Individual Awards
Franzmeier Lifetime Achievement Award:
Gavin Evans Executive Director,
Global Blood Fund
Since its establishment in 1991, the prestigious Franzmeier Lifetime Achievement Award has been synonymous with honoring outstanding individuals who have made a lasting impact on ADRP and the broader blood community. Named in honor of the late Vice President of The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, Ron Franzmeier, this esteemed award celebrates individuals who have exemplified dedication, innovation, and leadership throughout their careers.
Gavin Evans, Executive Director of Global Blood Fund, was honored for his 25 years of ADRP membership and service. He holds the distinction of being the first and only non-North American ADRP President, serving from 2007 to 2008. Evans continues to contribute significantly through his involvement in the International Outreach Committee.
Ronald O. Gilcher, MD Award:
Lisa Entrikin CEO, Rock River Valley
Blood Center
Established in 2004, the Ronald O. Gilcher, MD Award pays tribute to the incredible legacy of the former President, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer of the Oklahoma Blood Institute. This award serves as recognition of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership in the field of blood donation and medical science.
Lisa Entrikin, CEO of the Rock River Valley Blood Center, was honored for her remarkable 30-year career in blood banking. She rose from Telerecruitment Manager to CEO, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills along the way. Entrikin's tenure as ADRP President during the height of the pandemic was particularly noteworthy. Throughout her career, she has consistently promoted ADRP's mission and maintained regular attendance at conferences, showcasing her dedication to the field.
Donor Experience Professional of the Year Award: Laney Wright, Blood Drive Consultant, Carter BloodCare
The Donor Experience Professional of the Year Award is designed to honor outstanding team members in the collections, recruitment, marketing, communication, or operations sectors. This award celebrates individuals who make a profound impact through their dedication and commitment to serving our industry and its donors.
Laney Wright, Blood Drive Consultant at Carter BloodCare, received this award for consistently exceeding annual targets, impressively achieving 117% of her goal in 2024. She organized 571 blood drives in a single year, the highest among her team. Wright's exemplary customer service and unwavering support for her colleagues have set a new standard in the field.
Rolf Kovenetsky Leader of the Year Award: Kenda Burnham, Sr. Director, Donor Recruitment, Community Blood
Center of the Ozarks
The Rolf Kovenetsky Leader of the Year Award was instituted to honor exceptional individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in the fields of recruitment, collections, marketing/communications, or operations. This award is specifically designed to recognize supervisors, managers, and directors who have made a significant impact in their respective disciplines. Successful nominee exhibits development and celebration of team members, encourages strategic thinking, possesses problem solving skills and prioritizes passion for their work.
Kenda Burnham's, Senior Director of Donor Recruitment at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, achievements include dramatically growing in-kind donations from under $10,000 to an astounding $2.34 million in 2024. She implemented innovative cost-saving strategies, including the acquisition of an in-house HP Latex printer. Her efforts have helped revolutionized donor incentives and partnerships, significantly impacting her organization's effectiveness.
ADRP Volunteer of the Year Award: Jim Watts, Manager, Regional Development and Government Relations, ImpactLife
The ADRP Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an extraordinary individual who has consistently showcased exceptional dedication and invaluable contributions to ADRP, fostering the growth and advancement of the association and its members.
Jim Watts, Manager of Regional Development and Government Relations at ImpactLife, was recognized for his consistent support in conference planning since 2019. He served as conference co-chair for two years and is currently chair through 2026. Watts is known for always being available to help at conferences and as a session moderator, embodying the spirit of volunteerism and collaboration that is central to ADRP.
Organization Awards
Media Partner Award: Liz Bonis, Local 12 WKRC-TV, Nominated by Hoxworth Blood Center
Since its establishment in 2003, the Media Partner Award has sought to recognize the importance of media representatives in creating awareness about the pressing and constant demand for regular blood donations. Their contributions help educate and engage the community about the critical importance of donors of all blood types. Nominees must demonstrate consistent support throughout the year and sponsor an annual or bi-annual event on a large scale with blood drives or other donation events.
Liz Bonis and WKRC TV. Bonis's "Donor of the Week" segment has been instrumental in reaching thousands of viewers weekly, significantly boosting donor engagement. Her personal connection to blood donation, stemming from her father's experience, has inspired compassionate storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences.
Blood Drive Partner of the Year Award:
Dr. Vy Rossi, Donate4Mothers,
Nominated by Vitalant
The Blood Drive Partner of the Award recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to prioritize and promote blood donation within their respective communities. Whether it's an organization, business, or community members, the recipients of this award are trailblazers in creating awareness, organizing successful campaigns, and inspiring others to join the life-saving mission of donating blood.
Dr. Vy Rossi was recognized for founding Donate4Mothers, a campaign focused on maternal health and blood donation. What began as a single blood drive has expanded into a multi-state, month-long campaign under her guidance. In 2023, Dr. Rossi personally attended 28 of 41 drives, inspiring donors with her dedication and passion for the cause.
School Partner of the Year Award: Lindsey Schmidt, Clemson University Alpha Phi Omega, Nominated by the Blood Connection
The School Partner of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding dedication of a high school or college in promoting and prioritizing blood donation within its student body and local community. This award celebrates the exceptional commitment demonstrated by the recipient in fostering a culture of altruistic blood donation.
Lindsay Schmidt and Clemson University's Alpha Phi Omega were honored for their leadership in the 40-year-old Clemson Carolina Blood Bowl. Their efforts led to record-breaking collections of 4,172 units over just five days in 2023. Even during the challenges posed by the pandemic, they managed to maintain and grow donations, demonstrating remarkable resilience and commitment to blood donation.
ADRP President’s Award for Service: Al Whitney, Platelets Across America
The ADRP President's Award for Service is a recognition given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to ADRP, blood donors, recipients, or the blood community as a whole. This recipient is personally selected by the ADRP President, highlighting its significance within the organization.
Al Whitney, founder of Platelets Across America, was honored for his extraordinary 60 years of volunteering at blood centers across America. He founded Platelets Across America and has donated platelets in all 50 states twice and is currently on his third effort, an unprecedented achievement. Whitney's dedication is further evidenced by his remarkable 1,141 platelet donations to date.
Looking to Make a Nomination for an ADRP Award?
Every year, we invite nominations in anticipation of our Annual Conference. The submission window for the 2026 awards has not yet opened, please keep an eye on our website for updates about the process.