Hank Josephs is Owner and President of Spruce Industries, Inc., a diversified distributor of janitorial and sanitary supplies in Garwood, NJ.  Hank joined the jan-san industry in 1973 as sales manager for Rochester Germicide.  He later joined Monmouth Paper as Vice President of Sales and when Bunzl purchased Monmouth, he became General Sales Manager for the New Jersey Branch.  In 1989, Hank purchased Spruce Industries which he operates with his family, including his son Daniel who is General Manager.  Hank has been active in the New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association, serving as the association's president from 2002-2004 and 1985-1986, vice president from 1999-2001, and trade show chairman in 1985.  Spruce is a member of ISSA for over 25 years and Hank has attended the ISSA show continuously since 1981.

"The NJSSA Board of Trustees is honored to present this award to Hank for his outstanding service to the industry and the association, and for his utmost integrity in all he has done in the jan-san industry," said Fred Schimanski, NJSSA President.

Josephs thanked the NJSSA board and members of the Association who helped him grow his business and his jan-san career. “I am honored, humbled and proud to accept this award.  It carries great meaning for me that this award comes from my peers and competitors.”  Josephs challenged other family-owned and run businesses to get more involved in their industry trade association. “This association needs us!  We need to bring new people to our meetings.  Let’s educate our younger staff on the benefits of the NJSSA and what it can do for them,” he added. 

This is the third Bob Stader Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented. In 2004, Russ Leahy was awarded the first Bob Stader Award and Norman Leibowitz of Norshel Industries was recognized in 2006. The recipient is selected biannually by the NJSSA Board of Trusties and the award is named in memory of Bob Stader, a founding member of NJSSA.

View photos of the 2006 Stader Award Winner