IAHTM Names 2018 Lifetime Achievement Recipient

The International Association for Healthcare Textile Management (IAHTM) has named Steve Ripley a "2018 Lifetime Achievement' recipient. The honor was presented at IAHTM's annual meeting held recently in Naples, FL.

IAHTM is a nonprofit membership organization for healthcare laundry cooperatives that provides senior-level textile managers with resources and support to maximize their laundries' efficiencies and control costs without compromising quality or patient focus.

Each year, IAHTM recognizes an individual with its Lifetime Achievement award for his or her career-long contributions to and accomplishments in the textile industry.

Ripley is past president of Space Coast Hospital Services Inc.,  Rockledge, FL.  Ripley was nominated for the award by Lumey Gamboa, COO of Bay Linen Services LLC, Clearwater, FL.  In her nomination, Gamboa said of Ripley "Throughout the years, for Steve human Contribution was the most important asset for the operation.  He managed to maintain employee satisfaction by providing benefits above the industry standard.  Steve always remained focused on providing growth opportunities within his facility and served as a mentor to his team and other colleagues in the industry."

In presenting the award, IAHTM Board President Myles Noel (CEO, COMTEX), said of Ripley: "Steve Ripley epitomizes the true spirit of our business - his compassion and kindness toward everyone has consistently been on display in what has always been a very demanding production environment. His staff always loved him, and this was clearly evident even through a simple walk through his plant. At IAHTM, his sense of humor and many contributions continue to be sorely missed. We are proud to be able to honor him as a '2018 Lifetime Achievement' recipient."

Also honored at the event was Alan Schwartz, recently retired president of Superior Uniform Group, Seminole, FL.