Award Nominations

The Indianapolis Business Journal’s CFO of the Year Awards is presented to financial professionals in Indiana for outstanding performance in their roles as financial stewards of corporations and not-for-profit organizations. This program provides many benefits to the business community by highlighting the growing importance of the contributions and accomplishments of financial executives.

• Nominations Accepted: August through September
• View details

Presented by the Indiana Small Business Development Center, the EDGE Awards celebrate Economic Development and Growth through Entrepreneurship. EDGE Award recipients fall into one of two categories: Emerging or Established businesses. Eligibility is limited to clients of the ISBDC through one-on-one confidential counseling through a trained ISBDC business advisor, participation in ISBDC programming, or use of ISBDC tools and business resources. EDGE Award recipients are selected locally by the regional ISBDC staff that works directly with the business.

• View details

The Indianapolis Business Journal recognizes 40 local business and professional leaders who have achieved success before the age of 40. These people have demonstrated leadership, initiative and dedication in pursuing their careers, and are likely to continue to achieve in the future. Each honoree is profiled in a special IBJ supplement and is honored at a private reception attended by members of previous Forty under 40 classes.

• Nomination Deadline: October
• View details

The Indianapolis Business Journal’s Health Care Hero Awards recognize individuals and/or organizations in the central Indiana health care industry that are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The Indianapolis SMSA includes Marion and surrounding counties, and Madison County. The nomination form completed entirely, including a brief descriptive narrative of 500 words or less. Each nomination is judged on its own merits. IBJ and a panel of health care professionals review nominations in five categories – corporate achievement, advancements in health care, physician, non-physician and volunteer. Three finalists are chosen in each category and the winners are announced at the Health Care Heroes awards breakfast.

• Nominations Accepted: September through January
• View details

The Indianapolis Business Journal’s Healthiest Employers Awards is an innovative awards program created to recognize those employers that proactively shape the health of their employees. These employers have made a commitment to impact the health of their workplace – and their bottom line. The award celebrates wellness leadership in five categories based on number of full-time employees. Finalist and winners in each category are recognized at an awards breakfast. To be considered for the Healthiest Employers of Indiana award, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Be a business, not-for-profit or government entity in Indiana.
• Employ a minimum of 2 full time employees, including the owner.
• Demonstrate evidence of an employee wellness program.
• Complete the online application.

• Nominations Accepted: May through June
• View details

The Indianapolis Business Journal’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies are an exclusive ranking of fastest-growing privately held companies in the State of Indiana. Companies with annual revenue exceeding $1 million are ranked by revenue growth over a three-year period, and profiled in a special section of IBJ.

• Nominations Accepted: March through May
• View details

Presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, its Small Business Development Centers and Purdue University, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation, Indiana Companies to Watch celebrates high-performing, second-stage companies in the state. This is not an award of the “top” or “best” companies – the companies selected each year make a point about Indiana’s diverse economic landscape. They make an astounding impact on the state’s economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars of revenue.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically in March or April
• View details

The Indiana Entrepreneurial Leadership Awards are presented by the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Indiana University and honors outstanding, emerging and established entrepreneurial companies in growth, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.

• View details

Many Indiana attorneys make meaningful contributions not only to the legal profession but also to their communities and beyond. Indiana Lawyer annually honors such members of the legal community with the Distinguished Barrister Award and the Up and Coming Lawyer Award. Honorees are announced in a special issue of Indiana Lawyer, while new and past honorees are celebrated at a special reception.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically in September
• View details

The Best and Brightest initiative was created by Junior Achievement to recognize up-and-coming talent and the next generation of leaders in our community. Finalists in each category are judged on professional accomplishments and leadership qualities.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically August
• View details

The Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards recognize businesses and organizations that encourage, embrace, and celebrate differences that foster a better place in which to live, work and raise family. Recognition is given for stellar performance in all or one of the following areas:

• Community Relations: Activities that encourage and support diversity in the community
• Development: Opportunities for diversity education and communication within the organization
• Leadership: Vision develops and supports diversity strategies throughout the organization
• Workforce Diversity: Diversity representation in the workplace

