Angela Dion, founder of Simple Breastfeeding, has been recognized with two Stevie Awards in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for her development of the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow — an innovative breastfeeding support device designed to assist mothers, particularly those with larger breasts, in nursing more comfortably and effectively.

Dion’s idea for the product emerged from her own struggles as a new mother. Like many women, she experienced neck, shoulder, and back pain from holding her breast in place while nursing, as well as difficulty helping her baby latch. The makeshift solution often used (a rolled-up towel) failed to provide adequate support, creating additional frustration and discomfort. Over time, this strain required weekly physiotherapy and significantly impacted her breastfeeding experience.

Motivated by these challenges, Dion embarked on a four-year journey to create a more effective, ergonomic support device. Drawing on feedback from healthcare professionals, extensive testing, and input from mothers, she developed the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow. The product is made from medical-grade materials that are hygienic, durable, and easy to clean. Its design supports proper positioning of the breast to improve latching, reduce pain, and enhance bonding between mother and baby.

The product officially launched at the Melbourne Parent & Baby Expo in July 2024, where it sold 50 units and drew praise from both mothers and midwives. Since then, demand has grown through online and retail channels, with healthcare professionals endorsing the product for its ability to address common breastfeeding problems. Physiotherapists specializing in women’s health have described it as a “game changer” for preventing and alleviating breastfeeding-related musculoskeletal pain.

The Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow is designed with versatility in mind. It accommodates mothers of different body types, provides stability for the breast to free up the mother’s hands, and helps improve milk flow, which reduces the risk of mastitis. For mothers who may feel overwhelmed by the physical demands of breastfeeding, the pillow offers a practical solution that improves comfort and allows them to focus more fully on their baby.

The potential market for the product is significant. While breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are high, many mothers stop breastfeeding within a few months due to physical pain, difficulty latching, or frustration. The Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow addresses these barriers directly, providing an option for mothers who otherwise may have given up breastfeeding prematurely.

Simple Breastfeeding is currently expanding its reach with additional expos planned nationwide, a developing influencer campaign, and discussions underway with national retail and online chains. The company is also exploring opportunities to introduce the product into hospital maternity wards to support mothers immediately after birth.

Winning two Stevie Awards has been a game-changer for Angela and her business. The recognition has attracted the attention of international buyers and helped secure placements in pharmacies and baby shops online, with talks progressing for distribution in markets like the Philippines and the United States. Beyond offering credibility, the awards have given Angela a strong platform to expand globally, paving the way for new partnerships, distributors, and resellers around the world.

Simple Breastfeeding Founder Angela Dion won Bronze Stevie Awards for Achievement in Product Innovation and for Best New Product or Service of the Year - Consumer Products in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Stevie winner Katrina Wurm, founder of Stress Free Super Mum, is a coach, author, and advocate who supports women in managing the challenges of motherhood, particularly when raising children with disabilities or neurodivergence. Drawing on her personal and professional experience, Wurm has developed programs and resources to help mothers improve their confidence, advocate for their children, and maintain a balanced home life.

Her own journey as a mother shaped her mission. After experiencing the loss of multiple pregnancies and giving birth to a son with significant medical needs and neurodiversity, Wurm applied her background in psychology, business, and human resources to create practical systems that helped her manage her family’s complex needs. This experience motivated her to assist other mothers facing similar struggles.

At the request of her son’s school principal, she began coaching mothers of neurodiverse children in 2017. During the pandemic, she formalized her approach by launching Stress Free Super Mum, a program designed to help mothers working from home balance their responsibilities while caring for their families.

Wurm’s programs, workshops, and speaking engagements now reach mothers from diverse backgrounds, not just those raising children with disabilities. Her services emphasize organization, delegation, and advocacy—skills she teaches to help women improve their well-being and reduce stress. She also coaches women to set boundaries, teach their children age-appropriate responsibilities, and avoid overextending themselves.

