Fred Lampropoulos, founder of South Jordan-based Merit Medical, has been named by the Salt Lake Chamber as its 40th Giant in our City. The annual award honors those with exceptional and distinguished service and extraordinary professional achievement, the chamber said.
Lampropoulos founded Merit Medical in 1987 with the goal of becoming the world’s most customer-focused health care company. Now, 30 years later, Merit is a leading manufacturer and marketer of disposable medical devices and holds over 800 patents and pending applications representing inventions used in diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic procedures. With manufacturing facilities in the United States, The Netherlands, France, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore and Australia, Merit Medical employs close to 6,000 people and generates nearly a $1 billion in global revenues.
“When you consider that Utah’s life sciences sector accounts for almost 8 percent of the state’s GDP — about $13 billion annually — you see just how big of an impact Fred Lampropoulos and Merit Medical has on Utah’s economy,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “It’s not just Fred’s business acumen that has earned him his success, but also his leadership style, his drive and determination, which he credits to his time as a Special Forces officer in the U.S. Army, that have helped make Merit Medical what it is today. This is a man who has not only built a billion-dollar company with the goal of saving people’s lives, but a leader who has also made it his mission to build people up.”
Prior to founding Merit Medical, Lampropoulos was the chairman and CEO of Utah Medical. He has been chairman and CEO of Merit Medical since 1987. He founded Sentir Semiconductors in 1991, which was later merged into Merit Medical. He is also involved in the community and has served on many boards. He is the recipient of a number of awards, including the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology, the Utah National Guard Bronze Minuteman Award and the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award. Lampropoulos was inducted into the Utah Business Hall of Fame, the Utah Technology Hall of Fame and the University of Utah College of Science Hall of Fame.
“Fred Lampropoulos is a self-taught innovator, a man of action, character and integrity and a leader who encourages and uplifts his employees with his vision and compassion,” said Steve Starks, chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors. “We are pleased to be honoring Fred Lampropoulos with this year’s Giant in our City award.”
Lampropoulos will receive the award at a ceremony May 31 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized with such a wonderful award,” said Lampropoulos. “I am grateful to my business partners and board members for their assistance and guidance over the years. I feel fortunate to have been able to improve people’s lives with medical products and to help provide jobs for many of our citizens. I look forward to continuing my work in this great community that has been so good to me.”