WATERLOO, Iowa (December 16, 2021)—In a virtual ceremony, Katie Stevens was named 2021 Home Medical Equipment (HME) Woman of the Year. Stevens is chief executive officer (CEO) of Reliable Medical Supply, headquartered in Minneapolis. She has more than 15 years of experience in health care and has demonstrated expertise in business development and health care operations throughout her career.
Stevens began her career in HME in 2006 as a customer service representative for a complex rehab company. She would go on to hold positions across various functions within the industry before assuming her current role of CEO at Reliable Medical Supply in January 2020.
Driven by Reliable Medical’s mission to improve the lives of both its employees and customers, Stevens dedicates the majority of her time to supporting the culture within the organization and reinvesting in the people who are responsible for its successes.
Under her leadership, Reliable Medical has seen significant growth and high employee retention, and was named one of the top workplaces in Minneapolis. Stevens holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Redlands and a Master of Science degree in marketing from the University of Nottingham in the U.K. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, two small children, and two dogs, with whom she spends every free moment she has—preferably outside, hiking and exploring.
“I’m absolutely honored,” said Stevens, after being announced as the 2021 HME Woman of the Year. “This is an incredible group, and it’s an absolute honor to be recognized for dedication to the industry and the people that I am passionate about.”
The HME Woman of the Year award, sponsored by VGM & Associates, is in its sixth year. It recognizes one woman in the industry who has made significant contributions throughout her career to her company, community, and the HME industry. The award was presented Dec. 16 during a special virtual ceremony.
"On behalf of our entire VGM team, I am honored to present Katie Stevens with this award, which she has earned for her dedicated service to the HME industry,” said Mike Mallaro, CEO of VGM Group Inc., VGM & Associates’ parent company. “Katie has displayed exemplary service and has helped raise the bar in standards across the industry. I am excited to watch Katie lead this business into the future.”
Nominations were received from across the nation and included a broad spectrum of providers, manufacturers, and other professionals in home medical equipment, rehab, respiratory, and women’s health. Finalists were selected based on criteria including implementing new business processes, industry advocacy, improving patients’ lives, and community involvement.
Out of 64 nominees, four women were selected as finalists. The other HME Woman of the Year finalists include:
• Dr. Trisha Bailey, CEO, Medical Hotspots Inc./Bailey’s Medical
• Neidi Mack, Vice President for Ancillary Services, Prism Health Care Services/The Alden Network
• Victoria Peterson, Administrator, RespMed
For more information about the award, visit vgm.com/womanoftheyear.