Her business has grown steadily, with coaching clients increasing by at least 15% annually and sales of her book Wear Your Warrior rising by 25%. She has expanded her reach into rural and remote communities in Australia and regularly speaks at libraries, workshops, and corporate events.

Wurm also works within the corporate sector, particularly with Australia’s national airline Qantas, where she trains staff on disability inclusion and has advocated for the adoption of initiatives such as the Sunflower Lanyard program for hidden disabilities. In 2024 she joined Qantas’s Diversity and Inclusion Board, contributing to policies that support staff and customers with diverse needs.

Through her coaching, writing, and advocacy, Wurm addresses issues such as burnout, depleted mother syndrome, and the lack of support available for parents of children with special needs. Her work provides practical tools for mothers navigating the often-overwhelming demands of parenting and helps families achieve healthier, more balanced lives.

Katrina Wurm won three Gold and two Silver Stevie Awards in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for Female Thought Leader of the Year – Consumer Services, Mentor of Coach of the Year - Consumer; Women Helping Women - Social Change; Social Change Maker of the Year - Disability; and Best Female Entrepreneur - Consumer Services, respectively.

Interested in submitting your own Stevie Awards for Women in Business nominations?

Stevie-winner Dr. Sonia Selwin brings a holistic approach to empowerment, working across India, the U.S., and Bahrain to support marginalized women, immigrant communities, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Her impact is rooted not just in vision, but in action—whether that’s supporting a single woman struggling with language barriers and mental health, or developing scalable education and business programs that reach hundreds.

A Dual Role: Academic Leader and Community Organizer
Dr. Selwin’s academic background spans 16 years as a lecturer, professor, and program manager in business education. With a PhD in Management and current postdoctoral research in Leadership at Andrews University, she brings scholarly rigor to her work. But she doesn’t stop at theory.

Her nonprofit work—especially through HopeSide Ministries and as founder of the People Empowerment Alliance for Creativity and Education (PEACE)—takes that expertise directly to the communities that need it most. She mentors immigrant women in employability skills, guides entrepreneurs in launching small businesses, and leads weekly Bible study and support sessions focused on healing and empowerment.

At HopeSide, she’s helped dozens of women start businesses, complete degrees, and navigate personal hardships. Her leadership spans from organizing church retreats and fundraising events to developing grant proposals and securing financial support for community programs.

Focus on Women’s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
Through PEACE, Dr. Selwin is actively supporting more than 350 women in India—many of them first-time entrepreneurs—with training, funding, and mentorship. She led the effort to award seed funds to women facing growth constraints in businesses like tailoring, jewelry-making, and jute product manufacturing. Her focus is not just on financial aid, but sustainable business growth through marketing, digital skills, and community collaboration.

In one case, she helped an immigrant woman in the U.S. launch a sewing business by offering English language instruction, digital literacy, and equipment—all while juggling childcare and integration challenges. In another, she guided a woman from depression and isolation to confidence and purpose through mentoring and prayer. Her ability to meet people where they are, while also building broader systems for advancement, defines her leadership style.

A Global Voice for Practical Solutions
In 2023, Dr. Selwin was recognized at the British Parliament with the Award for Excellence in Global Education, Business, and Advancement, standing out among applicants from across India. Her work blends academic innovation with hands-on implementation; she’s equally at home writing research papers as she is leading food coordination for a community retreat or coaching a young nonprofit founder on mission statements and grant writing.

She is also passionate about forming partnerships between universities and grassroots entrepreneurs. Her work with students and rural women in India has inspired a mutual exchange of knowledge, connecting theory with lived experience, and inspiring a new generation of leaders.

Dr. Sonia Selwin’s work demonstrates that educational leadership can extend far beyond the classroom. It’s about mentorship, practical support, community development, and meeting real needs with compassion and structure.

Dr. Selwin won a Bronze Stevie® Award for Woman of the Year in the Government or Non-Profit sector in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. 

