Local News & Commentary Since 1890.

Archive for the ‘Local News’ Category

, , , , , , , ,

Area food pantry celebrates 50 years with a new name and executive director

In Economy, Food, Health, Local News, Uncategorized on July 21, 2026 at 4:16 pm

By Gery Deer

(Photo Submitted) Volunteers at the Greene County Food Pantry (formerly Greene County FISH Pantry) continue supporting the organization’s mission during its Golden Anniversary.

The Greene County FISH Pantry, now located at 774 Cincinnati Ave., began in 1976 at Christ Episcopal Church in Xenia in response to the community’s needs following the devastating F5 tornado two years earlier.

As the nonprofit celebrates its golden anniversary, it is beginning its next chapter under a new name and branding intended to clarify its purpose. The organization is retiring the longstanding FISH (Friends in Service of Humanity) name and will now operate as Greene County Food Pantry.

Although a new logo may be the most visible change, the transition goes beyond branding. The nonprofit has officially adopted Greene County Food Pantry as its legal corporate name in its Articles of Incorporation and other official 501(c)(3) records.

Rick Robertson is the pantry’s new executive director, having assumed leadership earlier this year after serving as vice chair of its Board of Directors. Robertson said the rebranding reflects what the organization has become and the community it serves.

“Our pantry serves all of Greene County, and we felt it was time to have our name and branding more closely reflect our mission,” he said.

Robertson brings nearly four decades of leadership experience spanning banking, global profitability consulting and entrepreneurship. His background in operations, compliance and financial management positions him to guide the pantry’s next phase while building on his experience as a member of the organization’s board.

The organization is also continuing equipment upgrades begun under the leadership of former Executive Director Gail Matson. The improvements are part of a broader effort to improve how food is received, stored, and distributed to people throughout Greene County.

These milestones also provide an opportunity to recognize the volunteers, donors, and community partners who sustained the pantry for five decades, and they offer a natural point to consider what will be required in the years ahead.

Today, the pantry serves more than 30,000 people annually. Handling food assistance on that scale requires receiving and inspecting products, maintaining proper storage conditions, tracking inventory, meeting food safety requirements and coordinating staff and volunteers. The goal is to create a smoother workflow from the moment a donation arrives until food is placed into the hands of someone who needs it.

Many improvements may not be immediately visible to the public, but they are essential to the pantry’s daily work. Better equipment and more consistent procedures can improve food safety, reduce unnecessary delays and help volunteers manage increasing demand more effectively. The updates are also intended to better prepare the pantry for the future as families continue to face rising grocery costs and other financial pressures.

Regardless of new branding and operational changes, the organization’s central purpose remains unchanged. It continues to provide food assistance to Greene County residents while relying heavily on community generosity. Every donation, volunteer shift and financial contribution helps the pantry serve thousands of local people each year. The organization recently received a four-star rating on “Charity Navigator,” and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest-rated level of credibility for a nonprofit on Candid (formerly GuideStar). The rating shows donors that an organization is outcome-driven and publicly shares its goals, strategies, and measurable, year-over-year impact metrics.

The organization’s anniversary is not only a celebration of longevity. It is a recognition of generations of Greene County residents who have helped keep the pantry stocked, staffed and available to their neighbors. With each change, the organization is working to secure its future while continuing to combat food insecurity for the next 50 years. For more information on how you can help the Greene County Food Pantry, contact Executive Director Rick Robertson by calling 937-372-8441 or emailing gcfp@gcfp.org.

, , , , , ,

A home run

In Local News on July 10, 2026 at 12:06 pm

Deer In Headlines

By Gery L. Deer

My family never went to baseball games when I was growing up, and I’ve never really been a sports fan. But since the Cincinnati Reds farm team came to Dayton in 2000, I’ve always enjoyed a warm summer evening at a Dayton Dragons game, when, for a few hours, the world just seems to get a little bit lighter.

At an evening game, there is that moment when the sun begins to sink noticeably low on the horizon, the stadium lights slowly flicker to life, and the sky turns from blue to purple. The air begins to cool, and Day Air Ballpark feels less like a building and more like a living thing. 

