The Story behind the Silver Stevie® Award winner for Sales Growth Achievement of the Year - Financial Services & Insurance

USHEALTH Advisors is the wholly-owned national health insurance distribution arm of USHEALTH Group, Inc. The company sells individual health coverage and supplementary products underwritten by The Freedom Life Insurance Company of America and National Foundation Life Insurance Company, wholly-owned subsidiaries of USHEALTH Group, Inc. The company is focused on serving America’s self-employed, small business and individual insurance market through its captive agent sales force.

USHealth Advisors has won many Stevie Awards over the years. In the 2016 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, they won  Silver Stevies for Sales Growth Achievement of the Year - Financial Services & Insurance and Field Sales Team of the Year. 

Interested in applying for the 2017 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service? Review the entry kit here.

Troy McQuagge, the President and CEO told us, “I have the privilege to work on behalf of every USHA agent and every USHG employee. I view my role as helping our agents and employees unlock the incredible potential that exists within themselves and collectively, within this company.”

We asked Troy about his personal organizational vision and learned it was to, “Leverage our world-class distribution capabilities to build a great American company focused on our mission of helping and serving individuals, small business, and the self-employed with affordable and innovative healthcare solutions.

Ours is a story of grit and determination. Since inception, our company has faced and overcome numerous challenges; many of which have led competing companies to exit the marketplace altogether. USHEALTH has ‘stayed in the game’ because we believe we offer a better healthcare solution for middle America.”

We asked how they had first come to hear about the Stevie® Awards. Troy recalls, “For many years, we have viewed the Stevie Awards as the premier business awards program and as an important vehicle for highlighting the good work being done by USHEALTH’s agents and employees.  We first became acquainted with the Stevie Awards while working with another company back in the early 2000’s. By 2007, we had won our first Gold Stevie Award for that company, earning “Insurance Company of the Year” honors. When we launched our new company (USHEALTH) in 2010, we knew the Stevie Awards would be an important partner in helping us tell our story.

There really is nothing else quite like winning a Stevie Award.  Winning this award is a key indicator that we have created a company that is worthy of the trust placed in it by our agents, employees and customers.    

Winning this award has created a deeper sense of pride among our agents and employees because in a sense, it validates their hard work. It has also helped create a heightened sense of awareness about our business in the American marketplace.    

Perhaps the most evident impact has been seen in our agent recruitment efforts. When considering where they want to hang their professional hat, sales people are naturally attracted to a winning organization. While we have no empirical evidence to support our assertion, there is ample anecdotal evidence that people who consider this opportunity are impacted positively by the fact that we have won so many Stevie Awards, including the prestigious Gold Stevie.” 

When we asked what inspires USHealth to continue their good work, Troy gave us a message of hope, “We are driven by our stated Mission of H.O.P.E. - Helping Other People Everyday. These are words that we live every day, in pursuit of excellence as individuals and as a company.”

McQuagge’s perspective on the future of their industry is that, “We’ve already changed our industry. Our innovative products didn’t even exist prior to being created by our company. No other company in America offers the same kind of products. Only we have successfully made this type of product portfolio affordable for the customer yet also profitable and sustainable for the company. We believe we can bring even more innovation and change to the insurance industry and in the process help even more people with affordable healthcare solutions.”

Learn more about USHealth Advisors

Shown from left to right: Dean Whaley, VP – Financial Planning & Analysis, Bill Shelton, Sr. VP - Marketing, Jim White, Sr. VP - Sales, Troy McQuagge, President and CEO, Travis Yoder, EVP - Sales, and Brian Clark, Sr. VP - Admin and CMO, Bill Woods, Sr. Director – Data Analytics.

An interview with Etsuko Tsugihara, President of Sunny Side Up, Inc.

Stevie Award-winner, Sunny Side Up, Inc of Tokyo, Japan won a Gold Stevie Award in the 2016 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for Women-Run Workplace of the Year.  President and CEO Etsuko Tsugihara also won the Silver Stevie for Female Executive of the Year in Asia, Australia or New Zealand.  Tsugihara shares what winning the Stevie Awards this year meant to the organization.

The 2017 Stevie Awards for Women in Business will open for entries in May. If your organization has operations in Japan or any of  the 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region, you may participate in the 2017 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT HERE.

What does Sunny Side Up, Inc., do?

We are a multi-faceted Public Relations firm offering a wide range of services from standard PR and marketing, to Sports Marketing, Casting, Digital Marketing, Business Development, Media Relations, Sales Promotion and more. Recently, we've expanded our services globally and our strength is in assisting foreign companies entering the Japanese market.

What is the organizational vision?

Our company motto is "Let's have fun!" We seek to create a buzz by continuing to evolve and expand, in order to stay ahead of social and cultural trends.

What sets your company apart in this category?

Japan is still a very conservative business culture with many challenges for women. For instance, less than 1% of the 3000 companies listed on the Japanese stock exchange are run by women. In fact, I may be the only female Founder! The Japanese government has a target to increase the number of women executives drastically by 2020. In my own small way, it would be great if I'm able to encourage and inspire the future businesswomen of Japan.

How did you first become acquainted with the Stevies®?

Some of our global partner companies and clients had received an award, and we wanted to see if it applied to our company as well.

What was it like for your company to win this award?

It's quite exciting for the entire company because this is a joint effort. Our company is young (average age is less than 35), with more than half being female employees. I hope that the award will help motivate them even more!

How has the win affected your business?

We hope it increases our visibility so that people who see our fun name will associate it with Public Relations in Japan. Perhaps we'll also be able to attract new team members?