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Too often, older struggling readers are left with few resources that meet their unique needs—books that are either too simple for their age or too complex for their reading level. Storyshares is tackling that challenge head-on.

Founded by former educator Louise Baigelman, Storyshares is a nonprofit literacy organization focused on adolescents who have slipped through the cracks of reading instruction. Baigelman, who began her career in classrooms through Teach For America, saw firsthand how a lack of engaging, accessible reading materials held students back. Her solution: build a new kind of library.

That library now includes more than 500 original, age-appropriate titles written at a wide range of reading levels. These books have reached readers in 180 countries and have been read for over 1 million hours, helping teens and adults build confidence and fluency. Educators report that more than 90% of students using Storyshares titles show improved reading attitudes and behaviors.

Over the past year, Storyshares has continued to break new ground. In response to feedback from educators and families, Baigelman’s team created “Remix Decodables”—the first-ever decodable chapter books for teens. These books, released between late 2023 and early 2024, offer structured support for older readers who are still mastering foundational literacy skills, providing content that respects both their age and their learning needs. Each eight-book set in the series is tailored for students beyond third grade and comes with companion guides for educators to support instruction.

This bold innovation aligns with the growing movement around the Science of Reading and fills a long-overlooked gap in literacy education. It also complements Storyshares’ growing library by offering even more tools for teachers working with readers who have historically lacked effective resources.

Beyond publishing, Storyshares is scaling its impact through strategic collaborations. In 2024, the organization partnered with the 95 Percent Group to co-create 95 Readables™, a collection of decodable chapter books designed for students in grades 2–8. This partnership extends the reach of high-quality, structured literacy tools and highlights Baigelman’s commitment to evidence-based solutions. At the same time, the organization continues to fuel its library through its annual Story of the Year writing contest, which has become a cornerstone for sourcing diverse and engaging content.

Louise Baigelman’s leadership reflects a rare combination of educational insight, entrepreneurial vision, and measurable impact. Through Storyshares, she is redefining what’s possible for struggling readers around the world—empowering students, supporting teachers, and shaping the future of literacy.

Storyshares Founder and CEO Louise Baigelman won a Bronze Stevie® Award for Best Female Entrepreneur – Business Products –10 or Less Employees in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

When Cathy Yang joined the PLDT Group—the Philippines’ largest integrated telecommunications firm—in July 2020, it was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Connectivity was no longer a luxury but a lifeline. Yang was brought on to modernize PLDT’s communications strategy and lead a shift toward more purpose-driven, digitally focused storytelling.

Over the past four years, Yang has guided PLDT Group’s Corporate Communications team in aligning business goals with meaningful social impact, particularly in the areas of child protection, online safety, education, and digital inclusion. Under her leadership, the company’s communication strategies have elevated both internal engagement and public perception, while helping the company earn sustained recognition across multiple industries and platforms.

Using Communications to Drive Measurable Change
One of Yang’s most impactful contributions has been integrating child rights into PLDT’s corporate communications and business practices. Working with international organizations such as UNICEF, the Internet Watch Foundation, and International Justice Mission, PLDT Group developed strategies to address the growing issue of online child exploitation.

In 2023, PLDT was named a Leader in the Global Child Forum’s Business Benchmark on Children’s Rights—the only company in the Philippines to earn that distinction. The recognition came after Yang was invited in 2022 to represent both PLDT and the Philippines at the Global Child Forum in Stockholm, hosted by the King and Queen of Sweden. She remains the sole Southeast Asian representative included in the forum’s testimonial campaign.

Connecting Social Purpose with Brand and Business Value
PLDT’s corporate communications under Yang’s leadership has supported a wide range of business-aligned social initiatives. These include the expansion of the School-in-a-Bag digital classroom program, support for disaster resilience and livelihood initiatives, and digital literacy campaigns such as TNT SIM Registration.