A baseball park has a heartbeat, a pulse made up of thousands of conversations, vendors calling, children laughing, gloves popping, and the grounds crew making everything look impossibly tidy. Fans drift through the gates wearing some measure of Dragons spirit, from a ball cap to a full jersey with a player’s name across the back. 

Some arrive carrying gloves, hoping for a foul ball. Others carry children, souvenirs, and enough snacks to survive into the next day. Everybody seems to know the ritual. Find your seats. Easy, since there are no bad ones. Then you check the scoreboard and settle in. It doesn’t take long before the smell of the hot dogs and pizza call to you like a siren song, especially if you skipped lunch just to make room for it all. 

Speaking of food, there’s no shortage of choices. There are burgers, nachos, ice cream, specialty sandwiches, candy, popcorn, beer, soft drinks and probably something involving barbecue sauce that I’ve overlooked. Me, I’m a little old-school. A baseball traditionalist. My game foods are, in this order, a hot dog with mustard, a Dr. Pepper, a bag of peanuts, and pack of Cracker Jack. By the way, what happened to the prizes? We need to talk about that some other time.

Actually, the concession stand itself is part of the whole experience. You stand in line, trying to decide what you want. You hear the crowd react to some amazing play you missed, and inevitably run into somebody you haven’t seen in years. Suddenly, you are catching up between orders of nachos. 

If you’re the type who’s never met a stranger, there are plenty of folks there just like you. You can tell a tired tale of the one that got away to a whole new audience or bond with the person beside you over a shared dislike of the umpire’s last call. For nine innings, more than a thousand people have something in common. Nobody cares what you do for a living or who you voted for.

In my opinion, every game is a unique experience. Double plays, a T-shirt fired from a cannon that lands in someone’s hot dog, I mean, what are the odds? And, unbelievably, people actually talk to one another. Other than the odd selfie, surprisingly few are staring at their phones. That alone may qualify as a minor miracle.

As darkness settles over the ballpark, the moon peeks through the summer sky above downtown. Then, suddenly – Crack! The bat connects. It is going, going, gone. The ball sails over the fence as the outfield defense looks on. The air horns sound. Fans roar. The runner waves as he casually rounds the bases, while players with names like Friend, Vu, Faile, Montero and Confidan become part of our summer vocabulary.

Between plays, the entertainment crew, the Green Team, keeps everyone smiling with appearances by team mascots Heater, Gem, and Blaze, and interactive contests. Fans might throw water balloons or race around the bases wearing colorful inner tubes to prove, without a doubt, that dignity is optional when a free T-shirt is on the line. Soon, everyone is standing for the seventh inning stretch and a rousing chorus of, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

No matter who wins at a Dragons game, every fan from 9 to 99 gets a gift: a couple of hours when the world seems lighter. It’s familiar, unhurried and somehow exactly where you need to be, even if it’s only for one summer evening.

, , , ,

Trebein Road Milling and Paving Wednesday, June 17, 2026

In Local News on June 15, 2026 at 12:14 pm

The Greene County Engineer’s Office announces that John R. Jurgensen Co and Butler Paving, on behalf of Hillside Farms Development, will be milling and paving Trebein Road between Dayton-Xenia Road/Hilltop Road and Stonebury starting Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and lasting 2 days, weather and equipment permitting.

Trebein Road will be under construction from 7 am to 7 pm. Traffic will be maintained using flaggers. Travelers can expect delays, and we encourage you to use alternative routes. 

When traveling through these areas, please slow down and use caution, as there are unmarked no-passing zones. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during the resurfacing process and apologize for any inconvenience.

Note: this was previously scheduled for June 8, 2026, but the contractor had to reschedule it.

Click here for Trebein Rd. Map.

GCPT Trail Sentinels Keep Busy Weekend Pace Supporting Families, Cyclists and the Community

In Local News on June 14, 2026 at 9:35 am

Staff Report

(XENIA) — It was a busy weekend for the Greene County Parks & Trails Trail Sentinels.

From helping children navigate obstacle courses at the Fairground Recreation Center on Friday evening to greeting visitors at the Yellow Springs Street Fair on Saturday, the volunteer group spent much of the weekend serving as ambassadors for Greene County’s parks and trails system.

