ASHES Award Winners Announced at Conference

PHOENIX -- The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) announced today that Pat Hockenberger has been named the winner of the 2005 Phoenix award.  This award recognizes an individual who has made a lasting impact through outstanding contributions to the growth and professionalism of ASHES and to the field of healthcare environmental services and textile care services.

Hockenberger, a former director of environmental services at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh for 25 years, served as an ASHES president in 2000. The award was presented at ASHES' 20th annual conference in Phoenix.

ASHES recognizes excellence in healthcare environmental services with a variety of awards and  honors to local chapters as well as to individuals. Other award winners announced at the annual awards banquet include:

-- J. Owen Flynn Memorial Award: Weston R. Thiss, MBA, CHESP, director of environmental services, patient transport and linen management at Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va.  This award is presented to one who, without compensation or personal gain, performed a service or services to the benefit of their hospital, community, state or country.

-- James Wolffbrandt Award: James M. Roussos, REH, CHESP, regional program manager of environmental services for Southeast Regional Medical Command in Fort Gordon, Ga.  The criteria for the award winner is that they must be actively involved in mentoring, educating and guiding environmental services or textile care professionals.

-- Environmental Stewardship Award: Gary Butrymowicz, director of environmental services at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. The Environmental Stewardship Award is  presented to an individual who has worked to preserve the environment through waste reduction, pollution prevention and/or mercury elimination.

- - Innovator Award: Sarah Glover, CHESP, director of environmental services for Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, N.C.  The Innovator Award is bestowed upon an individual who has developed and implemented innovative programs to achieve one or more of the following: cost reduction, quality improvement, enhanced and improved efficiencies and/or devised an innovative "new and better" way of doing things.

-- Recognition Award:  Kenneth Darling, director of housekeeping at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. This award acknowledges a member who has developed and implemented successful employee recognition programs having a positive motivational impact, resulting in changes in staff behavior.

-- Lifetime Achievement Award:  John E. Fitzgerald, Jr., CHESP, director of facilities management for the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System in Los Angeles.  This award was presented to Fitzgerald for a lifetime of service and dedication to the healthcare environmental services profession and tireless leadership in support of ASHES.

ASHES is the premier professional membership society for healthcare environmental services, housekeeping, waste management and textile care professionals. ASHES provides education, recognition for personal and professional achievements, national networking as well as affiliation and collaboration with the American Hospital Association on public policy and advocacy issues related to

healthcare environmental services.

Source: ASHES