The group also led #FarmSmart, a public relations program that used partnerships to help modernize agriculture and support farmers through tech solutions. These campaigns reflect a broader strategy that links PLDT’s business strengths (connectivity, technology) with its broader social commitments.

Yang and her team have maintained this focus even during periods of corporate challenge, including financial constraints and regulatory obligations. Notably, her team played a key role in coordinating public disclosures to the Philippine Stock Exchange while continuing to promote the company’s social impact initiatives.

A Winning Communications Strategy
Since 2021, PLDT Group has consistently earned top industry honors for communications and public relations, including four consecutive “Company of the Year” awards at both the Anvil and Quill Awards—prestigious recognitions in the Philippines' PR and communications sectors. Under Yang’s leadership, award submissions have expanded beyond her own team to include other divisions, demonstrating how strategic communications has become embedded throughout the company.

Yang’s communications work has also gained international recognition. During the pandemic, her team launched Realizations, a storytelling campaign that highlighted how PLDT’s connectivity solutions helped people navigate lockdowns and life changes. The campaign earned a Gold Stevie® Award for Innovation in Public Relations Videos at the 2021 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

Cathy Yang was honored with a Bronze Stevie Award for Communications, Investor Relations or PR Executive of the Year in the 2024 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence.

Interested in entering the 2025 program?

Stevie-winner AAA Mountain West Group (AAA MWG) is one of the largest regional branches in the AAA federation, serving more than 6.7 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. With over 5,000 employees, the organization provides a wide array of services—roadside assistance, insurance, financial tools, auto repair, EV resources, and leisure travel planning.

As consumer habits shift toward digital and mobile experiences, AAA MWG has expanded its outreach through various content channels. One of the most visible is Via, the group’s travel and lifestyle publication. With a print and digital audience spanning 22 major media markets and a readership of over 7 million, Via has become a valuable engagement tool. Reader behavior data has shown that audiences not only read Via, but take action—such as visiting AAA offices or exploring products—after engaging with its content.

In late 2023, AAA MWG began exploring how to extend the Via experience beyond the page. The result was the "Via Podcast," a new content initiative designed to meet audiences where they already are: in their earbuds during commutes, workouts, or weekend travel planning.

Creating a New Kind of Member Connection
Launched in March 2024, the Via Podcast was developed by a team of women already deeply involved in Via’s editorial success. The podcast is hosted by Michelle Donati, a long-time AAA spokesperson and Arizona native, alongside travel journalist Mitti Hicks. Behind the scenes are Editor-in-Chief Whitney Phaneuf, Managing Editor Katie Henry, and editorial consultant April Kilcrease.

The team’s goal was to create a series that captures the same tone and values of the magazine, while taking advantage of the intimacy and flexibility of audio. New episodes drop twice a month and are available on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The podcast focuses on travel across the American West—sharing personal stories, expert recommendations, and unexpected destinations. Themes range from hidden road trip gems to interviews with AAA Members and travel experts who offer firsthand insights.

Part of a Broader Strategy
The "Via Podcast" was not a standalone project but part of a larger content strategy aimed at increasing Member engagement and brand affinity. Internally, the team viewed it as an opportunity to humanize the AAA brand and strengthen relationships with Members through storytelling.

The rise of branded podcasts across industries helped validate the format as a business tool. Audio has become one of the fastest-growing forms of media consumption, with US adults spending nearly two hours a day listening. AAA MWG saw this shift not as a trend to chase, but as a channel that could support long-term communication goals.

Each episode of the Via Podcast is designed with AAA’s values in mind—trust, exploration, and Member-first service. The editorial team also uses performance data from *Via*’s digital content, email campaigns, and social platforms to inform guest selection and episode topics. By including AAA Member voices and stories in each episode, the team has created a sense of community among listeners. The podcast has also given the organization a way to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape—without abandoning the brand’s legacy of reliability and service.