The Trail Sentinels, a volunteer organization that supports Greene County Parks & Trails through education, safety initiatives and community outreach, were heavily involved in two major public events over the course of the weekend.

The first came Friday, June 12, when Greene County Parks & Trails hosted its annual “Anything on Wheels” event at the Fairground Recreation Center in Xenia.

Held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the free event transformed the recreation center’s paved areas into a safe playground for children riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards, tricycles and other wheeled vehicles. Families gathered as volunteers guided riders around a closed loop, distributed free helmets and cheered on youngsters as they gained confidence on wheels.

Trail Sentinels were stationed throughout the course, helping riders navigate turns and offering encouragement as children circled the loop.

Greene County Parks & Trails Trail Sentinel, Keith Hutchison assists a young rider with a new helmet fitting on Friday at the parks’ “Anything on Wheels” event in Xenia. Photo by Gery Deer

For many families, the highlight of the evening was the obstacle course and portable ramps set up by Mike’s Bike Park. Children lined up to test their skills over bumps, around cones and up and down ramps designed to challenge riders while building confidence.

Mike’s Bike Park also supplied bicycles for children who did not have their own or simply wanted to try a different style of bike.

Nearby, Dick’s Sporting Goods staff handed out colorful bicycle bells and helped riders with quick adjustments and safety checks before they took to the course.

Representatives from Jeff Schmitt Auto Group were also on hand to support the event, while the Greene County Public Library brought its mobile book wagon stocked with children’s books and information about summer reading programs.

As the evening wore on, the Fairground Recreation Center became more than just a venue. It became a gathering place where children celebrated milestones—whether mastering a ramp or simply completing another lap—and volunteers celebrated right alongside them.

Less than 24 hours later, Trail Sentinels were back at work.

On Saturday, June 13, members of the volunteer group staffed a booth at the Yellow Springs Street Fair, providing information about Greene County’s parks and trail network, upcoming organized rides and other recreational opportunities throughout the county.

Greene County Parks & Trails Trail Sentinels were set up along the bike path near Yellow Springs Station on Saturday during the village’s bi-annual Street Fair. Photo by Gery Deer

Trail Sentinels Gery Deer, Tom Fordon and Rick Sedlatschek spent the day answering questions from visitors, discussing popular trail routes and encouraging residents to explore the county’s growing system of parks and paved pathways.

The volunteers also distributed snacks and bottled water to visitors and conducted a survey designed to gather information about how residents use the trails and what amenities or improvements they would like to see in the future.

The outreach effort is part of the Trail Sentinels’ broader mission of promoting safe, enjoyable use of Greene County’s parks and trails while helping visitors discover new places to ride, walk and explore.

The volunteer organization works closely with Greene County Parks & Trails throughout the year, assisting with events, educating trail users and serving as a welcoming presence throughout the county’s recreational system.

In addition, another group of Trail Sentinels led the bi-weekly “morning milers” ride on Saturday morning. On alternating Saturdays, the Trail Sentinels lead a morning exercise ride or a more social, slower, night ride. They’ll also be leading the Greene County Veterans Suicide Prevention Bike Tour on Saturday, July 11th, to raise money for the Greene County Suicide Prevention Coalition’s Veteran Suicide Prevention Subcommittee.

This weekend’s events highlighted just how much of that work happens behind the scenes. Whether fitting a child with a helmet, handing out a bicycle bell, offering directions to a scenic trail or simply sharing a bottle of water and a conversation at a community festival, the Trail Sentinels spent the weekend doing what volunteers do best: helping people connect with each other, with their community and with the outdoors. For more information visit. https://www.gcparkstrails.com/events/

PHOTO GALLERY FROM BOTH EVENTS. Photos by Gery Deer

, , , , , , , ,

Jamestown Café Launches First Website, Bringing Online Ordering and Community Updates to Customers

In Business, Local News, Uncategorized on June 8, 2026 at 1:59 pm

By Gery Deer

(JAMESTOWN) — One of Jamestown’s newest small-business success stories is taking another step forward.

Jamestown Cafe⁠ has launched its first-ever website, giving customers a new way to stay connected with the downtown café while making it easier to learn about menu offerings, hours, events, specials, and online ordering opportunities.  

