For First Time, Nation’s Top Business Awards to  Be Presented at Ceremonies in Both New York and San Francisco

The Stevie® Awards today issued the call for entries for The 10th Annual American Business Awards, the USA’s only all-encompassing business awards program, and invited all organizations nationwide to publicly recognize the achievements of their executives and employees by nominating them for a Stevie.

The entry deadline is March 28. Late entries will be accepted through April 25 with a late fee.  All individuals and organizations in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.   The 2012 awards will honor work since the beginning of 2011.   Entry details are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA. 

Nominations are now being accepted in various category groups for  management awards, public relations awards, marketing awards, new product awards, human resources awards, information technology awards,  web site awards, and more. There are many new categories for 2012, including 18 new categories for smartphone and tablet apps, as well as the Best of the ABA Awards, five best-of-competition prizes that will awarded to the organizations that submit the best overall body of work to the competition.

For the first time, The American Business Awards will feature two awards banquets.  The first will take place on June 18 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City and will honor Stevie Award winners in traditional categories.  The second, a new event, will be held on September 17 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, California and will honor Stevie Award winners in all tech-related categories.

Also new in 2012, Stevie Awards will be conferred in three levels of distinction: Gold, Silver and Bronze.  To date, only overall category winners have been recognized as Stevie winners.

“We are excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The American Business Awards and the Stevie Awards movement at a time when the American economy is rebounding,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. “Whether they’re multinational corporations and top executives or local businesses and hourly employees, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to be publicly honored for their hard work and achievements.”

The 2012 American Business Awards will include the Fourth Annual People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products, in which the general public will vote for their favorite new products and services of the year. Each new product or service nominated in The American Business Awards’ new product awards categories will automatically be included in people’s choice voting.  Voting will open in early July and winners will be announced at the San Francisco ceremony on September 17.

The American Business Awards’ June event will be the culmination of the inaugural America Means Business, a celebration of entrepreneurship that will take place June 13-15 in New York City.  Created by the Stevie Awards to educate people about how to start and grow a business, America Means Business will feature inspirational keynotes, “How I Did It” case studies, one-to-one mentoring, an exhibition, and more.  America Means Business is now accepting proposals from speakers and attendee registrations at www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com.

2011 Stevie Awards were presented last June in The Ninth Annual American Business Awards to a diverse group of organizations including American Express OPEN,  Blackboard, EmpowHER Media, ESPN, Hewlett-Packard, Kwittken & Company, Millennial Media,  Overstock.com, Red Frog Events, and Tesla Motors, among others. 

To enter The 2012 American Business Awards, visit www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About the Stevie® Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  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 www.StevieAwards.com/, and follow the Stevie Awards on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Sponsors and partners of The 2012 American Business Awards include American Support, Business TalkRadio Network, Citrix Online, Dynamics Research Corporation, iolo technologies, John Hancock Funds, LifeLock, PetRays, Primus Telecommunications Group, SoftPro, SDL and VerticalResponse.

We've published an 11-minute video about how to enter the 10th edition of the U.S.A.'s top business awards program, The American Business Awards.

Now in their 10th year, The American Business Awards are the premier business awards program in the U.S.A, with award categories including management awards, marketing awards, PR awards, HR awards, IT awards, web site awards, video awards, app awards, new product awards, and more. The entry deadline is March 28.

The short video covers:

• What the ABAs are, and their history
• The schedule for the 2012 ABAs
• How to review and select categories
• How to prepare and submit entries
• What’s new & different in 2012
• How the judging process works
• Best practices

If you plan to enter The 2012 American Business Awards, we highly recommend that you get and review the online entry kit in addition to watching this video which offers many helpful insights about the process of the awards program.

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The final entry deadline for The 9th Annual American Business Awards^SM is just one week away, and while the competition is on track to attract a record number of entries, several categories and a people’s choice competition present special opportunities for aspiring Stevie® Award winners.

Widely recognized as the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., The American Business Awards honor organizations and individuals in a wide variety of categories, from management awards and public relations awards to technology awards, human resources awards, new product awards, and more.

“Historically, 20% of the ABA's categories receive 80% of the entries and this year is no different,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards, organizer of the ABAs.  “Certain categories are extremely popular and have stiff competition, but there are others with fewer entries that we encourage potential entrants to look at.”

