Build your personal growth through teamwork

Senior Regional Director of Operations Marissa Janneire-Ash has always led Crothall Healthcare's Environmental Services (EVS) sector innovatively. In her role as senior regional director of operations (SRDO), she guides her team to think creatively, being able to pivot to meet clients’ needs in EVS in the prominent New York region. With the guidance of her senior leaders, she has built a career on forging new paths, even when they appeared long or impossible.

To many, Marissa embodies a strong, resilient, and inspirational leader. She has participated on national tasks forces, including Crothall’s product committee, that have remapped corporate best practices. She has a strong work ethic and can be relied on to work independently but also effectively collaborates with peers and direct reports.

Working with RVP Paul Killion and DP Mike Villani prepared her for her SRDO post. They both stressed that the job required more than management: it required creating solid relationships for collaboration. They described it as “building a village,” which became Marissa's career-defining moment. Inspired by this sentiment, she started doing that quickly.

The Caribbean upbringing of Janneire-Ash shaped her loving spirit, collaboration, and love of carnival. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Tony and children Al and Ryan. Her drive and resilience came from her mother, and inspiration came from her grandmother, because she was a stay-at-home mother with 12 kids and was friendly to the community. “She raised about 32 kids,” Marissa says. “They had one paycheck and had to care for their family, kids, and kids' friends.” I'm inspired by a simple woman doing all that, adds Marissa. She soon realized that success was about teamwork, not simply personal advancement.

Marissa's practice centers on trust and accountability. She motivates her coworkers by learning their goals and recommending Crothall's DiSC, EVOLVE, and ADAPT leadership programs. These learning routes give employees the ability to take on more responsibility at each level, giving them a broader view of the firm.

Marissa focuses on the big picture and believes that her “village”—by whatever metric they define it—is her success. Knowing directly how important leadership, safety, and diversity and inclusion training are for career advancement, she is passionate about ensuring team members receive them.

Since Marissa joined Crothall Healthcare, industry culture has altered drastically. Men have traditionally held most EVS leadership posts. Marissa broke the glass ceiling throughout her career and has grown with the company—60% of account directors in her region are women, many of whom she has mentored. More women are working in EVS frontline jobs than ever before, she says. This achievement makes Marissa proud, but she also realizes its weight. Marissa adds, “Knowing that there are young women out there looking up to me and holding me accountable keeps me on the right track and motivates me to set the best example for them."

Marissa uses her team's strength as a female leader. She encountered obstacles that would have been difficult for her alone, especially early in her career. She recognizes that, as female leaders, she and her colleagues must support and encourage each other to succeed. “You need to be the person who shows them the way,” Marissa asserts. “If you're being that accountable, resilient person at the forefront, you're also a great team member. Marissa shows this in her daily life and in The Young Women's Leadership Network.

Marissa's commitment to promoting collaboration and communication within her team has been instrumental in achieving success in her industry. She believes that taking care of her employees is essential for the success of the business. This is evident in the trust that the New York health system had in Crothall Healthcare during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. The state had confidence in Mike, Paul, and Marissa's capable teams at Crothall Healthcare to help them navigate the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. They entrusted all COVID-19 testing sites, the Javits Center, and COVID hotels to the company. These teams worked tirelessly to serve the community during this crisis and are now managing the largest humanitarian site in New York City. They are also running fundraisers through this site to continue supporting the community that Marissa has put so much effort and passion into helping.

Through Marissa’s “Think Tank” sessions with managers and staff, Marissa has been acknowledged for innovative problem-solving. In addition to these accomplishments, she was the company's Northeast Diversity and Inclusion Champion. She participated in the Young Women's Leadership Network and the Doe Fund to help women find nontraditional healthcare employment and interviews. Marissa is the recipient of the Terry Batchelor Memorial Award from Crothall, one of the most prestigious national awards bestowed by company leadership.

Marissa is excited about the versatility of her career path, but she is open to various opportunities within her company and is currently focused on her team's success and expanding to suitable accounts. She is also committed to mentoring future leaders who possess qualities similar to her own.