The new site serves as a digital front door for the café, which has quickly become a gathering place in downtown Jamestown since opening in 2025. Visitors can browse menu items, learn about the café’s story, view operating hours, find contact information, and stay informed about upcoming events and seasonal offerings.  

Owner Ashley Mannier said the website represents another milestone in the café’s continued growth and its commitment to serving the community.

Located at 9 W. Washington St., the café occupies a restored historic downtown building that Mannier and her family transformed from a vacant storefront into a welcoming neighborhood destination. Since opening, the business has become known for specialty coffee drinks, breakfast and brunch selections, sandwiches, pastries, and baked goods served in an atmosphere that celebrates local history and community connections.  

The Jamestown Cafe‘s new website provides online ordering and updates on hours, and new drink, and food item information.

The website, developed by Ryan Patt Solutions, in Jamestown, allows customers to quickly check current hours, view menu offerings, and learn about featured items ranging from breakfast paninis and specialty coffee drinks to sandwiches and bakery selections. The online platform also provides a central location for announcements about new menu additions, special promotions, and community events hosted by the café.  

For customers who rely on social media for updates, the website complements the café’s existing Facebook and Instagram presence while offering a more permanent and easily accessible source of information. Future updates are expected to include expanded online ordering features, event notifications, and regular announcements about new drinks, sandwiches, baked goods, and seasonal specialties.  

The launch reflects a growing trend among small-town businesses investing in professional online presences to better serve customers and provide convenient access to information outside regular business hours. For Jamestown Café, it offers another way to strengthen the connection between the business and the community it was created to serve.

Those interested in learning more about the café, viewing menu options, checking hours, or staying informed about upcoming specials and events can visit the new website at thejamestowncafe.com.  

The café is open Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Xenia Community Library presents, Typewriters in the 21st Century with Gery Deer

In Local News, Technology, Uncategorized on May 5, 2026 at 6:56 pm

In celebration of National Typewriter Day, June 23rd, join writer and typewriter enthusiast Gery Deer as he explores the typewriter’s resurgence and modern-day relevance.

Join writer and typewriter enthusiast Gery Deer at 6:30 PM at the Xenia Community Library for “Typewriters in the 21st Century,
an engaging one-hour program exploring the surprising resurgence and modern-day relevance of the typewriter. Drawing on his experience as a working writer and collector, Deer will share insights into why people are returning to analog tools in a digital world, how typewriters can enhance productivity and creativity, and what makes them uniquely appealing in the 21st century.

In an age dominated by touchscreens and artificial intelligence, the typewriter remains an enduring symbol of creativity, focus, and craftsmanship. But beyond nostalgia, these mechanical marvels continue to serve a meaningful role for writers, collectors, and professionals today.

Some of Gery Deer’s vintage typewriter collection – the newest is a 1964 Royal Safari (bottom right, blue). Deer uses the machines in his everyday work as a writer and creative director to help reduce digital fatigue and distractions.

Attendees will learn about the history and evolution of typewriters, their practical uses today, and the growing community of enthusiasts who keep these machines alive. The program also includes a discussion on collecting, maintaining, and using vintage typewriters, along with personal stories from Deer’s own journey.

Whether you’re a writer, history buff, collector, or simply curious about life beyond the keyboard, this program offers a thoughtful and inspiring look at how archaic technology continues to shape modern expression.

About The Presenter: Gery Deer is an award-winning journalist, producer, and the creative director of GLD Communications, where he leads strategic storytelling and media production for a wide range of clients. With decades of experience in print, digital, and broadcast media, Deer has built a reputation for compelling, thoughtful content that connects with audiences across platforms.

He is a current columnist and contributor for multiple regional publications, including the Xenia Daily Gazette, where his work often explores culture, community, and the human experience. Deer also serves as the editor and publisher of The Jamestown Comet, an independent online news and commentary publication focused on local issues, features, and informed perspectives.

Deer is a passionate typewriter enthusiast and collector, bringing a unique blend of historical appreciation and modern insight to his presentations. His engaging style and depth of knowledge make him a sought-after speaker on writing, media, and the enduring relevance of analog tools in a digital age.

