ISSA Announces Its 2023 Achievement Awards Honorees

ISSA has announced its 2023 Achievement Awards honorees. They are cleaning industry professionals who have driven the industry forward through their positive contributions. The five honorees will be recognized on November 14, during the “Spotlight Event: Then, Now, Forever | Celebrating 100 Years of ISSA,” which will take place as part of the ISSA Show North America 2023, held November 13-16, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, in Las Vegas.

“As ISSA celebrates its 100th anniversary, it’s important to recognize the dedicated and passionate individuals who have championed not only our association but the cleaning industry as a whole,” ISSA 2023 Board President Matt Vonachen said. “Congratulations to this year’s Achievement Award honorees. I look forward to celebrating their accomplishments in Las Vegas.”

The 2023 Achievement Awards and their recipients are:

• The ISSA Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors an individual who, in the opinion of the ISSA board, deserves recognition for substantial contributions to the advancement of the industry and/or to ISSA over a significant period of time. This year’s recipient is former ISSA Executive Director John P. Garfinkel. For more than five decades, Garfinkel has been an influential force in the cleaning industry. As ISSA Executive Director from 1991 to 2015, he was instrumental in championing many of the initiatives that bolstered membership and established ISSA as a leading association for the cleaning industry worldwide.
• The Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award, reserved for individuals with at least 10 years of outstanding service to the professional cleaning industry, will be 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 CEO of Diversey, to develop a network to provide tools and support to help women achieve their full potential.
• The Manufacturer Representatives’ Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes individuals who support manufacturer representatives, the industry, and ISSA, will be awarded 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, and led his agency to become one of the largest in the country. During his time as the ISSA Manufacturer Representative Council Chair, he was instrumental in developing the Manufacturer Representative Scholarship that continues to provide opportunities to the next generation of reps.
• 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, director of sales, government at Imperial Dade, will be honored for his commitment to educating building service contractors 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.
• The ISSA Hygieia Network Rising Star of the Year recognizes a woman who has made significant achievements and 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.