Nicole Johnson – WASH

Go to the laundry room at most apartment buildings and college campuses across the country, and you’ll likely find washers and dryers marked with the WASH logo. But why WASH, and how did those machines get there? Those questions can be answered by Nicole Johnson, associate general counsel for WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems.

Nicole Johnson | WASH | Associate General Counsel

Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Torrance, California, WASH is a leading provider of outsourced laundry equipment services and solutions, specializing in innovative technology-driven approaches to meet the needs of a diverse client base. Serving multi-housing communities, universities and commercial properties across 25 US States and 8 Canadian provinces under the WASH, Hercules and Coinamatic operating brands, WASH has established itself as a trusted partner in simplifying and modernizing laundry operations. The company delivers customized solutions that emphasize convenience, efficiency and sustainability.

The company’s WASH-Connect digital platform helps modernize the laundry experience with easy app-based mobile payments, laundry monitoring capabilities and data and insights.  Beyond laundry, WASH is committed to environmental stewardship, leveraging its resources to promote energy efficiency and reduce waste, ensuring its services align with a more sustainable future.

Behind the scenes of these efforts is Johnson and the WASH legal team, a group dedicated to ensuring the company continues to modernize and revolutionize the laundry services industry.

“At WASH, modernizing laundry is an ongoing process of constantly striving to find ways to do things better. As a legal department, we strive to partner with the business, guiding to help the company achieve its goals while mitigating legal risks, essentially acting as a strategic partner rather than a department of “no.” We are there to proactively identify legal issues and offer solutions that support business initiatives and growth,” Johnson explains.

Johnson’s responsibilities are broad at WASH, a company with operations and employees across North America. Her team includes Craig Levine, the General Counsel, another attorney based in St. Louis, two paralegals in Torrance, a paralegal in Canada and an attorney based in New York City.

WASH, rinse & repeat

One of Johnson’s most significant contributions at WASH has been leading a comprehensive overhaul of the company’s policy framework, including its handbooks. This effort, which began two years ago, was born out of a desire to centralize and streamline a fragmented system. Previously, policies existed in disparate locations, making enforcement and consistency difficult. Johnson and the legal team implemented a structured process: every policy now requires a management sponsor, approval from HR and legal and a place in a central catalog. Policies are numbered, systematically reviewed and updated annually.

For Johnson, this overhaul was about more than compliance—it was about embedding clarity and accessibility into the company culture.

The handbooks are housed on an internal portal accessible to all employees, ensuring employees have a clear, consistent resource. While time-consuming, this work has allowed WASH to operate confidently in increasing regulatory complexity.

Balancing law, leadership & life

Johnson’s career pivot from a nine-year career in big law to in-house counsel came after a pivotal secondment with Dollar Shave Club, during which she realized that being in-house allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of a specific business, work more closely with company executives and have a more predictable schedule. Today, Johnson is a vocal advocate for balancing a professional career with personal life aspects; for Johnson, that means actively managing work tasks to maximize efficiency while simultaneously prioritizing quality time with her family.  As a mom of three, Johnson openly discusses her career aspirations and family needs with her colleagues, modeling a culture of transparency, understanding and support. She credits her team and WASH leadership for fostering an environment of supporting associates through a culture of trust, support, transparency and growth.

“It is important as a senior female at the company to be loud about striving for a rewarding career and prioritizing personal growth and relationships,” she says. By normalizing this openness, Johnson hopes to create a safe space for others to prioritize their personal goals and families without fear of judgment.

Her passion for mentorship extends beyond her immediate team. She views her role as providing legal guidance and creating opportunities for her colleagues and associates to thrive. This advocacy is deeply personal for Johnson, who benefited from the advice of many male and female mentors throughout her career.

A life of corporate law

Johnson has a career story as dynamic and multifaceted as her current role. Balancing a demanding legal position with the challenges of raising three young children, Johnson exemplifies the modern professional who thrives on adaptability, mentorship, and a deep commitment to aligning personal values with her professional pursuits.

Johnson’s legal career began with a focus on bankruptcy and restructuring, later transitioning into corporate finance and renewable energy finance in big law. This path initially seemed far removed from her eventual in-house role at WASH. Transitioning from law firm life to a generalist position was a leap that required her to reframe her perspective.

“In law school, you learn to think like a lawyer, and at a law firm, you learn to work like one,” she says.

But moving in-house required her to wear a business hat, stepping away from the “department of no” mindset and becoming a partner in finding creative, business-aligned solutions.

For Johnson, this adjustment was about learning to mitigate risk and collaborating closely with various departments to help the company achieve its goals.

“As a legal department, we want the business to come to us before a problem arises and to avoid risks.  We do not want needless lawsuits because someone was afraid to ask the question or didn’t want to hear legal say ‘no.’ It is about getting to ‘yes’ and finding a way to work together. It has been gratifying to directly contribute to the company’s strategic decisions and gain a deeper understanding of its operations and goals,” she says.

Craig Levine, general counsel of WASH tells Vanguard that Johnson is a tremendous asset to the organization and has leveraged her unique legal skillset and background to serve as a change agent who has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of WASH in recent years.

Though Johnson did not set out to specialize in laundry services, she finds purpose in the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

“Laundry services might sound unsexy,” she laughs, “but WASH is really an innovative technology company.” This alignment with her values has made her role fulfilling.

Looking ahead, Johnson is excited about prioritizing personal and professional development and focusing on the growth and success of WASH. Her journey, marked by determination, adaptability, and a commitment to creating space for others, is an inspiring example of how professional success and personal fulfillment coexist.