The ISSA Achievement Awards annually recognize individuals who are committed to driving the cleaning industry forward through their positive contributions in their businesses and beyond.

Five honorees were recognized on November 14 at ISSA Show North America 2023, which took place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The ISSA Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award

The ISSA Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who, in the opinion of the ISSA board, deserves recognition for substantial contributions to the advancement of the cleaning industry and/or to ISSA over a significant period of time. This year’s recipient is former ISSA executive director John P. Garfinkel.

Garfinkel has been an influential force in the industry for over five decades. As ISSA executive director from 1991 to 2015, he was instrumental in championing many initiatives that have bolstered membership and established ISSA as the leading association for the cleaning industry worldwide.

“The Honorary Lifetime Award is a highly valued recognition of what was achieved during my tenure by the staff and the leadership members of the board of directors who I had working alongside me,” Garfinkel said regarding the honor. “Although I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time, I was very fortunate in 1990 to have been selected to be executive director of ISSA. I had felt rewarded and experienced enjoyment from my earlier 25 years in the industry working at a couple of industry manufacturers, the names of which have disappeared through mergers and acquisitions. Upon reflection, having retired from ISSA late in 2015, my second 25 years turned out to be the most enjoyable and rewarding of my 50-year career in the industry.”

During his tenure at ISSA, Garfinkel was a big part of helping unite the various disciplines within the cleaning industry, including manufacturers, distributors, cleaning contractors, and facility managers, into a single voice for the government, the community, and each other. This value became more recognized as the world became more aware of what was facetiously referred to as the pandemic of the year—bird flu, swine flu, Asian flu, Ebola, and, most recently, COVID-19. That unified voice made it possible to help guide principles and set standards for responsible cleaning, as well as creating greater awareness of the vital connection between cleanliness and human health.

Garfinkel continued, “I personally felt the most satisfaction meeting and working beside so many people globally with common interests. Many will continue to be considered by me as friends for life, particularly those I served with who volunteered their time and leadership through service on the ISSA board and its worldwide committees. I will always be grateful for the support for the more difficult changes needed in the association policies. To have value, the association should embrace positive policy changes in technology and structure to remain relevant and viable. ISSA continues that effort and should never exist as a barrier for change, or it will lose its value.”

The Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award

The Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award, reserved for individuals with at least 10 years of outstanding service to the professional cleaning industry, was presented to Ilham Kadri, founder of the ISSA Hygieia Network and current CEO of Solvay, a Belgian multinational chemical company.

Inspired by her grandmother, Kadri has been a tireless promoter of women in the cleaning industry. She founded the ISSA Hygieia Network during her previous tenure as Diversey CEO to develop an avenue to provide tools and support to help women achieve their full potential.

“I am honored and truly humbled to receive the Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award as ISSA is celebrating its 100th anniversary,” Kadri expressed. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This award means the world to me because it pays tribute to my grandmother, who took immense pride in her role as a cleaner. She showed me the importance of hard work, perseverance, resilience, and living my life with empathy. I found all these values within the cleaning industry.”

When founding the Hygieia Network, Kadri had the ambition to build pride in the industry and create a platform for mentoring, networking, and advancing professional cleaning women—invisible heroes who work tirelessly in schools, offices, and hospitals, to keep the public safe and healthy. In fact, she literally wrote the book on it.

“Authoring the book Invisible Heroes: The Inspirational Stories of 23 Women (And 1 Man) Who Clean Our World was a highlight in my life,” she revealed.

Kadri also acknowledged the many people in the industry who support her. “I am deeply thankful to John Garfinkel, ISSA’s former executive director, who believed in my project in the year of his retirement. I am grateful to his successor, John Barrett, who was passionate about supporting the network during the first critical years. I would like to recognize my dear first co-founders and friends: Meredith Reuben, Linda Silverman, Nathalie Doobin, Holly Borrego, Lydia Work, Marie Paule Nowlis, and Jill Kellermeyer-Kegler, who said yes when I first called them on the phone. Thank you, ISSA, for your honor and for promoting again and again the pride in our industry, like what the goddess Hygieia stands for, and for reminding us all every day that there is no health without cleanliness and hygiene.”

