Presented In November of 2016, the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International (RIMA-I) established an Association award titled the “Alexander Schwartz Award”. This award is presented only when a candidate meets the outlined criteria. In general, a recipient is someone who has motivated industry representatives, advanced the reflective products industry and RIMA International and contributed to the acceptance of reflective products in the overall marketplace. The association is very pleased to announce that our first Alexander Schwartz Award recipient is David W. Yarbrough. He was presented the award at the International Reflective Insulation Manufacturers (I-RIM) Conference May 9-10 in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Yarbrough is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus (Tennessee Technological University) and a retired Research Staff Member of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is a founding partner and Vice President of R&D Services, Inc. and Principal Engineer of R&D Engineering, LLC in Cookeville, TN. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Tech and registration as an engineer (PE) in Tennessee and Florida. Award qualifications include: 38 years of university teaching and research 300 plus research papers, book chapters and presentations Research in building science and materials at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Contributing leader of RIMA, ASTM, the International Vacuum Insulation Symposium, the International Thermal Conductivity Conferences, and past-president and Fellow of the Tennessee Academy of Science Recipient of the International Thermal Conductivity Award, an ASTM Award of Merit, McElroy Award and C16 Honors Award, a TTU Outstanding Faculty Award and a Sigma Xi Research Award. RIMA International is pleased to recognize Dr. Yarbrough for all he has done for this organization and the industry it represents, and we look forward to working with him in the future. The industry is very fortunate to have had his support and advice for many years. If you would like to learn more about Alexander Swartz and/or know someone that should be considered for this award, click here or e-mail your recommendations to rima@rima.net. Candidates can be an individual, company or organization.