For AAA MWG, the podcast serves both as a communication tool and as a reflection of how the organization continues to evolve. As the Via Podcast grows its listenership, AAA Mountain West Group is continuing to find new ways to deliver value—whether it’s through a map, a membership card, or a story told through headphones.

AAA Mountain West Group won a Bronze Stevie Award for Marketing Campaign of the Year - Entertainment & Sports in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering for 2025?

Dr. Amy Myers has spent her career on a mission: helping people get to the root of their chronic health issues so they can take control of their well-being. What began with years of work as a functional medicine physician and founder of her own clinic has grown into Amy Myers MD® (AMMD)—an e-commerce wellness platform and global health resource that’s empowering millions.

In recognition of her impact, Dr. Myers earned a Bronze Stevie® Award for Female Thought Leader of the Year – Consumer Services in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Building a Trusted Wellness Brand
Founded by Dr. Myers after two decades in clinical practice, Amy Myers MD® is a digital health and wellness brand that provides science-backed supplements, educational programs, and expert content. With more than 75 products personally formulated by Dr. Myers, the AMMD platform serves customers in over 140 countries.

The company’s focus areas include autoimmune disease, thyroid dysfunction, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Candida overgrowth, and gut health. The goal is simple but ambitious: to make chronic illness a thing of the past.

From Clinic to Global Reach
Dr. Myers is no stranger to chronic illness. Her personal experience with autoimmunity led her to explore functional medicine—a patient-centered approach that addresses the root causes of disease rather than just symptoms. This perspective fueled her bestselling books, The Autoimmune Solution, The Thyroid Connection, and The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook, which have helped thousands better understand and manage their conditions.

With AMMD, Dr. Myers scaled her knowledge and resources beyond the clinic walls, offering digital tools, guides, and formulations designed to give users the confidence and support to take charge of their health from home.

Expanding the Conversation with the "Take Back Your Health" Podcast
In 2024, Dr. Myers launched the "Take Back Your Health" podcast—an extension of her commitment to practical, accessible wellness education. The podcast features conversations with experts across functional medicine, nutrition, and gut health, covering emerging research and actionable steps for improving health and longevity.

Designed to empower listeners through credible, easy-to-understand insights, the podcast is a platform for connecting with both long-time followers and new audiences who are seeking personalized, holistic solutions to chronic health challenges.

Today, Dr. Myers continues to guide AMMD’s growing global audience, not just as a founder and physician, but as a thought leader shaping the future of functional medicine. Her work has been featured in outlets like Forbes, Women’s World, and Glamour, sharing her message that everyone deserves the knowledge and tools to take back their health.

Amy Myers, MD, won a Bronze Stevie Award for Female Thought Leader of the Year - Consumer Services in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering for 2025?

Healthy Horizons Breastfeeding Centers, based in Burlingame, CA, is a leading provider of breastfeeding support services aimed at empowering mothers and supporting gender equity in the workplace.

The company offers a range of services, including lactation consulting, education, and workplace solutions to help new mothers balance their professional and personal lives. By partnering with businesses across various industries, including Fortune 500 companies, Healthy Horizons creates environments where working mothers have access to the resources they need to thrive, ultimately promoting a healthier and more equitable workplace culture. The company’s focus on supporting mothers through every stage of their breastfeeding journey has earned it recognition as a key player in maternal health advocacy.

In the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, COO Cassi Janakos and CEO Sheila Janakos each won a Silver Stevie Award for Social Change Maker of the Year - Gender.

Sheila Janakos: Visionary Leadership Driving Growth and Empowering Mothers
Under the leadership of Sheila Janakos, Healthy Horizons has achieved remarkable success, including being recognized on Inc. 5000’s prestigious list for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. This recognition highlights the company’s exceptional growth, including a 146% revenue increase in 2023 and an impressive 300%+ growth in 2024.


Sheila's commitment to empowering women extends far beyond Healthy Horizons, as she actively advocates for new mothers through various speaking engagements, webinars, and partnerships. She has also mentored aspiring lactation consultants, shaping the future of the industry.

