• Bellwether League’s beacon awards sport a new look in celebration of the decade’s anniversary.
  • Bellwether League Co-Founder and Executive Director Rick Barlow opens the induction ceremony.
  • Members of the Bellwether Classes of 2008-2016 in attendance receive their new lapel pins.
  • Bellwether League Chairman Nick Gaich greets attendees during his introduction when he reflected on the mission and vision of the organization fulfilled for the last 10 years and continuing in the future.
  • Bellwether League Board Member Ed Hisscock introduces Sara Bird, the first Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Ed Hisscock shares thoughts about Sara Bird’s accomplishments.
  • Bellwether League Chairman Nick Gaich embraces Sara Bird.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Sara Bird with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Sara Bird shares keen insights about her storied supply chain career with the U.S. Department of Defense.
  • Sara Bird reflects on how the view never changes if you’re not out front.
  • Bellwether League Secretary Pat Carroll introduces Mayo Clinic’s Jim Francis, the second Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Jim Francis with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Jim Francis credits the healthcare supply chain community for helping him develop and his career progress.
  • Bellwether League Chairman Emeritus John Gaida introduces his predecessor, Jamie Kowalski, Bellwether League Co-Founder and Founding Chairman, as the third Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Jamie Kowalski with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Jamie Kowalski salutes everyone who guided and influenced him through his 45-year-and-counting career.
  • Bellwether League Board Member John Strong introduces Hiram Lake as the fourth Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Larry Lake for Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Hiram Lake with Nick Gaich.
  • Larry Lake, son of Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Hiram Lake, shares some of his father’s adventurous and selfless background.
  • Larry Lake somewhat jokingly recalls how his father’s missionary experiences may have prepared him for contract negotiations with vendors.
  • Bellwether League Board Member Nate Mickish introduces Yankee Alliance’s Jim Oliver as the fifth Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Jim Oliver with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Jim Oliver retraced his career some five months before his announced March 2018 retirement.
  • Bellwether League Treasurer Deborah Templeton, R.Ph., introduces Healthcare Purchasing News Publisher Kristine Russell as the sixth Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Kristine Russell with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Kristine Russell advocated the need for more success stories showcasing Supply Chain’s integral role in working with other departments to unite and fortify the entire healthcare system.
  • Bellwether League Board Member Todd Ebert, R.Ph., introduces Claflin Co.’s Dudley Sisak as the seventh Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Claflin Co.’s Ted Almon (Bellwether Class of 2010) with Nick Gaich.
  • Ted Almon, representing Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Dudley Sisak, shared Sisak’s passion and perseverance for helping his company and his customers succeed.
  • Bellwether League Board Member Mark Van Sumeren introduces Craig Smith as the eighth Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Craig Smith with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Craig Smith stressed the need for and value of education and training as the foundation for effective and efficient supply chain performance.
  • Bellwether League Co-Founder and Executive Director Rick Barlow introduces William V.S. Thorne as the ninth Honoree – and earliest Honoree – to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • New York-Presbyterian’s Anand Joshi, M.D., representing Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee William V.S. Thorne, with Nick Gaich.
  • Anand Joshi, M.D., marvels at the supply chain ingenuity and dedication of W.V.S. Thorne, a late 19th/early 20th Century railroad executive who served as Presbyterian Hospital’s Treasurer and founded Hospital Bureau of Supplies and Standards, which is listed and widely regarded as the nation’s first group purchasing organization.
  • Bellwether League Board Member Michael Louviere introduces Dwight Winstead as the tenth Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether League Board Member Michael Louviere introduces Dwight Winstead as the tenth Honoree to be inducted into the Bellwether Class of 2017.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Dwight Winstead with Nick Gaich.
  • Bellwether Class of 2017 Inductee Dwight Winstead recapped how VHA’s changes kept pace with industry changes.
  • Future Famers Class of 2017 with their awards: Standing (left to right) Mark Growcott, Ph.D., Karen Kresnik, R.N., Elise Nagowski for Christy Crestin and Ben Cahoy. Not pictured: Derek Havens and Christy Crestin.
  • Ochsner Health’s Michael Louviere, Lloyd Gravolis and Mark Growcott, Ph.D., accept the 2016 Dean S. Ammer Award for Supply Chain Excellence, on behalf of their Ammer Level 4 Supply Chain Organization.
  • Mayo Clinic’s Jim Francis accepts the 2017 Dean S. Ammer Award for Supply Chain Excellence, on behalf of his Ammer Level 5 Supply Chain Organization.
  • Nick Gaich recognizes two retiring Bellwether League Board Members.
  • Nick Gaich presents John Strong and Michael Louviere as retiring Board Members.
  • John Strong and Michael Louviere with Nick Gaich.