When COVID-19 hit, Lee Ann Fachko, then-Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Burlington Medical made a choice: The company, which specializes in creating radiation-resistant garments, began manufacturing pandemic-era staples including face masks, face shields, and disposable gowns.
It was prescient, and two years later, in April 2022, Fachko was named CEO of the company, culminating her rise up the corporate ladder while in no way slowing down her momentum – or Burlington’s. That June, Burlington merged with Lite Tech to create the world’s largest radiation protection supplier.
More recently, in February 2025, Burlington introduced the Radiation Station podcast, a resource dedicated to radiation safety, expert insights, and the latest innovations in protective solutions. Hosted by Burlington’s Laurie Cusic, Michelle Govan, and Jeff Rimmer, Fachko appeared as a guest on the third episode to discuss her history, process, and outlook.
As much as she is a team leader, Fachko said the best part of her job was team people on the dangers of radiation, saying that “the hardest customer to deal with is one who’s not educated.” She also stressed that, like many healthcare executives, her work in the field is far more of a calling than just another profession. “What draws everybody to this kind of work is wanting to be able to help,” she said.
Fachko has dedicated her career to the industry – and to helping. She spent 11 years at biotech company Invitrogen as Director of Customer Service before moving to Beekley Medical, where she would spend 9 years, the last 2 of them as National Sales Director. But she’s really made her mark at Burlington, which she joined in 2018 and has moved from SVP of Sales and Marketing to Interim CEO to SVP of Global Operations to President and, finally, to CEO.
And she wouldn't have it any other way. “You want to go through the door of the place you work every day knowing you're making a difference and proud about what your company does,” she said. “I can say with 100 percent certainty that that's the way I feel.”