Sheila is particularly known for her work in educating employers on legislation like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, helping companies implement more supportive practices for female employees. Through initiatives such as milk drives and collaborations with academic leaders from institutions like Stanford University and the University of California, Sheila is bridging the gap between scientific research and practical applications in maternal health care. Her dedication to community engagement and gender equity has positioned her as a transformative figure in the maternal health space.

Cassi Janakos: Championing Women in STEM and Workplace Equality
As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Healthy Horizons, Cassi Janakos plays a critical role in the company’s growth and strategic direction. With a background in engineering and business management, Cassi has led the company to expand its reach, supporting Fortune 500 clients like Ford, PayPal, and PG&E. She has impacted over 2 million employees, mothers, and children by creating equitable workplaces that provide essential support for working parents.

Beyond her work at Healthy Horizons, Cassi is deeply committed to empowering women in STEM. For over 18 years, she has mentored women in the Society of Women Engineers and worked with the TechWomen Initiative, a program of the U.S. Department of State. Her leadership also extends to her role in the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, where she has worked on developing clear tools and policies around U.S. lactation laws to help employers implement inclusive practices.

In 2023, Cassi founded Workplace Lactation Week, a national platform that celebrates the contributions of nursing parents in the workplace. The event, which is now observed annually, aligns with Labor Day and serves to highlight the vital role that parents play in the workforce. Cassi’s exceptional dedication to fostering positive change for working parents, especially women in STEM, makes her a standout leader in both the maternal health and workplace equality sectors.

Through the efforts of both Sheila and Cassi Janakos, Healthy Horizons continues to lead the charge in providing transformative support for new mothers, driving systemic change in employment practices and empowering women in both the workplace and beyond.

Cassi and Sheila Janakos each won a Silver Stevie Award for Social Change Maker of the Year - Gender in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering for 2025?

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world's premier business awards programs, announced the winners of five Grand Stevie® Award trophies in the 12th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards, the only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in various categories were announced on 2 April. Those awards were determined by the average scores of more than 120 executives worldwide acting as judges.

The 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards have recognized organizations in 23 markets, including Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, São Tomé and Príncipe, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

The Grand ("best of show") Stevie Award trophy is awarded to only a handful of organizations in each of the nine Stevie Awards competitions. In the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, one Grand Stevie Award is presented to the most honored organization, and one to each of the highest-scoring nominations in the four markets that submitted the most nominations.

The 2025 Grand Stevie Award for Most Honored Organization of the Year goes to the SM Group of Companies, with 42 award points earned through Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie wins by related organizations throughout the Philippines. SM Companies also won Grand Stevies in the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Grand Stevie Award winners for the highest-scoring nominations in the competition are:

From Australia:

Healthcare Innovated, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, for their nomination "Jodie Granger, CEO," which also won the Gold Stevie for Most Innovative Mentor of the Year. The nomination was submitted by Reputation by Design.

From China:

MSquare Technology, Shanghai, China, for their nomination "Wendy Chen, CEO," which also won the Gold Stevie for Most Innovative Woman of the Year.

From India:

IntouchCX, Hyderabad, Telangana, India for their nomination "Dishant Bhojwani, Global Chief Operating Officer," which also won the Gold Stevie for Most Innovative Customer Service Executive of the Year.

From The Philippines:

Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra), Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, for the nomination of "Guillaume Lucci, President and CEO," which also won the Gold Stevie for Most Innovative Sustainability Leader of the Year.

The 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards also includes the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies, a worldwide public vote for all nominees in the competition’s Company/Organization categories. Voting for that continues through 2 May. People’s Choice winners will receive a crystal People’s Choice Stevie Award trophy.

Winners in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards will be celebrated during an awards banquet on 13 May at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. Tickets for the awards banquet are on sale now.

