As the 2009 Unsung Facility Hero Award winner, Burkhardt will receive a year''s membership to IEHA, a certificate of appreciation, a $200 cash bonus, have his story printed in Executive Housekeeping Today magazine, and for the first time since the inception of the Unsung Hero Award, he will also be given a complimentary IEHA Self Study Program, the release stated.
According to the release, IEHA member Gail VanEtten, manager of building services for Palmetto Health Baptist, nominated Burkhardt for the award.
VanEtten said: "[Burkhardt] is a major support to my department. Earlier this year, I was without a supervisor and manager due to an accident. [Burkhardt] stepped up to the plate and everything went very smoothly. I am extremely proud to have this individual on my team."
Due to the overwhelming number of nominations, IEHA has chosen to reward two runners-up for this award for the first time: Sam Mangram, public area manager with the
Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Alfredo Valdez, custodial lead for the
University of Washington in Seattle, the release noted.
IEHA would like to thank all those who nominated a pool of very qualified candidates for this award, the release added.
