Welch Allyn honors four sales and marketing professionals with outstanding performance awards

Welch Allyn, a leading manufacturer of frontline medical products and solutions, recently honored four North American sales and marketing professionals with outstanding performance awards at its 2010 Sales Meeting in Naples, Florida. Cathy Sweeney of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania; Derek Thompson of Kennebunk, Maine; and Frederic Fhima of Mississauga, Ontario, were winners of the prestigious Welch Allyn President's Cup, an award given each year to the company's top sales professionals in both the ambulatory care and acute care markets in the United States and Canada. In addition, Steve Kenan of Skaneateles received the Marketing Excellence Award.

“I'm so thankful to my colleagues and peers at Welch Allyn for considering my performance worthy of the President's Cup honor”

Cathy Sweeney, winner in the U.S. acute care category, has been a Welch Allyn sales representative for 11 years. She works with hospital administrators from large and small institutions as well as several leading medical schools in the northeast region of the U.S.

"I'm so thankful to my colleagues and peers at Welch Allyn for considering my performance worthy of the President's Cup honor," said Sweeney. "I'm fortunate to be able to provide such a wide variety of Welch Allyn solutions to so many hospital departments—especially in light of the fact that we're in the midst of some of the most challenging economic times these facilities have faced. Working for a family-owned company during times like these makes all the difference in the world because sales decisions are made with a clear long-term vision in mind. Like a family, this business is built on relationships, and that's what I try to build with our customers."

Ten-year Welch Allyn sales veteran Derek Thompson, a U.S. ambulatory care account manager for the Maine, New Hampshire, and Eastern Massachusetts region, received the distinguished award for his aptitude and willingness to learn, as well as his understanding of what needs to be done to be successful in the field. In 2008, Derek was named runner-up for the Manufacturer Representative of the Year Award by the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA).

"I feel honored and privileged to have been awarded the Ambulatory Care President's Cup," said Thompson. "It all comes down to trust and credibility, and the great relationships I've been able to develop with my customers and distributor partners make it all worth while. I believe in our products and the company I work for."

Frederic Fhima, winner of the Canadian President's Cup, has been a Welch Allyn sales representative for nearly 18 years. He works with healthcare administrators and physicians in the province of Quebec in Canada.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award," said Fhima. "Considering the quality of our products and the outstanding name Welch Allyn has made for itself in the Unites States and Canada, it is a privilege to be a part of this company. I would like to thank the excellent leadership that has been provided to me along the way. Most importantly, I would like to thank the teams that work behind the scenes every day to ensure that I can go out and see customers with high quality products and outstanding support every step of the way."

Steve Kenan, senior category manager 11-year veteran at the company, was given the Marketing Excellence Award following the development and implementation of successful marketing campaigns associated with the Welch Allyn cardiopulmonary product line. Through Steve's efforts, Welch Allyn market share in the category increased from 23 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 to 33 percent in the first quarter of 2010. In addition, the company earned a market share leadership position in unit sales of resting electrocardiographs (ECGs) in the first quarter of 2010.

"Steve has a can-do attitude and leads by example in all he does," said Tim Callahan, vice president, U.S. and Canada Marketing and Category Management. "He certainly worked hard to earn this distinction, which is a testament to his diligence, in-depth knowledge of our customers and distribution partners, and perseverance in successfully increasing sales of his product line by nearly 10 percent last year alone. He has 11 years of product management experience to draw from, and this award exemplifies his many talents."

According to John Tierney, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada sales, Welch Allyn upholds only the highest standards during the review of nominees each year for the President's Cup and Marketing Excellence Awards.

"President's Cup and Marketing Excellence Award winners regularly demonstrate the best in attitude, aptitude and performance for Welch Allyn," he said. "Cathy, Derek, Frederic and Steve are the best of the best, and we are very proud to have each of them on the Welch Allyn team."