PR Newswire Asia is the official news release distribution partner of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

adobo magazine is the official Creative Media Partner of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

The Stevie® Awards are delighted to announce the seven distinguished professionals who will chair the judging committees of the 2025 (19th annual) Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service competition.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world's top sales awards, customer service awards, business development awards, contact center awards, and more.

This year's Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in the program were announced on March 6. All winners will be celebrated during an award ceremony on April 10 in New York City.

The seven committee chairs were invited to chair based on their professional experience and expertise. Judging chairs helped to form their committees, each of which is comprised of other professionals from around the globe. Learn more about the Stevie Awards judging process here. 

Here are this year's judging committee chairs:

Business Development & Thought Leadership Awards Judging Committee 
Chair: Will Milano, Principal, Paramount Professional Services Marketing, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Will has been a senior marketing leader in the corporate training and performance improvement industry for over 16 years. Most recently, he spent over 9 years as Chief Marketing Officer for Integrity Solutions, a Nashville, Tennessee-based sales training firm that has won over a dozen Stevie Awards in recent years. His focus in the industry has been growing brands that were previously "best-kept secrets", raising their market visibility and differentiation, driving demand and revenue growth strategies, and fostering customer engagement and retention.

Overall, Will has almost 25 years of experience in professional services marketing. He focuses on the four essential elements of B2B marketing strategy: brand strategy, demand generation, and customer acquisition, customer engagement & retention, and sales enablement. He is now the Principal of Paramount Professional Services Marketing, providing consulting and fractional CMO services to a variety of professional services organizations. Will has been the host of the very popular Mental Selling podcast since late 2021 and has been interviewed on a variety of other podcasts, sharing his insights on B2B marketing and thought leadership strategies.

Customer Service & Contact Center Achievement Awards Judging Committee
Chair: Mr. Yuji Hamamoto, President and CEO, Inspiro, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Yuji Hamamoto is the President and CEO of Inspiro, leading over 11,000 customer champions across 12 international locations. With more than three decades of diversified global experience with Mitsui & Co., he has held senior-level positions in sales and marketing, finance and investments, trading, project development and implementation, and operations management in the ICT and electronics business sector.

Since assuming his current role in 2020, Yuji has steered Inspiro into becoming an industry-recognized leader in global digital customer experience (CX) outsourcing. His focus on enhancing agent experience, improving customer experience, and optimizing operational efficiency in leading successful DX initiatives for network optimization, infosec augmentation, data consolidation, and analytics has driven outstanding results and significant growth. His leadership has notably earned the company global accolades for its excellence in management, customer service delivery, customer and agent experience, and innovative technology.

Educated at Keio University, Tokyo, with a BA degree in Political Science, Yuji’s professional journey has spanned multiple continents, including Asia, North and South America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the CIS countries. Today, he operates from Inspiro’s headquarters in Makati City, Philippines.

Customer Service Department & Customer Service Success Awards Judging Committee
Chair: Angela Blevins, Vice President, Club and Owner Services, Hilton Grand Vacation Club, Plainfield, Indiana, United States

Angela serves in a senior leadership role as Vice President of Club and Owner Services for Hilton Grand Vacations. She is responsible for the world-class customer service experience for close to a million customers. Prior to Hilton Grand Vacations, Angela served as Bluegreen Vacations Senior Vice President of Club Services and Customer Care, as well as a member of the Executive Committee, and was responsible for directing the induction, retention, and relationship development of all Bluegreen owners. Along with her team of contact center professionals, Ms. Blevins is focused on driving innovation and leveraging 360-degree customer data to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and continuous product improvement.

Angela joined Bluegreen in 2003 as Director of Contact Center operations in the company’s Indianapolis office. She was promoted to Vice President of Customer Engagement and Shared Servicing in 2005 and was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Bluegreen Vacation Club in 2016. Prior to joining Bluegreen Vacations, Ms. Blevins was the Director of Contact Center and Program Management at Telamon Corporation in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she served as the company’s customer service architect, developing and implementing business processes to support client services, field sales, and delivering contract requirements. She also led contact center operations at Aspen Systems Corporation in her native Indianapolis.