Gallagher recommends that organizations consider entering the following categories:

• Marketing Awards: there are more than 40 new categories for marketing campaigns of every type.  Gallagher said that new categories typically are not heavily subscribed in their first year
• Web Site Awards: there are also more than 40 categories for online media
• PR Awards: there are 13 categories for all types of communications campaigns

This year’s ABAs will bring the third edition of the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products, in which the general public will vote for their favorite new products of the year in a variety of categories.  Gallagher recommends that organizations also nominate their new products and services in the ABAs, because they’ll have the opportunity to win two awards: a Stevie Award in the peer-reviewed categories, and a people’s choice award in the publicly voted competition.

Entry kits for The 2011 American Business Awards are available at www.stevieawards.com/aba.  The 2011 awards will honor achievements since January 1, 2010.   The final entry deadline is April 27, 2011.  Final results will be announced at ceremonies in New York on June 20, 2011.

More than 150 professionals nationwide will participate in the peer-review judging process this year.

Last year’s winners of Stevie Awards in the ABAS included  Accenture, adidas, Apple Inc., Boost Mobile, Ford Motor Company, Hilton Hotels, Nu Skin Enterprises, the Rubicon Project and The Timberland Company, among others.  

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  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, and follow the Stevie Awards on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.  

April 27 Final Entry Deadline for Ninth Annual Program

The Stevie® Awards today named the ten executives who will chair and form specialized final judging committees for its Ninth Annual American Business Awards.

All organizations operating in the U.S.A. - public and private, large and small, for-profit and non-profit - are eligible to submit nominations to The American Business Awards.  April 27 is the final entry deadline this year. Details are available at http://www.stevieawards.com/aba/.

The ten committee selections are based on the categories that will be judged.  The appointments are as follows:

• Company/Organization Awards: Christopher Cabrera, Founder & CEO, Xactly Corporation, San Jose, CA

• Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, and Public Relations Awards: Kenneth D. Makovsky, President, Makovsky + Company, New York, NY

• Creative Awards: Suraya Bliss, Senior Director of Digital Strategy and Communication, Walmart, Bentonville, AR

• Customer Service Awards: Art Gairo, Senior VP Operations, Broadview Networks, Rye Brook, NY

• Human Resources Awards: Jim Gillece, Senior Vice President of Human Capital Management, Chief People Officer, Allied Barton Security Services, Conshohocken, PA

• Information Technology Awards: Sheri Thureen, Vice President Enterprise Business Transformation, CSC, Marlton, NJ

• Management Awards: Reggie Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Cvent, McLean, VA

• Marketing Awards: Ivan Koon, CEO, YouSendIt, Campbell, CA

• New Product Awards & Product Management: Noah T. Rowles, CEO, iolo technologies, LLC, Los Angeles, CA

• Support Awards: Todd Crowder, Director of Customer Care, Vision Solutions Inc., Irvine, CA

Finalists in the 2011 American Business Awards will be determined in preliminary judging to be conducted in April and May by volunteer professionals nationwide.  Final judging, to be conducted by panels to be formed by the newly appointed committee chairs, will take place from late May through early June.  In total more than 150 executives will participate in this year’s judging process.  The 2011 awards will be announced on June 20 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City and will honor achievements since the beginning of 2010.

“The executives who will chair the final judging committees for The 2011 ABAs are all winners of 2010 Stevie Awards and are leaders within their industries,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. “Having a deep involvement and understanding of their respective industries and changing landscapes, these individuals possess the insight to recognize success factors for this year’s candidates.”

To enter The 2011 American Business Awards, visit: http://www.stevieawards.com/aba.

About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  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, and follow the Stevie Awards on Twitter @TheStevieAwards.

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March 31 is the final entry deadline for The 2011 (9th annual) American Business Awards, the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A.  Late entries will be accepted through April 27 with payment of a late fee.

If you haven't yet reviewed the 2011 entry kit, you'll find it online here. We also recommend that you watch the video How to Enter The 2011 American Business Awards.

The ABAs have categories to recognize achievement in all facets of the American workplace, from the executive suite to the shop floor.  Types of categories include:

• Overall Company/Organization Awards
• Management Awards
• Corporate Communications & Public Relations Awards
• Customer Service Awards
• Human Resources Awards
• Information Technology Awards
• Marketing Awards
• New Products Awards (and Product Development categories)
• Support Awards
• Web Sites, Blogs, Annual Reports, Videos, Live Events, and other types of media

2011 Finalists will be announced in mid-May, and this year's Stevie® Award winners will be announced at the 9th annual awards banquet at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on Monday, June 20. Finalists are not required to attend to win.