Full information and free registration online: https://greenelibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/69cac953491b809c6f23e6e0

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Four Stars Is Enough

In Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on May 3, 2026 at 11:35 am

Deer In Headlines
By Gery Deer

Modern society has developed a strange habit of seeking approval from people who often have no stake, no expertise, and no genuine interest in what they are judging. We have turned everyday life into a performance staged for an invisible audience armed with star ratings and comment boxes. The irony is that most of the people who hand out these ratings are just as unqualified as those receiving them, yet we treat their opinions as if they were carved into stone.

Somewhere along the way, we decided that five stars should be the goal, the standard, and the measure of a life well lived. But five stars is a fantasy. Real life is messy, inconsistent, and rarely perfect, no matter how carefully we curate it for public consumption. And yet, we chase that perfect rating as if it will unlock some hidden validation that finally tells us we are enough.

The truth is far less dramatic. You can earn five stars online and still feel empty the moment the notification fades. Nothing about your actual life changes because someone you will never meet clicked a rating on a screen. We have mistaken attention for value and validation for truth.

If you step back for a moment, it becomes clear how absurd it all is. Why are we letting strangers—whose only qualification is a profile picture and a scrolling thumb—decide how we feel about ourselves? The answer is uncomfortable: because we have built systems that reward approval over authenticity. And once approval becomes the currency, we stop asking whether it is worth anything.

Perhaps the healthier standard is not perfection, but sufficiency. A four-star life acknowledges effort, imperfection, growth, and honesty without demanding applause from people who do not know the work behind the scenes. In the end, maybe four stars is not a compromise, but a liberation—a reminder that our worth is not determined by strangers tapping glass. It is determined by how we show up when no one is watching, by how we treat others in quiet moments, and by whether we can look at ourselves with honest acceptance.

The obsession with public approval has turned many lives into performances instead of experiences. We post instead of living, we curate instead of connecting, and we measure instead of finding meaning. There is a quiet relief in deciding that enough is enough—that not every moment needs applause, not every effort needs validation, and not every choice needs a rating.

Life becomes lighter when we stop outsourcing our self-worth to algorithms and anonymous judges. The most honest score we will ever receive is the one we give ourselves after reflection. And that score does not need to be perfect to be meaningful.

So instead of chasing five stars, maybe we should aim for something far more human: consistency, kindness, effort, and integrity. Those are harder to rate, but easier to live with. When we strip away the noise of online approval, we often find that what matters has been in front of us all along—a quiet life, well lived, not perfectly, but honestly.

That is the real measure, not stars or likes, but substance. And substance does not require applause to exist. If we can accept that truth, we free ourselves from an exhausting pursuit of approval that never truly satisfies, and we return to something steadier, more grounded, and far more real: a life measured not by strangers, but by our own honest standards.

In that space, four stars is not a downgrade, but clarity. Clarity that we are allowed to be imperfect and still be whole. The world will continue to rate everything it sees, but we do not have to participate in every judgment.

We can choose instead to live beyond the rating system and rediscover what it means to be enough without external confirmation. That choice is quiet, but powerful, and it begins when we finally stop asking strangers for permission to be ourselves.

We can live more freely when we decide that our value is not a public vote, but a private truth built from daily actions, intentions, and quiet integrity—beyond the screen and beyond the noise of judgment itself.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Grounds You?

In Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on May 3, 2026 at 11:27 am

Deer In Headlines
By Gery Deer

In a world that never stops talking, the hardest thing to do is listen for silence. We scroll, swipe, click, and chase, convinced the next notification might carry something essential. Most of the time, it doesn’t. It just adds another layer of noise to an already crowded headspace, another reason to forget where we are standing and who we were before the noise found us.

That is why the question matters: what grounds you? Not in some abstract, self-help sense, but in the real, tactile way that keeps your feet planted when everything else feels like it is spinning. Grounding is not a trend. It is a tether. It is the quiet, stubborn force that keeps you from drifting too far into anxiety, ambition, or the endless churn of digital life.

