Brett Higgins Named ASHES 2006 President

CHICAGO -- The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) announces that Brett Higgins, CHESP, has been elected society president for 2006; his term as president begins Jan. 1, 2006.  Also appointed were Rose Hamann to the position of vice president of the ASHES board of directors, Bill Slezak as industry liaison, and Mark Regna as special advisor. All appointments were made at ASHES December board of directors meeting held in Chicago.

Higgins is manager of environmental services and grounds at GenesisMedicalCenter in Davenport, Iowa.  He has been an ASHES member since 1994 and currently serves as ASHES vice president. He has 22 years of healthcare experience, all of which have been spent in environmental services. 

I am humbled to serve this great organization and I am excited to be a part of the strategic direction in which ASHES is headed, said Higgins. With an increased focus on infection control, workforce, disaster readiness and knowledge and data management, this is an important time for environmental services professionals to be leading by example and best practices. Im looking forward to the challenges ahead and will be looking to the ASHES membership to assist us with the plans we have for 2006 and beyond.

Hamann, a CHESP who is also credentialed with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, is currently director of environmental services at BlessingHospital in Quincy, Ill. She has more than 39 years of experience in healthcare, with 28 years serving in radiology and 11 years in environmental services and security director.  Since 1998, Hamann has been an ASHES member with active membership in the Greater Midwest ASHES chapter. She has also served and chaired the national recognition and planning committees, and participated as an ASHES conference speaker. Hamann has served on numerous boards, including ASHES and has extensive governance experience.

Slezak is currently the strategic account manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products, in Winchester, Va. As the industry liaison representative he will serve a three-year term on the board of directors and be responsible for representing the interests of the supplier and manufacturer community and their constituents on all ASHES strategic, procedural and policy-making decisions.

Regna is director of healthcare service with JaniKing International, Inc. As the special advisor to the board, Regna will be responsible for core knowledge and content management for ASHES and will head several new publication projects as well as serve as another voice from the vendor side to the board of directors.

Source: ASHES