What changes in the industry does your team find interesting and why?

Having been in the PR business for more than 30 years, I've seen how we've changed drastically with the diversification of media. For a very long time, mass media meant TV, newspapers, magazines and radio, and we were able to gain exposure by establishing strong working relationships and ties with the major media sources. With the expansion of the internet and social media, even the source of news and how it’s generated has expanded. In fact, anyone can be the source of news/information. More than ever, it’s not important how much you spend, but how creative and original you can be in creating newsworthy information. Sunny Side Up is known for creating a buzz, so we're in perfect position to be the trendsetters!

What is the story behind your organization that might inspire our audience?

I started the company when I was 17, and not only have we managed to stay in business for more than 30 years, we've been listed on the local stock exchange since 2008.That's quite a feat when you consider less than 1% of Japanese companies last that long. I hope that more young and motivated people are inspired to break out on their own!

Learn more about Sunny Side Up. Inc.

An interview with Paige L. Schaffer, President & COO, Identity & Digital Protection Services Global Unit, Generali Global Assistance

Stevie Award winner Generali Global Assistance won the Silver Stevie Award in the Customer Service Team of the Year category of The 2016 American Business Awards. The ABAs are the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A. which attract more than 3,000 nominations from organizations nationwide each year.

The American Business Awards are accepting nominations for the 2017 program. 

All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The last early-bird entry deadline is December 14 – with discounted entry fees. The final entry deadline is February 16 and late entries will be accepted through March 15. 

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT HERE.

President & COO Paige L. Schaffer shares her business insights and thoughts on the Stevie Awards:

What does Generali Global Assistance do?

Generali Global Assistance (GGA) has protected the assets of organizations and their customers for over 50 years, and provides best-in-class identity theft protection and resolution services for leading Fortune 500 companies.  GGA’s recently launched Iris® identity protection platform which is offered as a solution to over 25 million people addresses all areas of need for companies and their customers, offering 360° protection with prevention, monitoring, alerts, award-winning resolution services and identity theft insurance.

What is your role as the President & COO?

I oversee our Identity and Digital Protection Services Global Unit. In this role, I lead sales & marketing strategy and revenue growth initiatives, and manage operations as well as global expansion.  Additionally, I ensure that we continue to offer the best possible solutions to our clients, minimizing the risk of identity theft for our diverse set of end users and maintaining a deep commitment to customer service.

What is the organizational vision?

Identity theft is on a precipitous rise internationally and consumer demand for identity protection service is rising at an equal rate. People are turning to the business and organizations they trust to get the protection they need - financial institutions, insurance companies, travel providers, legal services, associations and membership organizations, among others.

Our vision is to develop a seamless business-to-business platform driven by a people-first mentality that can help organizations of any type generate new revenue and exceed their business goals, especially as it relates to strengthening trust with their customers and building long-term brand loyalty. We have experienced ongoing success largely because the foundation of our program – our customer service team of identity theft resolution specialists – continues to be one of the very best in the business.

What sets your company apart in this category?

Helping people in their time of need has been GGA’s core DNA since its founding in 1963. Identity theft results in major emotional distress and financial difficulties for victims. As such, it’s absolutely essential to our mission that we not only quickly resolve any issues for identity theft victims, but do so in an empathetic, caring way. Our entire customer service team provides a human touch to identity theft protection and resolution, and this nomination was an opportunity to recognize their exceptional work.

How did you first become acquainted with the Stevies?

The Stevie® Awards are well-recognized and respected and we received several recommendations from our partners and clients to submit a nomination.

What was it like for your company to win this award?

We are thrilled to have won a Stevie for the fourth year in a row – and we were especially excited, after learning of our American Business Award, to receive a Gold Stevie from the International Business Awards during the same year.

How has the win affected your business?

Each Stevie® Award that we win is a rallying cry to continually improve and innovate. It’s a valuable reminder to the entire GGA Identity & Digital Protection Team that the world is watching and taking note of those companies that are providing extraordinary service. When we meet potential new business clients, customer service is at the top of their minds.  Having a trophy case full of Stevie Awards drives confidence that our team of identity protection specialists are industry leaders and will work tirelessly to meet the needs of all customers.

What results have been gained since you've won this award?

Identity and Digital Protection Services remains one of the fastest growing business lines within Generali Global Assistance and in the time since we received our first Stevie Award in 2013, we’ve delivered a number of service enhancements to support our expanding client base. Most recently, we launched our new Iris® online identity protection dashboard earlier this year. We have deployed Iris® for several organizations across a variety of industry sectors, including Optima Tax Relief and National Benefit Services, for example. Additionally, several prospective new clients are Stevie Award winners, and they quickly recognize that the award indicates exceptional service.

What inspires you to continue your work?

I’m always inspired by the individual stories that I hear from our customer service team. We’ve had specialists work with individuals for months or years at a time, untangling complicated identity fraud issues that had destroyed their credit, made it difficult to work, and put stress on personal relationships with families and friends. It’s so rewarding to see a case successfully closed and to hear directly from our clients when their customers call and say that their lives have been improved because of the work that we do.

What changes do you expect in your industry in the future?

The world is becoming increasingly connected and the need for identity theft protection will continue to develop in ways that we aren’t even aware of yet – and not just in the U.S., but also globally. The rise of the Internet of Things, surging social media use, more frequent online transactions, and a more sophisticated crowd of international criminals all present significant challenges for digital security. To best serve our clients and customers, continual learning and reinvestment in the technology that monitors theft and fraud is an absolute must. What truly sets us apart and is absolutely crucial to our future as a leading identity protection provider for organizations around the world is a commitment to the person behind the data. While identity crimes are often perpetrated digitally, the victims they affect are human and we will always go above and beyond to care for that individual.

