Lampropoulos receives Salt Lake Chamber's Giant in Our City award

Merit Medical founder and CEO Fred Lampropoulos has been honored as the Salt Lake Chamber’s 40th Giant in Our City. The award was presented to the biotech pioneer at a recent event in Salt Lake City.

“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 have 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.”

Lampropoulos founded Merit Medical in 1987 with the goal of becoming the world’s most customer-focused healthcare company. Now, 32 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 more than 6,200 people and generates nearly $1 billion in global revenues.

“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.”

Prior to founding Merit Medical, Lampropoulos served as chairman and CEO of Utah Medical. He founded Sentir Semiconductors in 1991, which was later merged into Merit Medical. Lampropoulos is extremely involved in the community and has served on many boards. He is the recipient of several 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. He 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.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized with such a wonderful award,” Lampropoulos said. “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.”

During the event, Pamela Atkinson was also recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Lane Beattie Utah Community Builder Award.