Ms. Blevins has been recognized for her innovative and engaging leadership in customer service, earning a Silver Stevie Award for Customer Service for five consecutive years, 2012 – 2016. She was named an “Influential Woman of Northwest Indiana” finalist for the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association for three consecutive years, 2014 – 2016. She also earned a Bronze Stevie Award in 2013 and was named a Woman of the Year finalist in the same year, along with various other individual and team industry awards.

Customer Service & Contact Center Individual & Team Awards
Chair: Lisa P Oswald, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Service, Travelzoo, New York, New York, United States

Lisa P. Oswald is senior vice president and global head of customer service at Travelzoo, supporting its 30 million members and client network since 2011. Previously, she was vice president of operations and customer service for Priceline, where she led sales and service for the dot com and its affiliate partner network for a decade-plus.

Lisa is an Advisory Board member with Execs In The Know, a founding and exclusive community of women executives at leading travel brands, and a strategy advisor with SOCAP International, the customer care industry’s membership association. She is a past recipient of the Gold Stevie Award® for Customer Service Executive of the Year from The American Business Awards, and the Travelzoo service team is the recipient of numerous excellence awards from the British Travel Awards and Stevie Awards®, including the People's Choice Award for Favorite Customer Service.

Sales Achievements & Sales Distinction Awards Judging Committee
Chair: Tunde Hubina, Vice President of Client Services, Startek, Miami, Florida, United States

Tunde Hubina is a visionary leader in customer experience and sales, with over 20 years of expertise spanning the Telecommunications, Healthcare, and Automotive industries. As Vice President of Client Services at Startek, Tunde drives strategic account growth and manages relationships with Fortune 500 clients.

Known for blending operational excellence with cutting-edge innovations, Tunde excels in devising and executing strategies to lead large-scale transformation programs, redefine employee engagement, elevate customer experiences, and deliver measurable business impact.

Sales Individual & Sales Team Awards
Chair: Zeki Yuksekbilgili, Founder & Trainer, Yuksekbilgili Training and Consulting Services, Istanbul, Türkiye

Zeki Yuksekbilgili, an accomplished individual, holds a doctorate degree in Business Management. He is widely recognized as the visionary behind Yuksekbilgili Training Co., one of Türkiye's largest training companies. Moreover, he serves as a distinguished lecturer at Istanbul Gelisim University.

His teachings primarily revolve around Marketing Management, Sales Management, and Research Methodology. With an extensive professional background spanning over 20 years, Zeki Yuksekbilgili has successfully delivered training programs to over 50,000 individuals across more than 500 companies in the past decade. Additionally, he has authored 20 books on marketing management, sales, and training.

Solution Provider, Solutions & Implementation Awards Judging Committee 
Chair: Paul McGee, VP Employee & Customer Success, Toco Warranty, West Hills, California, United States

Paul McGee is a business strategist with an artist’s passion specializing in customer experience, brand management, and employee retention. A 12-time judge and 2-time chairperson for the Stevie Awards, Paul brings over 25 years of management expertise spanning strategy, operations, and marketing. His executive leadership has shaped high-performing organizational cultures and driven exceptional customer outcomes.

Paul holds an MBA and three bachelor’s degrees from Boise State University, including Teaching and Theatre Arts, and is also a licensed real estate and insurance agent. An accomplished actor and director, Paul serves on the Board of Governors at Theatre 68 in NYC and LA. He draws parallels between the stage and the boardroom, believing that empowered teams—like actors free to express creativity—are the key to successful businesses.

Paul resides in Pasadena, CA, with his wife, twins, and their dog, Rocky, and is passionate about applying his award-winning strategies to elevate businesses, brands, and employee performance.