We've decided today to extend voting for the People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies through September 18.  Vote now for your favorite companies at http://peopleschoice.stevieawards.com.

The People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies is a feature of The International Business Awards in which the general public worldwide can vote for their favorite companies in 17 industry categories. Voting was originally scheduled to conclude on September 13

The International Business Awards (www.StevieAwards.com/IBA) are the world's premier business awards competition, honoring achievement in every facet of the workplace.  This year's (10th annual) IBAs attracted more than 3,300 entries from organizations in more than 50 nations.

Winners of the crystal People's Choice Stevie Awards will be presented to winners at the 10th annual International Business Awards gala at the W Hotel in Barcelona, Spain on October 14.  Winners of Grand, Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Awards in the IBA's many peer-reviewed categories will also be presented that evening.  Nearly 300 executives around the world conducted the peer-review judging this year.

Remember to vote for your favorites in the people's choice voting!

More than 35,000 votes were cast in the first People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies, from 28 July through 9 September, and here are the top vote-getters in the 25 categories, and thus the winners of the crystal People's Choice Stevie Awards:

2011 Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations: BrainJuicer Group PLC            

2011 Aerospace, Defense & Transportation: Gulftainer Company Limited                      

2011 Automotive & Transport Equipment: International Armoring Corporation                       

2011 Banking: National Bank of Abu Dhabi

2011 Business Services: ActionCOACH

2011 Chemicals: SABIC

2011 Computer Services: Quality Systems, Inc.

2011 Computer Software: SYSPRO

2011 Conglomerates: Siemens AG

2011 Consumer Products: Beiersdorf AG

2011 Electronics: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 

2011 Energy & Utilities: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company                 

2011 Financial Services: Union National Bank

2011 Food & Beverage: Al Ghadeer Water Factory LLC 

2011 Health Products & Services: PetRays

2011 Insurance: PlanSource

2011 Manufacturing: Joseph Group

2011 Materials & Construction: GS Engineering & Construction                       

2011 Media: British Sky Broadcasting

2011 Metals & Mining: African Rainbow Minerals

2011 Non-Profit & Government: Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters                      

2011 Real Estate: CTP Company

2011 Retail: Ross Stores

2011 Services: African Access Holdings

2011 Telecommunications: Türk Telekom

This worldwide public vote was conducted as part of The 8^th Annual International Business Awards, the only global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business.

Nicknamed the Stevie® for the Greek word “crowned,” the awards will be presented to honorees at the IBA awards banquet on Tuesday, 11 October in the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Tickets for the event are now on sale.

All organizations honored in the Company/Organization awards categories of this year’s International Business Awards were eligible to be included in voting for the people’s choice awards, which was open to the public for more than five weeks this summer.

How did your favorites fare in the voting?