From left to right: David Brown, Generali Global Assistance Marketing Manager, Identity and Digital Protection Services Global Unit, Julie Jamsa, Generali Global Assistance Vice President, Service Delivery, Identity and Digital Protection Services Global Unit, Patrice Bobala, Generali Global Assistance Identity and Digital Protection Quality Analyst, and Michael Gallagher, the Stevie Awards President.

Learn more about Generali Global Assistance

The Stevie® Awards, organizers of the world’s premier business awards programs, haveannounced that ValueSelling Associates Inc., the creator of the ValueSelling Framework, has signed to be a sponsor of its Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service program for the ninth consecutive year.

The 2017 (11^th annual) Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are accepting nominations through January at www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.  The program recognizes the year’s best achievements in sales, business development and customer service.  The awards will be presented at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on February 24. 

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT HERE.

ValueSelling Associates offers its customers a conversational, question-based sales methodology that is simple, logical and scalable, empowering sales organizations around the globe with a proven formula to qualify prospects, accurately forecast and close more deals.

“The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service offer our customers and their peers around the world the opportunity to seek public recognition for their achievements, and we’ve seen time and again how meaningful and impactful it is for them to win a Stevie,” said Julie Thomas, president and CEO of ValueSelling Associates.  “We’re pleased to be able to support this program again in 2017, as our customers will benefit from the opportunity to celebrate their good work.”

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service feature more than 135 sales awards, customer service awards, business development awards, new product awards and solution provider awards categories. Entrants may submit any number of nominations to any number of categories, which include:

•         Sales Individual categories such as Senior Sales Executive of the Year and Sales Representative of the Year
•         Sales Team categories like Global Sales Team of the Year and Online Sales Team of the Year
•         Sales Achievement categories such as Sales Turnaround of the Year and Sales Training or Coaching Program of the Year
•         Sales Distinction categories in 13 industry groupings
•         Customer Service and Contact Center Individual categories such as Front-Line Customer Service Professional of the Year and Customer Service Leader of the Year
•         Customer Service and Contact Center Team categories like Contact Center of the Year and Back Office Customer Service Team of the Year
•         Customer Service and Contact Center Achievement categories such as e-Commerce Customer Service Award and Award for Innovation in Customer Service
•         Customer Service Department categories in 11 industry groupings
•         Customer Service Success categories in five industry groupings, to recognize the customer service-related achievements of organizations without a formal customer service function
•         New Product and Service categories like Best New Business Intelligence Solution and Best New Marketing Solution
•         Solution Provider categories such as Sales Consulting Practice of the Year and Incentive, Rewards or Recognition Provider of the Year
•         Business Development categories such as Business Development Professional of the Year and Business Development Achievement of the Year    

The 2017 program offers new categories for new products and services and solution providers. New categories for new products and services include Customer Service or Sales Book of the Year, Customer Service Training Product of the Year and Sales Training Product of the Year. The new solution provider category for 2017 is Leadership or Management Training Practice of the Year.

The 2017 competition will be judged by more than 200 professionals around the world.

Stevie Winners in the 2016 edition of the awards included Adobe Systems, Cars.com, Comcast, CubeSmart, Delta Air Lines, DP DHL, Etiya, eZCom Software, FedEx, HubSpot, IBM, ISN Software UK Ltd., Kohl’s Department Stores, Office Depot, Ooyala, SAVO, ServiceMax, ShopKeep POS, Sirius Decisions, SugarCRM, VIZIO, Inc. and Vodafone Turkey, among others.  The full-text of Gold Stevie-winning nominations are available on the website.

The 2017 entry kit and a complete history of the awards program are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

About ValueSelling Associates, Inc.
ValueSelling Associates is the creator of the ValueSelling Framework®, a proven formula for accelerating sales results. Its customized training on the ValueSelling Framework methodology, reinforcement tools and consulting services, make complex B2B sales simple so sales organizations around the globe adopt it immediately and consistently. Since 1991, thousands of sales and customer-facing professionals use the ValueSelling Framework to grow revenue, increase productivity and improve win rates. Visit http://www.valueselling.com.

About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

An interview with Stevie Award-winner Hannah Perry, Founder and Owner of The Giggling Pig

Stevie Award-winner, The Giggling Pig of Shelton, CT won a Bronze Stevie Award in the 2016 Stevie Awards for Great Employers. They share what winning the Stevie Award for Engagement / Happiness Team of Year means to their organization.

Interested in participating in the 2017 Stevie Awards for Great Employers? 

Request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you in March when the competition opens.

What does The Giggling Pig do?

The Giggling Pig is an art and party studio that enriches the lives of children and adults through creativity.

What is your role as the founder and owner?

My job as the owner is to manage the overall business and to create and develop a range of art-focused programs. I'm always finding new ways to connect with my customers through art.

What is the organizational vision?

The long-term vision of this business is to reach as many people across the country and globally by bringing creative projects to homes and facilities.

What sets your company apart in this category?

The reason we were nominated for the Happiness award was for our work with children and adults with special needs. As a team, we have really made a difference in the lives of many people with our outreach program that allows us to visit assisted living homes and hospitals to share art with those in need. We also employ a few special needs staff members to provide them a welcoming place to learn and grow and the opportunity to feel included and important.

How did you first become acquainted with the Stevies?

