Community Blood Bank CEO Retires

LINCOLN, Neb., July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Local nonprofit, Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB), a division of Innovative Blood Resources, today announced the retirement of long-standing community leader and NCBB senior executive Phyllis Ericson, MS, MT(ASCP).  

In making the announcement, Don Berglund, CEO of Innovative Blood Resources, commented, "Phyllis has been, and will continue to be, an outstanding leader in the Nebraska community. And she is leaving a rich legacy of exemplary work within the community of non-profit blood banks around the country, and in our communities as well."

After a 24-year career with NCBB and nearly 40 years in healthcare, Ms. Ericson has demonstrated a deep commitment to the cause of blood donation, to the safety of volunteer donors and recipients, and to ensuring that a safe and reliable supply of blood is readily available to all who need it. With passion and purpose, she led the way to:

• Build and sustain NCBB's stellar reputation for quality and service excellence.
• Be among the first blood centers in the U.S. to provide routine, weekly support of the blood needs of patients across the country.
• Coordinate with FEMA the only emergency mission allowed to air lift blood into the New York area within 24 hours following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
• Create the first blood center to inventory 100% leukoreduced red cells to patients.

"Phyllis has been a driving force for ensuring a safe and stable blood supply for our communities, and I was proud to work with her in pursuit of the organization's mission," remarked Mr. Andrew Detlefsen of Wells Fargo, and member of the Innovative Blood Resources Board of Directors.  "The work she has done in her career at the blood bank has set the stage for the organization to continue connecting people and saving lives."

Art Molnar, MD, President of the Lancaster County Medical Society, which founded the NCBB in 1968, commented, "Phyllis has been an excellent leader for the NCBB and the Lincoln community.  She is looking forward to retirement and even though she will be missed, we wish her well."  

Phyllis has shared that her plans for retirement include pursuing her passions for gardening, traveling, and genealogy. Her passion for genealogy is evident in her role as Vice President of Programs for the Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society, a role which she plans to continue in her retirement.

With Ms. Ericson's retirement, Ellen DiSalvo, MBA, MT(ASCP), SBB, DLM, Vice President of Laboratory Services, Innovative Blood Resources, will expand her responsibilities to oversee services to the organization's Nebraska-based hospital partners and provide leadership for Nebraska operations, including the Nebraska Community Advisory Board.

Plans are in progress to host a retirement celebration for Phyllis later this summer. Information about the celebration will be announced at a later date.

About NCBB
The Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been Connecting People ~ Saving Lives for 45 years. Founded by Lancaster County Medical Society physicians to meet the transfusion needs of hospitals in Lancaster and Seward counties, NCBB today provides blood products and services to medical facilities in Lancaster, Jefferson, Polk, Saline, Seward and York counties. For more information, visit www.NCBB.org or call 877-486-9414.

About Innovative Blood Resources
Innovative Blood Resources is an alliance of two nationally-recognized and community-based nonprofit blood centers: Minnesota-based Memorial Blood Centers and Nebraska Community Blood Bank, based in Lincoln. The organization pursues a vision to be the best blood center in America. Innovative Blood Resources brings over 100 years of combined blood industry experience, comprehensive product and service capabilities, enhanced value-driven solutions for patients, hospitals, physicians and other healthcare partners.  Clinical staff at Innovative Blood Resources offer the expertise in transfusion medicine needed to adaptively meet future economic and healthcare changes. Learn more at www.innovativebloodresources.org or by calling 888-980-8847.

SOURCE Innovative Blood Resources