The 2021 Earl G. Reubel Awards

The Earl G. Reubel Awards are awarded in three healthcare industry categories: Civic Leadership, Large Corporate Leadership, and Diversity Enterprise. Owens & Minor is proud to partner with our diverse network of trusted suppliers to drive progress, productivity, and performance across the healthcare supply chain. We are honored to serve as a founding partner of these awards honoring Earl G. Reubel’s legacy.

From humble beginnings to a successful entrepreneur: Earl G. Reubel’s intellect, instincts, insights and drive propelled him from the streets of Harlem to CEO of one of the largest veteran-minority-owned manufacturer/supplier companies in the healthcare private sector.

A natural born businessman, Earl’s early sales training going door-to-door for Kirby Vacuums in New York City ignited his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. He launched his first company, a search and rescue business in Washington State, after serving in the United States Army as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. In 1983 he partnered with nephew Joe Reubel to create Verdan Healthcare, which served as the foundation for Kerma Medical Products Inc. launched in partnership with his wife Joyce Kershaw Reubel in 1991.

Earl built Kerma from a manufacturer of small cap equipment and supplies for the United States Government to become a major manufacturer of commercial medical products distributed to over 4,000 Acute Care hospitals across the country. He developed a close association with Owens & Minor as a key part of their diversity supplier offerings to hospital customers, and in the process created a legacy for his family. Today, Kerma Medical is one of the largest veteran-minority owned companies in the healthcare industry, and is one of Owens & Minor’s most strategic partners and longest-tenured diversity supplier.