WATERLOO, Iowa (July 18, 2018)—VGM Group, Inc. has released the names of the five people who will serve on the HME Woman of the Year Honorary Selection Committee.

The 2018 selection committee includes the 2017 HME Woman of the Year, Barbara Smith, chief executive officer of Healthline Medical Equipment, Inc. Joining Smith is Douglas Coleman, chief executive officer of Rocky Mountain Medical Equipment, DBA Major Medical; Liz Beaulieu, editor of HME News; Rita Stanley, vice president of Government Relations at Sunrise Medical; and Andrew Morse, assistant to the president for Board and Governmental Relations at the University of Northern Iowa.   

“It is a privilege to assist in selecting the finalists for the HME Woman of the Year award,” said Stanley, who was a 2017 award finalist. “It is essential to recognize those who are actively engaged and investing personal time and resources to promote and protect the HME industry, and to advocate for the people our industry serves.”   

With more than 90 years of combined experience in the home health care arena, the honorary selection committee will review all of the nominations and submit three semifinalists each. VGM will review the recommendations and select four finalists to attend the awards ceremony held during Medtrade in Atlanta, Georgia. During the VGM-sponsored ceremony, all of the finalists will be recognized prior to the official announcement of the winner of the 2018 HME Woman of the Year.       

“Last year, 38 amazing candidates were nominated for the prestigious HME Woman of the Year award,” said Clint Geffert, president of VGM & Associates. “Although we can only select one winner, it is always rewarding to read through the amazing work that women continue to do to strengthen the industry we all serve so passionately.”   

VGM encourages industry stakeholders to nominate a peer or consider nominating themselves for the award. The nomination period is open until August 13, and nominations can be submitted by visiting vgm.com/hmewomanoftheyear.

For more information about the award or to nominate a deserving woman, visit vgm.com/hmewomanoftheyear.