I’ve heard about the Stevies for a few years through social media outlets. I was inspired to get involved and be considered.

What was it like for your company to win a Stevie Award?

To win an award for the happiness we have brought to our community and surrounding areas is a great honor. It means so much that the judges saw the value in our work.

How has the win affected your business?

After winning the award, we’ve noticed more special needs facilities reaching out to work with us. This recognition has had a positive effect on our business and affords us the opportunities to positively impact many more people through creativity. It has truly helped us elevate and solidify our credibility. It’s an objective third-party recognition that supports and honors our mission and contributions. That is very comforting for our customers.

What results have been gained since you've won this award?

We are beginning to expand our services as awareness of our Company grows.

What inspires you to continue your work?

Having this recognition has inspired me to continue to grow our outreach program. I enjoy what I do so much and when you’re  doing something that truly enhances people's lives, and you see the joy it brings, it's contagious. I will never stop doing this. I came to this country with $15 and built an enterprise for the good of others. It is so rewarding, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

What do you expect to change in your industry in the future?

I'm not sure how the art industry will change, although things such as 3D printing have started to become popular. I know we will continue to grow and be creative and whatever people want or ask for - we will create for them. We will always try to consider incorporating cutting-edge art methods into our offerings

Learn more about The Giggling Pig

World's Top Honors for Women Entrepreneurs, Executives, Employees and the Organizations They Run Were Presented in New York Before More than 500 Accomplished Women From Around the World

Shining a spotlight on women executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations run by women, the Stevie® Awards for Women in Business announced the results of its 2016 competition on Friday, November 18.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an international competition produced by the creators of the prestigious International Business Awards and American Business Awards. The Stevie is widely considered to be the world’s premier business award.

With more than 500 businesswomen and their guests in attendance, the awards were announced at a gala dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Nations represented at the event include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, South Africa, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A.

The presentations were broadcast live via Livestream.

More than 1,400 nominations from organizations and individuals in 22 nations were submitted to the awards this year for consideration in categories including Entrepreneur of the Year, Executive of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, and Startup of the Year, among others. More than 160 professionals around the world participated in the judging process to determine the Finalists and then the Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award placements.

Grand Stevie Award trophies were presented to the five organizations that submitted the best body of entries to the competition, in their own names or in the names of one or more clients. Winners were determined by the number of Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Awards won in the competition.

The Grand Stevie Award winners are:

•         PAIRELATIONS LLC, Centennial, CO USA (#1)
•         Accenture, Chicago, IL USA (#2)
•         WDS Marketing & Public Relations, Overland Park, KS USA (#3)
•         Jeunesse Global, Lake Mary, FL USA (#4)
•         Linqia, San Francisco, CA USA (#5)

Notable Gold Stevie Award winners from this year’s competition include:

• Shauna MacDonald, Principal and founder of Brookline Public Relations, Calgary, AB, Canada - Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Canada
• Viviana Zocco of Grupo Vi-Da, Buenos Aires, Argentina - Female Entrepreneur or Executive of the Year in Mexico, Central & South America
• Susan L. Abrams, CEO, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie, IL - Female Innovator of the Year – Government or Non-Profit
• LivingTree dba: Snowflake Technologies Inc., Austin, TX - Community Involvement Program of the Year
• Shyamala Soundari Kuppusamy, Senior Product Manager, Macy's Inc., San Francisco, CA - Employee of the Year - Business
• Bobbi Leach, CEO of RevenueWire Inc, Victoria, BC, Canada - Female Executive of the Year in Canada
• SUNNY SIDE UP, Inc. Tokyo, Japan - Women-Run Workplace of the Year - More Than 10 Employees
• TAPfit, Queensland, Australia - Startup of the Year - Consumer Products Industries
• TEARS Foundation, Sandton, South Africa - Organization of the Year – Government or Non-Profit– 10 or Less Employees
• Susan Ma, founder of Tropic Skin Care, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom - Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year
• Yvonne Mei, Executive Vice Chairman of World System Builder, World Financial Group, San Jose, CA, USA - Woman of the Year - Industry

The 2016 Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners reflect a diverse group of large and small organizations from around the globe. Organizations that won more than one Gold Stevie Award include Accenture, Cisco Systems, Inc., Enabled Employment, Final Salute Inc., Goldie Blox, Happy Family, Jeunesse Global, Linqia, Madison Services Group, Inc., Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and RippleNami, Inc.

For a complete list of Stevie Award winners and more information, visit http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women.

Entries for the 2017 edition of the awards will open next May.

The 13th annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, the world's top honors for women entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run, will be presented this Friday, November 18 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.  More than 400 women and their guests from around the world will attend.

The presentations will be broadcast via LiveStream at 7:30 pm eastern time on Friday. Watch it live or later on, here.  Follow along with a copy of the awards dinner's official program book. The red caprt pre-show will air on the Stevie Awards Facebook page at 6:00 pm ET.

Finalists in the 2016 awards were announced last month.  This Friday the Finalists will find out whether they've won Grand, Gold, Silver or Bronze Stevie Award status.

So who's coming to New York City for Friday's gala event?  Here are the organizations who have already booked their place for the awards dinner.  Tickets are still available.