I have come to believe that grounding lives in the senses. It is the weight of something familiar in your hands, the sound of a rhythm you have known for years, the smell that pulls you backward through time without asking permission. It is not complicated, and that is precisely why we overlook it. We are trained to chase what is new, not what is true.

For me, those anchors are unapologetically analog. There is the click of a typewriter key, sharp and deliberate, a sound that refuses to be rushed. There is the feel of bicycle handlebars steady under my grip, reminding me that forward motion does not require a screen. And there is an old truck, a 1967 International Harvester grain truck, that answers to the name Serenity.

Serenity is not subtle. It is steel and wood and history, the kind of machine that demands your attention simply by existing. But for me, it carries something quieter. It carries the low thrum of an engine from childhood, the memory of time spent beside my father, learning without realizing I was learning. It carries the echo of music played with family, the shared language of rhythm and repetition.

In that way, the truck is more than an object. It is a bridge. It connects who I was to who I am, and it does so without asking for an update or a password. It simply exists, waiting patiently, ready to remind me that not everything meaningful needs to be optimized, digitized, or shared.

I suspect we all have something like that, even if we have not named it yet. Maybe it is the smell of coffee brewing before dawn, or the steady weight of a dog settling into your lap at the end of a long day. Maybe it is a song that hits the same way every time, no matter how many years pass.

The problem is not that these things are hard to find. The problem is that we are rarely still long enough to notice them. The world benefits from our distraction. It profits from our attention being constantly pulled somewhere else. Stillness, on the other hand, does not monetize well. It does not trend. It simply works.

When the noise gets loud, and it will, those anchors matter. They give us a place to return to, a baseline that reminds us we are more than our inboxes and timelines. They pull us back into our bodies, into the present moment, into something real. Without them, it is far too easy to drift, to lose the thread of ourselves in the endless scroll.

So ask yourself the question and answer it honestly. What is your tether? What is the thing that keeps you here when everything else tries to carry you away? Find it. Name it. Keep it close. Because when the storm comes, and it always does, you will need to know exactly what holds you to the ground.

In the end, grounding is not about escaping the modern world. It is about surviving it with your sense of self intact. It is about choosing, again and again, to return to what is real, even when what is real feels quieter than the noise. That choice may be small, even invisible to anyone else, but it is powerful. It is the difference between being carried along and standing firm.

Hold on to it, always.

, , ,

Lincoln Day Dinner

In Dayton Ohio News, Local News, Politics on February 19, 2026 at 10:09 am
Husted (photo submitted)

Ohio Senator Jon Husted will speak at the Greene County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday, March 6, at the Fairborn DoubleTree by Hilton (2800 Presidential Drive, Fairborn, OH).  Senator Husted was appointed by Governor DeWine to replace then-Senator JD Vance after Vance was elected Vice President.  Senator Husted will be introduced by Congressman Mike Turner from Ohio’s 10th District (Montgomery, Greene, and part of Clark Counties). 

The evening will begin with an opportunity for underwriters and table sponsors to meet with Senator Husted from 4:30 to 5:15pm.  The doors open for general admission at 5:15pm and the program will begin at 6:00pm with opening formalities, guest speaker remarks, and dinner.  

In addition to Senator Husted and Congressman Turner, many elected officials and candidates for state and county offices are expected to attend.  Tickets may be purchased from this site:  https://tinyurl.com/4dy93ha9  For more information, call (937)974-7917.

Information provided by Carolyn Uecker, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)  (937)974-7917

, , , , , , , , ,

Tim Tzimas Named President and CEO of Innovative Sterilization Technologies/ONE TRAY® and Company’s Flagship Product Gets A Second FDA Clearance

In Business, Dayton Ohio News, Economy, Health, Local News, Technology, Uncategorized on February 19, 2026 at 10:05 am

Innovative Sterilization Technologies (IST), headquartered at 7625 Paragon Rd., Suite A in Dayton, has announced the appointment of Tim Tzimas as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, marking a new chapter for the company as it continues to reshape sterilization efficiency and medical device organization.

Tim Tzimas, new President and Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Sterilization Technologies (IST)

Tzimas brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the orthopedic, neurosurgical, and medical technology sectors, with a career focused on sales management, operations, and organizational development in regulated healthcare markets.