In addition, the top award, Sam H. Jones Award, named in honor of the first president of Indianapolis Urban League who was a tireless advocate for peace, justice and understanding of equality in the Indianapolis community, is given for exemplary performance in all four (4) categories.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically October
• View details

The Indianapolis Business Journal’s Mike Carroll Award is given in memory of former deputy mayor and civic leader Mike Carroll and honors a man or woman who has demonstrated Mike’s qualities of determination, humility and devotion to the Indianapolis community. (A note about humility: Mike Carroll’s work didn’t all happen in the board room. He knew his way around the halls of power, but he was also comfortable working side-by-side with young people and the less fortunate. If your nominee has been known to “work in the trenches,” please include examples in your nomination letter.)

• Nomination Deadline: Typically August
• View details

Presented by the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) these awards spotlight outstanding achievers from all walks of life. Individuals are nominated for recognition in twelve award categories and are also considered for CLD’s two highest awards: the Accomplished Achievement Award and the Mme. C. J. Walker (Outstanding Woman of the Year) Award. Winners are honored at the annual Minority Business & Professional Achievers Recognition Awards Dinner.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically in January
• Awards Dinner Reservations Deadline: March 10, 2017
• View details

To honor the small business community’s contribution to the American economy and society and recognize the people and organizations that assist small business, the President of the United States designates one week each year as National Small Business Week. In 2017, Small Business Week will be celebrated nationally April 30 through May 6, 2017. As part of this celebration, awards will be presented in several categories:

• Small Business Person of the Year Award
• Small Business Exporter of the Year
• Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery
• Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery – Public Official
• Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery – Volunteer
• Federal Procurement Award – Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year Award
• Federal Procurement Award – Small Business Subcontractor of the Year Award
• Federal Procurement Award – Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence
• 8(a) Graduate of the Year Award
• Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
• Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award
• Women’s Business Center of the Year Excellence Award
• Jody C. Raskind Lender of the Year
• Small Business Investment Company of the Year

Nomination Deadline: Typically in January View more details or download a nomination packet.

The Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Award, sponsored by Harrison & Moberly, LLP, recognizes a woman business owner who has an inspirational story of struggle and success, or who are themselves inspirational. This award is open to any woman business owner with a for-profit or not-for-profit (501(c)(3)) company that has been in continuous operation for two years or more in Indiana. Business owners must be 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and own 50% or more of the business. All finalists are recognized and the winner is announced at the Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Award Breakfast typically held in May.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically April
• View details

The Torchbearer Award is the highest award presented only to women by the State of Indiana. Sponsored and hosted by the Indiana Commission for Women Commissioners, the Torchbearer Award Ceremony is the only program in which the State of Indiana recognizes and honors her finest natural resource—the women of Indiana. Indiana Torchbearers are those women who have stepped forward in all areas of society to carry the light for women. They have led the way for others by breaking down barriers to women’s full participation and have become true beacons of light by overcoming challenges that all women face with courage, perseverance and compassion and by creating lasting legacies that serve as an inspiration for all.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically November
• View details

The Indianapolis Business Journal’s Women of Influence Awards recognize some of the city’s most successful business women from both the public and private sectors while revealing the triumphs and challenges that have shaped their careers. Past recipients have included government and civic leaders and top executives in a variety of industries. Honorees are profiled in a special IBJ supplement and honored at a breakfast event.

• Nominations Accepted: August through September
• View details

The Diversity Volunteer Recognition Awards were an outcome of United Way of Central Indiana’s committee on diversity’s desire to recognize outstanding diverse volunteers within our local community. As a result, United Way partnered with the Indiana Black Expo, Inc. in the summer of 1983 to give the first six awards and host the first breakfast celebration. Annually, several diverse volunteers are recognized for giving their time and talents to help people in need and serving their community. Their contributions to nonprofit organizations are essential and invaluable.

• Nomination Deadline: Typically May
• View details.