The Manufacturer Representatives’ Distinguished Service Award

The Manufacturer Representatives’ Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who support manufacturer representatives, the industry, and ISSA. This special award was presented to Keith Angel, former president of Angel Cotton Associates.

Over the course of his 30-year career, Angel participated in countless manufacturer product and advisory committees, while leading his agency to become one of the largest in the country. During his time as the ISSA Manufacturer Representatives’ Council Chair, he was instrumental in developing the manufacturer representative scholarship that continues to provide opportunities to the next generation of representatives.

Angel graciously accepts this award, saying, “I am both thrilled and humbled to have been awarded this honor by my fellow manufacturer representatives. I hope it is a reflection of my desire to positively impact those I have worked with in both my time as a distributor and as a rep since 1993, of my work ethic, and of my efforts to maintain a true North ethical compass my entire career.”

Angel expresses his gratitude for being chosen. “My sincere thanks to Jay Shearer and his Manufacturer Representatives’ Council for selecting me. To my wife, Rae Ann, and son, Brian, thank you for your love and understanding from the very beginning, without which I could not have succeeded. To John Cotton, my business partner and dear friend, thank you for your willingness to work with me and for your hard work all those years together. My sincere thanks to my best friend and mentor, Dennis Redman, who not only put John and me together to start Angel/Cotton Associates, but also taught me how to be a rep, how to value our manufacturers as customers, and how to work with distributors and end users ethically and honorably. To all the past and present team members of Angel/Cotton and later Avision, thank you for your loyalty, council, and support. To the many manufacturers and distributors who worked with me and my company, my everlasting thanks for your support and willingness to work together. Lastly, thank you to ISSA for being the linchpin for all the sections of our industry and giving us a forum to work together.”

The ISSA NextGen Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core

The ISSA NextGen Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core acknowledges emerging leaders who make positive contributions to their organizations and the industry. Travis Caldwell, Imperial Dade’s director of sales and government, was honored for his commitment to educating building service contractors (BSCs) and food service contractors engaged in government work on the intricacies of operating and maintaining proper compliance. In addition, Caldwell serves as an engineer in the U.S. Army National Guard, swiftly responding as one of the initial responders in the aftermath of significant national disasters.

Caldwell’s thanks extended to many as he was honored with this award. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Bob and Jason Tillis and Charlie D’Elia, Jr. for having the confidence in me to spearhead the government markets division at Imperial Dade. Securing this award stands as a testament to the strength of the Imperial Dade family and the remarkable organization crafted by Bob and Jason Tillis. It exemplifies the concept that excellence inspires excellence, as being in the company of industry leaders day in and day out not only elevates my own performance but enriches the growth of everyone involved.”

Caldwell admitted that the path to where he is today has been anything but linear. “It’s been marked by numerous successes, failures, and formidable obstacles. However, in the journey of life, choices define us. It’s either about finding a way to accomplish the task at hand or persevering with unwavering determination. Surrendering or giving up is simply not a part of my life story.”

The ISSA Hygieia Network Rising Star of the Year

The ISSA Hygieia Network Rising Star of the Year recognizes a woman who has made significant achievements and has demonstrated consistent upward mobility in her career within the industry. Elizabeth Hawver, Essity vice president of Omnichannel, Wholesale & Office Distribution, was chosen by her peers for her impressive career trajectory and outstanding achievements within the cleaning industry.

“This is an incredible honor,” said Hawver. “I remember attending my first ISSA Hygieia Network Awards reception and being so impressed by the Rising Star award winner and the people involved in the ISSA Hygieia Network. I hoped that someday I, too, might win, and I can’t believe that day actually came!”

Hawver continued, “My life at Essity has spanned multiple functional areas, and I haven’t always taken a linear approach to career development. I’ve moved from pricing and finance to strategy and competitive intelligence and then, most recently, to sales leadership. Each move came with new challenges, new opportunities, and, most importantly, new perspectives on the business.”

She expressed gratitude to her managers, mentors, customers, and colleagues for supporting her over the years and guiding her in her journey. “And I want to offer a special thank you to my team,” she added, “because they really make the magic happen!“ Hawver concluded, “This is a special industry filled with people who work hard, have fun, and look out for each other. To be selected as a Rising Star is a true honor. Thank you for this recognition!”

Watch the ISSA Achievement Awards acceptance speeches below.