360 Total Concept Oakland CA
ABS Associates Inc. Schaumburg IL
Accenture Chicago IL
Access One Inc. Chicago IL
ActionCOACH-The London Coaching Group London United Kingdom
Actuated Medical Inc. Bellefonte PA
Aflac Columbus OH
Alliance Data Columbus OH
Amobee San Diego CA USA
Aspire Phoenix AZ
AT&T Dallas TX
ATREVIA Madrid Spain
Australian Charity for the Children of Vietnam Brisbane
Axis Capital Inc. Grand Island NE
Bank Leumi Tel-Aviv Israel
BBR Creative Lafayette LA
Biocrystal Technologies Rijeka Croatia
Blanks Boutique Birmingham AL
Blueliner Marketing New York NY
Bounce Australia Maryborough VIC Australia
Braeburn Pharmaceuticals Princeton NJ
BRG Communications Alexandria VA
Bronto Software Durham NC
Brookfield Sydney NSW Australia
Burson-Marsteller Hong Kong
Candor Oklahoma City OK
CBIZ Women's Advantage Cleveland OH
Century 21 Real Estate Madison NJ
Chargebacks911 Clearwater FL
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Dover DE
Citrus Studios Santa Monica CA USA
Clearfield Inc. Plymouth MN
Clearslide San Francisco CA
Coast Professional Inc. West Monroe LA
Concentrix Corporation Tempe AZ
ConnectIreland Dublin Ireland
Corporette New York NY
Curriculum Associates North Billerica MA
Darktrace San Francisco CA
Dell EMC Hopkinton MA
Democracy Prep Public Schools New York NY
Dignity Health San Francisco CA USA
Dr. Marlene Mahipat Randallstown MD
Dynamic Solutions International Denver CO
EHR Concepts Villa Rica GA
Enabled Employment Canberra ACT Australia
Encore Associates San Ramon CA
Engage2Learn Corpus Christi TX
Epsilon Irving TX
ERA Franchise Systems LLC Madison NJ
EssayJack Inc. Toronto ON Canada
Event Head Melbourne VIC Australia
EvolveMKD New York NY
Family Legacy Missions International Irving TX
Final Salute Inc. Alexandria VA USA
FIS Jacksonville FL
FIS St. Petersburg FL
Fiserv Warren NJ
Foxtail Marketing American Fork UT
FuturePay Salt Lake City UT
Gail Lowney Alofsin Newport RI
General Electric Fairfield CT
Generation Hope Washington DC
George P. Johnson Auburn Hills MI
Gina Din Group Nairobi Kenya
Globalization Partners Cambridge MA
Goodwin Group PR Walpole MA USA
Grass Roots Meetings & Events New York NY
Grupo Vi-Da Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires Argentina
H&S Enterprises Inc. Scottsdale AZ
Happy Family New York NY
Hawkins International Public Relations New York NY
Headmark Sydney Australia
Heaven Skincare Shifnal Shropshire United Kingdom
Hilton Software Coral Springs FL
Hinduja Global Solutions HGS USA Peoria IL
Humana Insurance Louisville KY
Humana Louisville KY
hVIVO plc London United Kingdom
IAC Applications Yonkers NY
iCIMS Matawan NJ
Identity Theft Resource Center San Diego CA
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center Skokie IL
Improving Addison TX USA
Indus Health Plus (P) Ltd. Pune Maharashtra India
Innovid New York NY
INVNT New York NY
iTalent Corporation San Jose CA
Ithraa Consulting Group Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
iVvy Pty Ltd Gold Coast QLD Australia
Ixia Calabasas CA
JDA Software Scottsdale AZ
Jenny Fenig Worldwide Great Barrington MA
Jewel Toned West Hollywood CA
JMA Solutions LLC. Washington DC
Jones Publishing (Citywealth) London United Kingdom
JSP Properties LLC St. Paul MN
Kristie's Beirut Lebanon
Krupp Kommunications New York NY
Kura-ra.net Osaka Japan
Linqia San Francisco CA USA
LivingTree dba: Snowflake Technologies Inc. Austin TX
LLORENTE & CUENCA Madrid Spain
Macy's Inc. San Francisco CA
Madison Services Group Inc. Washington DC
Manpower Group Milwaukee WI
Marketing CoPilot Toronto ON Canada
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA
Matrex Exhibits Addison IL
MATRIXX Software Saratoga CA
Meals on Wheels America Arlington VA
Meelo New York NY
Mid-America Asian Culture Association Leawood KS
Miller Vein Novi MI
MONAT Global Doral FL
n e t a m o r p h o s i s New York NY
Nicole Rodrigues - NRPR Group Beverly Hills CA
OBI Creative Omaha NE
One Mission Framingham MA
PAIRELATIONS LLC Centennial CO
PayneGroup Seattle WA
Payoneer Inc New York NY
Peggy Klaus Berkeley CA
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Harrisburg Pennsylvania
Pivot Point Marketing Larkspur CA
Prime Focus Technologies Private Limited Mumbai India
Primrose School Franchising Company Acworth GA
Proforma Durkee Huntersville NC
Push! Leadership and Business Training Brisbane QLD Australia
ReachLocal Woodland Hills CA
Red Hat Raleigh NC
RevenueWire Inc Victoria BC Canada
RevUnit Bentonville AR
Sealed Air Diversey Care Charlotte NC
SEVEN PRESS s.a.s Live-In Style - Televiva Houston etc... New York NY
Silverlink Burlington MA
Simple Mills Chicago IL
Southwest Michigan First Kalamazoo MI
SPLICE Software Calgary AB Canada
Spong Minneapolis MN
Sports 1 Marketing Irvine CA
Strategy and Management Services Inc. Springfield VA
Stratix Norcross GA
Stratus Interactive West Chester PA USA
STREAM magazine Torino ITALY
SUNNY SIDE UP Inc. Tokyo Japan
Susan Davis International Washington DC
Tagetik Lucca Italy & Stamford CT
TAPfit Queensland Australia
TEADS New York NY
TEARS Foundation Sandton South Africa
The Association for Women in Events Washington DC
The Australian Charity for the Children of Vietnam Brisbane QLD Australia
The Enrichery Houston TX
The Henker Group Easton MD
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Lawrenceville NJ
Thought Bubble Brisbane QLD Australia
TIBCO Software Palo Alto CA
TMG Des Moines IA
Trendy Lime Inc. San Francisco CA
Triple A Financial Services Pty Ltd Australia Adelaide South Australia
Tropic Skin Care Croydon Surrey United Kingdom
Universal Environmental Consulting Westbury NY
Untangle Life Alexandria VA
USAID/OFDA Washington DC
WDS Marketing & Public Relations Overland Park KS
Webzap Technologies Noida Uttar Pradesh India
Wells Fargo Treasury Management San Francisco CA
WeSpire Boston MA
West Pharmaceutical Services Exton PA
Wind Rose Communications Atlanta GA
Women in PR London United Kingdom
World Financial Group San Jose CA
Zafin Palo Alto CA