The ABAs are one of four Stevie Awards competitions.  While the ABAs are open to all organizations operating in the U.S.A., the other three programs are open to entries from all organizations worldwide.  The other competitions are The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

If you have questions about The American Business Awards or any of the other Stevie Awards competitions, please contact us:

The Stevie Awards
info@stevieawards.com
+1 703-547-8389

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Today we conducted a live webinar entitled "How to Enter The American Business Awards," and a video of that recording is now available.

Now in their ninth year, The American Business Awards are the leading business awards program in the U.S.A, with category groups including management awards, marketing awards, PR awards, HR awards, IT awards, web site awards, video awards, and more. The entry deadline is March 31.

The hour-long video covers

• What the ABAs are, and their history
• The schedule for the 2011 ABAs
• How to review and select categories
• How to prepare and submit entries
• How the judging process works
• Best practices
• What’s new & different in 2011

If you plan to enter The 2011 American Business Awards we recommend highly that you first get and review the online entry kit, but this video offers a lot of helpful detail about the process of the awards program.

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As the U.S. economy rebounds, employees and executives are working harder than ever before. In order to shine a spotlight on the organizations, individuals and teams that strive for excellence in the workplace each day, the Stevie® Awards today officially issued the call for entries for its Ninth Annual American Business Awards.  (I say "officially" because entries have been coming in since October.)

The American Business Awards are the only all-encompassing awards program that honors outstanding performances in the American workplace. All organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The entry deadline is March 31 and late entries will be accepted through April 27 with a late fee. The 2011 awards will honor work since the beginning of 2010, and the awards will be announced on June 20 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Entry details are available at http://www.stevieawards.com/aba/.

Nominations are accepted in various category groups including management awards, public relations awards, marketing awards, new product awards, HR awards, IT awards, web site awards, and more. New categories in 2011 include Executive of the Year - Health Products & Services and Best New Product or Service of the Year - Health Products & Services, and more than 40 new Marketing Campaign of the Year categories.

"The American Business Awards offer individuals and organizations the recognition they deserve for achievements in the workplace," said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. "Each year our judges recognize organizations large and small, from the world's most famous companies to mom-and-pop startups, and I think 2011 is going to offer many stories of remarkable and inspiring achievement."

The 2011 American Business Awards will include the third edition of the People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products(SM), in which the general public can vote for their favorite new products and services of the year. Each new product or service nominated in The American Business Awards will automatically be included in people's choice voting. Voting opens in May and winners of the People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products will be honored at the June awards dinner in New York.

The Eighth Annual American Business Awards were presented last June to a diverse group of organizations including Accenture, adidas, Apple Inc., Boost Mobile, Ford Motor Company, Hilton Hotels, Nu Skin Enterprises, the Rubicon Project and The Timberland Company among others. For a list of winners and finalists of the 2010 awards visit: http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/awards/403_2183_20410.cfm.  

To request an entry kit for The 2011 American Business Awards, visit http://www.stevieawards.com/aba/.

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The Stevie Awards have three webinars planned for the next 60 days, and they're all about the options available to you for applying for - and winning - 2011 Stevie Awards in one or more of our four Stevie Awards programs.  Registration is free.  Each will last approximately 45 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.

February 8: 1:00 pm ET Webinar, How to Enter The American Business Awards. 
In this webinar we'll provide you with an overview of the ABAs - the premier business awards show in the U.S.A., honoring achievement in every facet of the workplace - including everything you need to know to have the best chance of impressing the judges.  The ABAs feature many opportunities to win PR awards, marketing awards, management awards, customer service awards, HR awards, and more, and we'll cover it all in this webinar.

March 1, 15:00 GMT/10:00 AM ET Webinar, Creative Media Awards in the 2011 Stevies
Winning a Stevie Award has become one of the top honors for organizations and professionals around the world.  There are many opportunities for creative professionals in advertising, digital media, video production, event production, and other creative industries to be recognized in the Stevies.  But how can you and your organization participate?

In this webinar we'll provide you with an overview of the creative media awards opportunities in the four Stevie Awards programs in 2011, which include The International Business Awards, The American Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  We'll discuss available categories, and how to review and select categories, how the judging process works, and how to prepare and submit entries.  You'll come away with a good understanding about how to compete for - and win - 2011 Stevies for web awards, advertising awards, video awards, event awards, annual report awards, and more.