Most recently, Tzimas served as joint reconstruction sales manager for the New York Metro Branch at Stryker, where he led one of the company’s largest U.S. territories. There, he managed strategic sales, robotic system utilization, and oversaw a team of more than 25 sales, clinical, and operational professionals.

Tzimas steps into IST’s top seat at a time where cases are rapidly transitioning from inpatient to outpatient facilities, causing pressure to do more with less—higher case volumes, tighter margins, and growing regulatory demands. IST’s leadership believes Tzimas’s experience and perspective in the power of consolidating trays, enhancing workflows, and maximizing efficiencies, position the company to meet those challenges head-on while continuing to expand adoption of its flagship ONE TRAY® system.

“Sterilization has long been treated as a necessary behind the scenes function, and in many ways the industry is still operating on outdated assumptions,” Tzimas said. “I want to help IST dispel existing dogma and change the perception in the market about how to best manage surgical instrument sterilization and containment.”

Under Tzimas’ leadership, IST plans to sharpen its focus on helping inpatient and outpatient facilities scale efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance. Wider adoption of ONE TRAY® and EZ-TRAX™ will elevate surgical workflow at facilities challenged by limited space, excessive cost, disconnect in instrument delivery and processing of instrumentation.

“My goal is to help surgical facilities sustain increased volumes and long-term success,” Tzimas said. “When teams are less burdened by unnecessary steps and inefficiencies, they can focus on what matters most—patient care and operational excellence.”

Tzimas sees the opportunity to shift industry language and thinking altogether, with The Total Solution, ONE TRAY®, E-Z TRAX™, and ONE CART ™, not just as another option, but as the standard.

“I want professionals in that space to simply say, ‘Just ONE TRAY® it,’” he added. “That’s when you know you’ve changed the conversation.”

IST officials said Tzimas’ appointment reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, education, and leadership in sterile processing at a time of rapid change. With demand for outpatient procedures continuing to rise, the company expects his vision to guide IST’s next phase of growth while reinforcing its mission to simplify sterilization without compromising quality.

Innovative Sterilization Technologies (IST) announced has also announced that ONE TRAY® sterilization container has received a second clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), significantly expanding its use across hospital and surgical facility workflows.

ONE TRAY®’s original clearance in 2006 (IFU K052567*) included sterilization at 270°F (132°C), Exposure Time 4 minutes, Cycle Dry Time Not Required and validated to maintain the sterility of the contents for up to a 48-hour storage period.

ONE TRAY®s NEW additional clearance in 2025 (IFU K250029**) maintains the same validated sterilization parameters – 270°F (132°C), Exposure Time 4 minutes, but with a 365 day event related shelf life/storage period with a 15-minute minimum dry time.

When introduced in 2006, ONE TRAY® represented a new approach to sealed sterilization container technology. Now, according to Barbara Ann Harmer MHA, BSN, RN, Vice President of Clinical Services at IST, the expanded storage window provides facilities with even more operational flexibility.

“The additional storage time gives the surgical department an alternative when unforeseen problems arise in the operating room,” Harmer said. “Those surgical delays often ripple far beyond the OR.”

“When patients arrive for surgery, they’ve already prepared, food and medications withheld, family schedules arranged, anxiety managed,” she said. “If the schedule is seriously disrupted, so are their lives. ONE TRAY® provides two solutions to keep everything on track. If the instrumentation is available, we are the fastest option to maintaining the schedule.”

“With the rising cost of healthcare, everyone is being asked to do more with less,” President and CEO of IST Tim Tzimas said. “The dual FDA clearances improve efficiency across the entire chain of custody in the sterilization process – an increasingly important factor as healthcare systems face mounting costs and staffing pressures. It truly offers a total solution and total flexibility to respond to clinical urgency, optimize inventory, and standardize sterilization processes using a single, reusable sealed container platform.”

IST encourages hospitals and surgical facilities to reach out to Barbara Ann at bharmer@onetray.com or 407-709-7209 for any questions related to the application of the new FDA clearance in their facilities. You can also visit onetray.com/ifucomparison to learn more about each IFU.

* Reference 510k summary- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K052567

** Reference 510k summary- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K250029