 2005, he relocated to work at the National Linen facility in Alabama when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Between October and December, Joseph relocated to two more National Linen facilities — one in Roanoke, Va. and one in Alexandria, Va.

“I went back to my home in New Orleans in December 2005 to get some business in order,” Joseph said. “Where I lived was not too far from the Ninth Ward, where an ample amount of damage was done during Katrina.”

Joseph’s mother and brother moved to Baton Rouge during the hurricane. His mother eventually settled in Baker, La., where she now lives with her husband of six years, Clarence Hunter.

When asked about his feelings on the hurricane and its effects on his community, Joseph said, “The hurricane resulted in several lives lost and a large amount of property loss. However, it also brought about a lot of opportunity for several people who really didn’t know anything outside of New Orleans.”

With funds provided by the federal government for Katrina victims, Joseph moved to Houston, Texas. He took a year off work during the 12 months that the government allocated funds for victims.

“People can say what they want, but the government took very good care of us,” Joseph said.

In January 2007, Joseph moved to Los Angeles, Calif. to work for Sodexo, Inc. There, he worked at a plant that provided health care laundry for the University of California Los Angeles Hospital.

“I served as a second shift production manager, supervising a staff that was 99 percent Hispanic. While working with them, I learned to speak fluent Spanish.”

After two years working in Los Angeles, Joseph was informed about a smaller linen company that was growing and making a name for itself in the Southeast. The company, Crown Healthcare Laundry Service, had just announced that it was opening a plant in Quitman, Ga.

“The laundry industry is very small-knit. The person who told me about the company was actually someone I had worked with before. I saw this relocation as an opportunity. It’s closer to home and I saw the company as one I could grow with.”

Joseph moved to Quitman when the plant opened this January.

Through his new position as plant manager, Joseph oversees the daily operations of the plant and supervises approximately 80 employees.

“At Crown, we have steady, gainful employment, and we believe in promoting from within. The atmosphere here is more laid back than some of the other plants I’ve worked at, but I enjoy it. Quitman is small, but there are plenty of good-hearted and hardworking people here.”

In the next five years, Joseph hopes to be the general manager of Crown, or some other company. He said that he and Crown’s current general manager, Gary Pawlak, work well together. Joseph said that he has been blessed to be surrounded by people, like Pawlak, who are not afraid to share what they know.

“As I said before, the linen business is small-knit. The people in the business become familiar with one another and help one another. Had I not gotten back with National Linen Service when I did several years ago, I would not be where I am today.”

When Joseph is not working, he stays in touch with his wife, who currently lives in Rosenberg, Texas with their children.

“I love my wife. She is more than my romantic partner, she is my friend. We just got married this year in May, but she has been my best friend for 10 years.”

Kendra works as an escrow assistant and serves as a notary public for the state of Texas.

The Joseph’s oldest son, Kentrell, 17, recently enrolled at Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View Texas. Joseph and his wife also raise two daughters, Ariel, 16, and Mysunique, 10, another son, Willie, 14, Joseph’s 14-year-old brother-in-law, Brian, and a two-year-old pitbull named Clara.

Joseph stays in touch with his mother and stepfather, brother and nine nieces and nephews as well.

Joseph mentioned that he is a member of Beacon Light International Cathedral of Houston in Texas, but is seeking a church home locally.

“My wife and I attended a few churches during her last visit here. I am still visiting different churches and getting to know the people in the community.”

Joseph said that between work and family time, he has no spare time.

“I don’t really have any hobbies. I work hard so I rest when I get home.”

Joseph said that life has led him in directions he could not have foreseen. Nonetheless, he is pleased with the relationships he has built and work ethic he has gained.