ASHE celebrates award recipients at 2015 Annual Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2015

CHICAGO – The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association is recognizing outstanding members for their dedication to improving the health care physical environment. ASHE presented the awards during its 52nd Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition July 12-15 in Boston.

The Crystal Eagle award, considered ASHE’s “lifetime achievement” award, was presented to Michael Kuechenmeister, FASHE, CHFM, CHC, director of plant operations at West Chester Hospital in West Chester, Ohio. Kuechenmeister has contributed to the field through his work in health care safety, advocacy, and energy efficiency. He became a nationally recognized leader in helping several southern hospitals stay open during Hurricane Katrina.

The President’s Award, which is presented at the discretion of the sitting ASHE president to an individual who goes above and beyond to optimize the health care physical environment, was presented to Walt Vernon, CEO of the national consulting and engineering firm Mazzetti.

ASHE also recognized members who attained senior (SASHE) and fellow (FASHE) status within ASHE. The SASHE designation is bestowed on those who have been ASHE members in good standing for at least five years and have supported ASHE in terms of education and leadership. The following members are new SASHE recipients:

• Donna Craft, RN, MHA, SASHE, Premier, Inc., Huntersville, NC
• David Dierking, MBA, CHFM, SASHE, Edward Hospital, Naperville, IL
• Ralph Graham Jr., CHFM, SASHE, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
• Gary Hamilton, PE, LEED-AP, SASHE, SmithGroupJJR, Washington, D.C.
• Eric Herrera, CHFM, SASHE, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Katy, TX
• John Holderman II, CHFM, CHC, SASHE, St. John Health System, Tulsa, OK
• Sean Mulholland, PE, CHFM, CHC, SASHE, Penrose/St. Francis Health Services, Colorado Springs, CO
• Hank Schuurman, CHC, SASHE, Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff, NJ
• Dana Swenson, PE, MBA, SASHE, UMass Memorial Health Care System, Worcester, MA

The FASHE designation is bestowed on those who have been ASHE members in good standing for at least seven years and have supported ASHE through education, leadership, and written contributions. The following members are new FASHE recipients:

• Steve Cutter, MBA, HFDP, CHFM, FASHE, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
• Bert Gumeringer, CHFM, FASHE, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
• Richard Parker, FACHE, CHSP, FASHE, Tucson Medical Center, Tucson, AZ
• Walt Vernon, PE, FASHE, Mazzetti, San Francisco, CA

ASHE leaders also announced the following emerging regional leaders from each of ASHE’s 10 regions. The Emerging Regional Leader award recognizes people for their contributions to the fields of health care engineering and facilities management; planning, design, and construction; safety; clinical and biomedical engineering; and technical management.

• Region 1: Paul Cantrell, Jr., CHFM, Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
• Region 2: James Walsh, CHFM, Atlanticare Regional Medical Center , Pomona, NJ
• Region 3: David Murray, CHFM, High Point Regional/UNC Health Systems, High Point, NC
• Region 4: Donald Stewart, CHFM, Florida Hospital East, Orlando, FL
• Region 5: Jo Ellen McCarthy, CHEP, Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati, OH
• Region 6: Phillip Nelson, CHFM, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Storm Lake, IA
• Region 5: Jo Ellen McCarthy, CHEP, Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati, OH
• Region 7: Casey Miranda, Jackson County Memorial Hospital, Altus, OK
• Region 8: Carol McCormick, CHFM, CHI Health, Omaha, NE
• Region 9: Michael Cooper, CHFM, Kaiser Permanente, Modesto, CA
• Region 10: J. Brett Dille, Weiser Memorial Hospital, Weiser, ID

For more information on ASHE awards, click here