The 2015 Annual Report of CLP Holdings Limited, in Hong Kong, China, won the Gold Stevie® Award for Innovation in Annual Reports in the Annual Report & Other Publications Awards categories of the 2016 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards.

The 2017 (4th Annual) Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards is now accepting entries.

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT HERE.

We asked Geert Peeters, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer at CLP Holdings, for some insight into how the Stevie® Award-winning 2015 Annual Report was created, and what winning a Stevie® Award has meant to the people who created it.

Geert Peters, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer at CLP Holdings, was delighted that his company’s 2015 Annual Report had won a Gold Stevie® Award in the 2016 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards.  He told us: “We are deeply honored to have won the Stevie Award for Innovation in Annual Reports. As an organization that prizes innovation, we are delighted by the recognition of our excellence in this regard.”

Encapsulating guidelines by the International Integrated Reporting Council and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, CLP’s 2015 Annual Report is the company’s fifth integrated annual report. Structured around the theme of CLP’s “unwavering commitment to the communities we serve,” the Report presents a connected view of the social, environmental, operational, and financial aspects of CLP’s overall performance in an integrated and innovative manner.

Innovation

Explained Geert: “We entered the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for continuous learning: every year, our colleagues across different departments and countries work very hard to put together an annual report that makes us proud, so winning the Stevie Award is definitely a strong recognition of these efforts.”

“We have benefited immensely in the process, because innovation is a continuous undertaking and we are still learning how to do better,” continued Geert.  “For example, we are an early adopter of integrated reporting, which means we report our business achievements alongside our environmental, social, and governance performance. Such an approach has provided us a holistic picture of what we do and what values we deliver to our stakeholders.

“The awards we have received motivate us to innovate and try new ideas, like designing a posting bag that can double up as a recyclable shopping bag. We also make use of a feedback form to drive donations for selected NGOs. Through these channels, we are able to better engage with our different stakeholders, and deliver values to them in ways that we never could before.”

Design and Format

“Electricity is an indispensable part of modern life,” explained Geert. “It powers the machines that keep our communities safe, and allows us to live and work comfortably and with convenience. To highlight the close relationship between CLP and our stakeholders, this year we decided to create a relaxing home feel, reflected in our Annual Report’s vivid and colorful illustrations, well-designed diagrams, intuitive infographics and selective use of photographs. To provide an at-a-glance look at our business performance, we captured and visualized all key information with figures, graphics. and tables in the opening six-page section of ‘A Snapshot of CLP in 2015’.”

Accessibility and Interactivity

To expand CLP’s reach to broader audiences, the print version of its Annual Report went live with an online multimedia Snapshot and Sustainability Report. As Geert put it: “Our Snapshot presents an overview of our business using multimedia tools such as videos, whilst our Sustainability Report provides a more detailed account of our sustainability principles, strategies, and efforts. Together with our website and other CLP literature, we aim to enable our stakeholders to have a more informed assessment of our company.”

Charitable Donations

In addition, Geert stated: “We have also developed an innovative way to strengthen our interaction with readers by pledging to make charitable donations of HK$60 for each feedback that we receive on our Annual Report, online Snapshot, and Sustainability Report, with a cap of HK$350,000 in total.”

In conclusion, Geert told us that “being recognized by such a well-regarded organization is a strong vote of confidence on the work we do. It gives us the motivation to strive for the best.”

Environmental Concerns

With energy and its impact on the environment a topic of major concern, we asked Geert what plans CLP had for 2017.  He commented: “We are fully aware of the impact of the activities of the energy industry on environment.  That’s why we decided about a decade ago that we would shoulder our responsibility to address the risk and effect of climate change. Adopting the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong’s ESG Reporting Guide is a part of that commitment. In fact, we were one of the few companies that began to report on environmental and social performance way back in the 1990s, and this later evolved and became our Sustainability Report which is available online. So we are no strangers to ESG reporting.”

Reducing the Carbon Footprint

To play its part in reducing the carbon footprint, CLP encouraged e-communication by donating HK$60 for each shareholder’s request to switch to its electronic publications. For the mailing of hard copies, the company specially designed a posting bag which could be converted into a reusable carrier bag in order to promote conservation and reduce waste.