March 8, 15:00 GMT/10:00 AM ET Webinar, How to Enter The International Business Awards 
In this webinar we'll discuss:

* The history of The International Business Awards, which are open to all organizations worldwide
* 2011 awards schedule
* What's new and different for the 2011 IBAs
* How the judging process works
* How to review and select categories
* How to write and submit entries

We'll review some best (and worst) practices, to help ensure that you submit the best entries possible.

All three webinars will be recorded and latest posted on the Stevie Awards Channel on YouTube, but you should plan to sit in on the live webinars so that you have a chance to get your questions answered about how your organization can participate - and win.

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It's that time of year when most companies are firming up their PR and marketing budgets and plans for 2011.  Many organizations are budgeting and planning to enter any number of business awards competitions in the new year, because they know that awards are cost-effective tools for a variety of purposes, with brand building and employee relations chief among them.

But here are the three reasons why you and your organization won't win a single award in 2011 - plus the #1 reason it won't matter a whit even if you do.

1. You Don't Enter
On occasion when I suggest to someone that they should nominate their organization in one of the Stevie Awards competitions, their response is: We don't believe in nominating ourselves for awards.  We plan to do such great work that awards will just be given to us.

Really? I want to reply. Which award are you hoping will make a beeline to your door?  A Nobel Prize? A MacArthur Genius Award?  Get real. 

Hope is not a strategy. If you don't believe that winning awards can help to burnish your organization's reputation, provide a low-cost reward to your employees for their good work, and provide one more incentive to your executives and workers to excel, I could persuade you otherwise, but at least that's your opinion.  But if you do believe that winning awards can offer these benefits, why on earth wouldn't you plan to pursue them?

Sure, it can take hours to prepare entries, and entry fees for a few awards programs can run to several thousand dollars, but the work and the cost are minor compared to the benefits of winning - and leveraging - a prestigious award.

2. You Aren't Smart About Picking Your Competitions
While we think our Stevie Awards competitions are the best there are, we acknowledge there are many awards programs worthy of your attention around the world for corporate awards, PR awards, marketing awards, IT awards, web awards, HR awards, and so on.  Picking those that are right for you and your organization is important.  And picking the categories within those competitions is also key.

When someone calls the Stevie Awards to enquire about whether their organization might be a fit for one of our competitions, we ask them two questions: one, what do you want to be recognized for?  And two, is it important to you in which category you might be honored?  Their answer to the first question is important, because that will tell us which competition, and which category(s), will be a fit for them.  The answer to the second question is also pivotal, because that will tell us whether we should recommend only the most popular (i.e. "prestigious") categories or can recommend secondary categories to them as well.

3. You Don't Tell Your Story Well
It's my experience that most organizations aren't very good at formally summarizing and articulating their achievements in an engaging way.  Storytelling is a vital part of corporate - and career - success.

When someone says to me, I'm not sure we're ready to enter the Stevie Awards, I don't know that we've achieved enough yet, I ask them to give me their elevator speech, their one-minute summary of what they do and what they've achieved.  Without fail their elevator speech is captivating.  It seems that most people have honed their ability to put into a few words the essence of their capabilities and achievements.  But few people can translate that pride and excitement into a longer document that's well written, well structured, and supported with examples, work samples, and the like. 

Until the day when we can transmit our thoughts to one another via telepathy, the written word will continue to be the way to communicate data-intensive information.  So if you can't write well, you don't stand much chance of winning many if any awards.  If you don't write well, hire or contract with someone who does to write your awards entries for you.

Even if you do enter the right categories in the right competitions, and prepare and write your entries extremely well, and win a raft of prestigious awards, they won't mean a thing if you don't translate those wins into meaningful tools, by

* Publicizing your wins to the media and stakeholders
* Congratulating and celebrating your employees for their recognition
* Using the resources provided by awards organizers, such as winners' logos, to create a long-term association between your products and your brand and their mark of excellence. 

The Stevie Awards are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Meltwater News to bring you live, updated feeds of press clippings about the Stevie Awards and business awards in general.

There are separate scrolling feeds for each of our four awards programs:

The American Business Awards feed is here, where you'll find clippings about the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., with news about the program's marketing awards, PR awards, web awards, human resources awards, IT awards, and more.

The International Business Awards feed is here, and it contains worldwide coverage of the IBAs and their management awards, corporate awards, new product awards, and more.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service feed is here, offering up-to-the-moment coverage of its sales awards and customer service awards.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business feed is here, full of recent clippings about this year's honorees.