[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING LES C. VINNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEVEN C. LaTOURETTE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 1, 2007

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Les C. 
Vinney, a resident of the 14th Congressional District of Ohio, who 
retired at the end of September from his position as President and 
Chief Executive Officer of STERIS Corporation in Mentor, Ohio.
  Mr. Vinney joined STERIS as Chief Financial Officer in 1999, and from 
July 2000 through September 2007 he served as President and CEO. Mr. 
Vinney presided over a period of unprecedented growth at STERIS, 
including a growth in revenue of more than 50 percent, a near 
quadrupling of stock values, and a rise in employment in Mentor from 
fewer than 400 employees to almost 1,000.
  Mr. Vinney has innovatively led the way at STERIS, transforming it 
from primarily a healthcare company to one that has adapted its proven 
technologies for new markets. Most significantly, he established 
STERIS's Defense & Industrial Group to adapt and market STERIS's 
technologies to help businesses and government address the risks of 
biochemical contamination.
  Following the anthrax attacks in 2001 that closed down much of 
Washington--including my congressional office--STERIS successfully 
completed the cleanup of State Department and the General Services 
Administration's mail processing facilities. Since then, he has briefed 
me regularly as STERIS has successfully conducted collaborative 
research and development work with the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical 
Biological Center to adapt and modify STERIS's Vaporized Hydrogen 
Peroxide (VHP) technology for use against biological and chemical 
warfare agents.
  Mr. Vinney is keenly aware that military applications can be applied 
to other settings, and has helped grow STERIS into a model for 
military, public and commercial applications of its technologies. The 
cutting-edge VHP decontamination system can be used to kill bacteria, 
viruses and spores in settings from operating rooms to jets, and was 
even used after Hurricane Katrina.
  Beyond his work with STERIS, Les is a civic leader as well, and has 
served as Chairman of the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition, an 
organization promoting economic and technology development in Northeast 
Ohio. He's also served on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of 
Cleveland, University Hospitals, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and 
as a past chairman of the Lake County United Way Campaign. Outside 
Ohio, he also serves on the boards of Campbell Soup Company and the 
Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed).
  I wish Les the best in his retirement, and know how much he is 
looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Linda, and their 
family. On behalf of the 14th Congressional District of Ohio, I 
congratulate Les on all of his fine work, and thank him for his 
leadership for Northeast Ohio and the nation.

                          ____________________