Sustainability Principles

Added Geert: “In our 2015 annual report, we already disclosed ESG information that fell under the ‘comply or explain’ provisions. In our 2016 annual report, which will be published in March 2017, we plan to do more. But for us to be able to report, first we must have the action. Last year, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at tackling poverty, hunger, climate change, and other global problems by 2030. The SDGs have provided the international community with a clear direction on the transformative steps that are urgently needed for sustainable development. They also inspired us to develop our own Sustainability Principles, which set the foundation for articulating our sustainability priorities in support of our longer-term business strategy. This signifies our willingness to play a role in helping the world achieve the SDGs, especially those on combating climate change and affordable electricity.”

Inspiration for the Future

Geert is optimistic about the future.  “CLP’s goal is to meet Asia Pacific’s energy challenge in a sustainable way–from one generation to the next,” he explained.  “This means we want to be able to supply our customers with electricity that is reliable and safe, and to make sure it is done in an environmentally friendly manner and at a reasonable price.”

Continued Geert: “We recognize the world is changing rapidly, however. We need to have a clear vision of tomorrow and be able to harness the power of innovation so that we are well equipped and ready for change. To become the utility of the future, we need to transform to become a customer-centric energy company that can compete in a low carbon world.

“This opens up a whole new vista of possibilities. Renewable energy is definitely one of them. It has been exciting to see that more and more countries in Asia are generating energy through renewable means, be it solar or wind. This is especially true in Mainland China and India, CLP’s two growth markets, which both have ambitious clean energy targets. Over the years, CLP has developed more than 3,000 megawatts of renewable projects, mostly in these two markets. And we have plans to do more.

“Meanwhile, our presence in these markets is inspiring on another level. We have seen the emergence of private savings in these emerging markets. Through the issuance of local currency bonds, including green bonds, we are thrilled to be able to help people to channel their hard-earned savings into infrastructure projects that will ultimately advance their home lands. And I am excited to be able to contribute to this adventure.”

About Geert Peeters:

Geert Peeters has been the Group Director & Chief Financial Officer since 1 April 2014, responsible for Group financial control & reporting, Group treasury, Group tax, Group corporate finance, risk management, and investor relations for CLP Holdings Limited. He was appointed the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of CLP Holdings with effect from 1 January 2016.

Mr. Peeters has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining CLP, he was the Deputy Chief Financial Officer of GDF SUEZ (now known as ENGIE) Group based in Paris. Mr. Peeters was with GDF SUEZ from 1997 to 2013, gaining extensive experience in senior financial and operational roles in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. He also served as the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of International Power plc, a GDF SUEZ subsidiary listed on the London Stock Exchange and part of the FTSE 100 index until July 2012. Before joining GDF SUEZ, he worked for KBC Bank in Brussels and New York and for Tractebel Energy Engineering at the Doel Nuclear Power Plant in Antwerp (Belgium). He also served as a Reserve Officer in the Belgian Air Force.

In the past three years, Mr. Peeters has served on the boards of several listed energy companies, including International Power plc, E-CL, listed in Chile, and Glow Energy in Thailand. He is a member of the CNBC Global CFO Council.  Mr. Peeters is a Knight in the Order of King Leopold. He has a Master of Science in electro-mechanical engineering from Ghent University, Belgium, a postgraduate degree in business and IT administration from ICHEC Brussels, Belgium, and he attended executive business training at INSEAD Paris, France

About CLP Group

CLP Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, is the holding company for the CLP Group, one of the largest investor-owned power businesses in Asia Pacific. Through CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, it operates a vertically integrated electricity supply business providing a highly reliable supply of electricity to 80% of Hong Kong’s population.

Outside Hong Kong, CLP holds investment in the energy sector in Mainland China, India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Australia. Its diversified portfolio of generating assets uses a wide range of fuels including coal, gas, nuclear, and renewable sources. CLP is one of the largest external investors in the Mainland’s renewable energy sector. In India, it is one of the biggest renewable energy producers and among the largest foreign investors in the electricity sector. In Australia, its wholly owned subsidiary, EnergyAustralia, is one of the largest integrated energy companies, providing gas and electricity to over 2.6 million households and businesses.

CLP is listed on the Global Dow–a 150-stock index of the world’s leading blue-chips, the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific), the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific 40 Index (DJSI Asia Pacific 40), Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series, and MSCI Global Sustainability Index Series.

The 15th annual American Business Awards, the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A. which attracts more than 3,000 nominations from organizations nationwide each year, is now accepting nominations for the 2017 program. 

The American Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. Entry details are available at http://www.stevieawards.com/aba. 

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT.

All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. There are two early-bird entry deadlines this year – November 17 and December 14 – with discounted entry fees. 

A category group that has been greatly expanded for 2017 is the Company / Organization Awards.

Recognizing the achievements of entire organizations (for-profit or non-profit, large medium or small, public or private). 

Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories for the 2017 ABAs will include

a. An essay of up to 650 words describing the nominated organization's achievements since January 1 2016

b. In bullet-list form (up to 150 words), a brief summary of up to ten (10) of the nominated organization's chief achievements since January 1 2016

c. Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges

Company of the Year (may be for-profit or non-profit, public or private, large or small).  New for 2017, each of these 35 industry categories now has three sub-categories:

• Small (≤ 50 employees and revenue ≤ $10 million)
• Medium-size (≤ 250 employees and revenue ≤ $50 million)
• Large (> 250 employees and revenue > $50 million)

