Healthcare Services Group was founded in 1976 by Dan McCartney with $10,000 in start-up capital, a small group of dedicated associates, and a belief that service work, done the right way, could make a meaningful difference. What began as a modest entrepreneurial venture grew into a publicly traded company by 1983 and, over time, a national organization serving communities in 48 states.

A 1973 graduate of Villanova University with a degree in business, Dan often joked, humbly, that his academic record was unremarkable. Faced with student loan payments, he accepted a position with a janitorial company in the Philadelphia area. What he lacked in experience, he more than made up for with determination, curiosity, and an unmatched work ethic. Dan immersed himself in every aspect of the business, learning the operation from the ground up and gaining a deep appreciation for the people who made the work happen day in and day out.

Healthcare Services Group was founded in 1976 by Dan McCartney with $10,000 in start-up capital, a small group of dedicated associates, and a belief that service work, done the right way, could make a meaningful difference. What began as a modest entrepreneurial venture grew into a publicly traded company by 1983 and, over time, a national organization serving communities in 48 states.

A 1973 graduate of Villanova University with a degree in business, Dan often joked, humbly, that his academic record was unremarkable. Faced with student loan payments, he accepted a position with a janitorial company in the Philadelphia area. What he lacked in experience, he more than made up for with determination, curiosity, and an unmatched work ethic. Dan immersed himself in every aspect of the business, learning the operation from the ground up and gaining a deep appreciation for the people who made the work happen day in and day out.

While the healthcare sector was largely overlooked by others at the time, Dan recognized both its rapid growth and its unmet needs. He saw an opportunity to build something better, an outsourced model for housekeeping and laundry services in long-term care that would move beyond a traditional janitorial mindset and toward professionalism, accountability, and care.

In 1976, HCSG was officially born and, a few months later, began servicing its first facility in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With a steadfast commitment to developing managers, investing in training, and empowering people, Dan steadily grew the organization from a single location into a respected national partner. Despite the company’s success, he was always quick to credit the talented teams around him, believing deeply that strong people, not titles, build great companies.

Over the years, Dan evolved from a young, risk-taking entrepreneur into the Chairman and CEO of a multi-billion-dollar public enterprise. Yet he remained characteristically humble, often saying his goal was simply to make an honest living and support his family. For the many employees whose careers he shaped, mentored, and inspired, his impact went far beyond that.

From pioneering a new service model and professionalizing an overlooked role to leading with integrity in the boardroom or unwinding at the end of a long day with an ice-cold Heineken, Dan McCartney left an indelible mark on HCSG, the industry, and the people who continue his legacy today.