B01.    Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations
B02.    Aerospace & Defense
B03.    Apparel, Beauty & Fashion (a new category for 2017)
B04.    Automotive & Transport Equipment
B05.    Banking
B06.    Business & Professional Services
B07.    Chemicals
B08.    Computer Hardware
B09.    Computer Software
B10.    Computer Services
B11.    Conglomerates
B12.    Consumer Products - Durables
B13.    Consumer Products - Non-Durables
B14.    Consumer Services (a new category for 2017)
B15.    Diversified Services
B16.    Electronics
B17.    Energy
B18.    Financial Services
B19.    Food & Beverage
B20.    Health Products & Services
B21.    Hospitality & Leisure
B22.    Insurance
B23.    Internet/New Media
B24.    Legal
B25.    Manufacturing
B26.    Materials & Construction
B27.    Media & Entertainment
B28.    Metals & Mining
B29.    Non-Profit or Government Organizations
B30.    Pharmaceuticals
B31.    Real Estate
B32.    Retail
B33.    Telecommunications
B34.    Transportation
B35.    Utilities

B36. Startup of the Year (for companies that began operations since January 1 2015).  There are no entry fees for the Startup of the Year categories
a. Business Product Industries
b. Business Service Industries
c. Consumer Product Industries
d. Consumer Service Industries

B37. Tech Startup of the Year (for companies that began operations since January 1 2015).  There is no entry fee for this category
a. Hardware/Peripherals
b. Services
c. Software

B38. Most Innovative Company of the Year (recognizing overall achievement in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc. innovation)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. More Than 2,500 Employees

B39. Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year (recognizing overall achievement in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc. innovation)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. More Than 2,500 Employees

B40. Innovation of the Year (recognizing singular innovations in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc., by an organization or an individual)
   a. Business Product Industries
   b. Business Service Industries
   c. Consumer Product Industries
   d. Consumer Service Industries

B41. Technical Innovation of the Year (recognizing singular innovations in technology, new products, etc., by an organization or an individual)
   a. At Organizations With Up to 100 Employees
   b. At Organizations With Up to 1,000 Employees
   c. At Organizations With 1,000 or More Employees

B42. Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year (recognizing organizations' contributions to society)
   a. At Organizations With Up to 100 Employees
   b. At Organizations With Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. At Organizations With 2,500 or More Employees

B43. Fastest-Growing Company of the Year (recognizing outstanding revenue growth since the beginning of 2016 over 2015)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. 2,500 or More Employees

B44. Fastest-Growing Tech Company of the Year (recognizing outstanding revenue growth since the beginning of 2016 over 2015)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. 2,500 or More Employees

B45.  Minority-Owned Business of the Year: This category will recognize the achievements since January 1 2016 of businesses in the U.S.A. that are majority owned by members of an ethnic minority

B46. Veteran-Owned Business of the Year: This category will recognize the achievements since January 1 2016 of businesses in the U.S.A. that are owned by veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces

B47. Energy Industry Innovation of the Year: This category recognizes singular innovations in energy-related technology, production, conservation, storage or delivery, by an organization or an individual in the U.S.A., since January 1 2016.  There is no entry fee for this category

Gold Stevie winners in the 2016 American Business Awards Company / Oraganization of the Year categories include:

Company of the Year - Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Makovsky & Co, New York, NY

Company of the Year - Banking & Financial Services
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
First GREEN Bank, Mount Dora, FL

Company of the Year - Business Services - Less than 100 Employees
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Kount, Boise, ID

Company of the Year - Business Services - 100 to 2,500 Employees
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Fleetmatics, Waltham, MA

Company of the Year - Business Services - More than 2,500 Employees
GOLD STEVIE WINNERS (TIE):
Infinite Computer Solutions, Rockville, MD
TransPerfect, New York, NY

Company of the Year - Computer Hardware & Services
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
QLess Inc., Pasadena, CA

Company of the Year - Computer Software - Up to 500 Employees
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Tintri, Mountain View, CA

Company of the Year - Computer Software - 500 or More Employees
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
HubSpot, Cambridge, MA

Company of the Year - Consumer Products
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Jeunesse Global, Orlando, FL

Company of the Year - Food & Beverage
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Fazoli's Italian Restaurants, Lexington, KY

The Stevie® Awards has issued a call for entries for the 2017 (fourth annual) Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the only business awards program to recognize innovation in business throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region. 

The early-bird entry deadline is November 30.  The final entry deadline is February 8, 2017, but late entries will be accepted through April 5 with the payment of a late fee. Complete entry details are available at http://Asia.StevieAwards.com.

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT HERE.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are open to all organizations in the 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The awards focus on recognizing innovation in all its forms, wherever it is achieved in the workplace. Entries will be accepted in seven languages – Chinese, English, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay and Thai - in the following awards category groups:

• Annual Report Awards & Other Publication Awards
• Customer Service Awards
• Company/Organization Awards
• Human Resources Awards
• Information Technology Awards
• Management Awards
• Marketing Awards Categories
• New Product Awards
• Corporate Communications, IR, and PR Awards
• Website Awards and Smartphone and Tablet App Awards
  …and more

Asia-Pacific Stevie Award winners will be announced on April 19. Winners will be celebrated and presented their awards during a gala banquet on June 2 in Tokyo, Japan.

Scores of professionals from throughout the region will participate in the judging process to determine the Stevie winners.

Some of the Asia-Pacific region’s most innovative organizations have won Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in the past three years including Cisco Systems, Crocs Singapore, DHL Express, Ford China, Freelancer.com, Globe Telecom, Harvey Norman, MetLife Asia Ltd., Samsung, Singapore Airlines, Sony, Telkom Indonesia, Volkswagen Group China, and more.

Judging committees for the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are now being formed. Those interested in participating in the judging process may also apply at http://Asia.StevieAwards.com.