Latest news with #AwardsGala
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Finalists announced for 2025 '40 Under Forty' Alumni Achievement Award
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – BusinessWest has announced the finalists for its 11th annual '40 Under Forty' Alumni Achievement Award. Northampton Concert Series announced for 2025 This award recognizes five accomplished professionals who have continued to make significant contributions in their fields and communities since first being honored as rising stars. This year's finalists are: Jeffrey Fialky, managing shareholder at Bacon Wilson, P.C. (Class of 2008) Amelia Holstrom, partner at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. (Class of 2015) James Krupienski, partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (Class of 2010) Ryan McCollum, owner of RCM Strategies (Class of 2012) Orlando Ramos, state representative for the 9th Hampden District (Class of 2014) These finalists were selected from among past 40 Under Forty honorees, a distinction that BusinessWest has awarded annually since 2007 to young professionals in western Massachusetts who demonstrate outstanding business success and community involvement. The winner of the 2025 Alumni Achievement Award will be announced during the '40 Under Forty' Awards Gala, scheduled for Thursday, June 19, at 5 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Tickets can be purchased online. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Outstanding Exporters To Be Recognised At ExportNZ ASB Bay Of Plenty Export Awards
Judges for the ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards have announced the finalists who will be honoured at the awards gala on Friday 18 July at Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui. The awards, organised by the EMA, celebrate the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses who are exporting goods and services to markets around the world. The event is proudly supported by principal sponsor ASB, as well as Sharp Tudhope, Air NZ Cargo, Page Macrae, Zespri, and Orbit Travel, and supporting partners NZTE, Comvita and Port of Tauranga. Winners announced at Awards Gala on 18 July, at Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui The success of each finalist will be celebrated at the 1920s-themed awards gala on 18 July, which promises to be a night of elegance, glamour and celebration, honouring the innovation and resilience of the region's exporters. Gala tickets are available at ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards 2025 . List of finalists - ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards Finalists in the 2025 awards encompass a broad range of innovative businesses, showcasing the breadth and depth of exporting excellence in the Bay of Plenty region. These include heavy engineering and precision machine manufacturers, technology and software solution providers for the agricultural, health and legal sectors, as well as a manufacturer of kids' cycling accessories. The finalists for the 2025 ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards are: Bluelab - a manufacturer of precision instruments for measuring pH, electrical conductivity and temperature in controlled agricultural environments. Carepatron - a provider of a secure, cloud-based healthcare solution for practitioners to manage clients, appointments, payments, and records. Kids Ride Shotgun - a designer and manufacturer of mountain bike seats and accessories for young children to enjoy biking with their families. LawVu - a provider of a unified, cloud-based legal workspace, designed for in-house legal teams to efficiently manage matters, contracts, spend, documents, and reporting within a single, secure platform. Medella Health - a developer of innovative wellness devices, including the Flowpresso therapy suit, which combines compression, deep pressure and thermo therapy. Oasis Engineering - a manufacturer of high-pressure control devices for gases, such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas. Plazmax - a designer and manufacturer of advanced computer numerical control (CNC) plasma cutting and robotic welding systems for precision engineering. Rhino Manufacturing - an industry-leading supplier of parts for trucks and trailers; Rhino guards blend powerful performance with striking style. Spida Machinery - a manufacturer of high-quality, precision machinery for the frame, truss, and building-component industries. Trimax Mowing Systems - a designer and manufacturer of tractor-powered roller and flail mowers for commercial use. The short-listed exporting companies will be judged over the following categories: - Best Emerging Business (in partnership with Air New Zealand Cargo) - recognising businesses in the early stage of their international growth journey. - Excellence in Innovation (in partnership with Page Macrae) - recognising success in the commercialisation of innovation in international markets, incorporating intellectual property, strategy, processes and monitoring. - Exporter of the Year (in partnership with Sharpe Tudhope) - recognising the success of those businesses that are established in their international growth journey. In addition, the Export Achievement Award (in partnership with Zespri) recognises an individual who has made a material contribution to the export success of a business. Finalists for this category are: - Sarah Webb, LawVu - Karl Stevenson, BlueLab Finally, the Services to Export Award (in partnership with Orbit Travel) recognises an individual or business, who may or may not be directly involved with exporting, but has made a significant contribution to exporting success in the Bay of Plenty. Entry for this award is by nomination only, with the winner announced at the awards gala on 18 July. Highlighting export innovation in Bay of Plenty The awards are organised by the EMA on behalf of ExportNZ. EMA Chief Executive John Fraser-Mackenzie says, "We look forward to honouring these outstanding companies at this year's awards gala on 18 July, which will harness the spirit of the 'Roaring Twenties'. "The awards celebrate the community of business, providing an opportunity for peer-to-peer networking and knowledge sharing among like-minded, export-oriented companies." Chair of the ExportNZ BoP Executive Committee Warwick Downing says, "These awards shine a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible exporters in the Bay of Plenty who work tirelessly to bring New Zealand products and services to the world. "Equally important is the opportunity they provide to bring the exporting community together, to share stories, challenges, and insights that help drive the sector forward." Head of Trade Finance at ASB Bank Mike Atkins says, "We are excited to partner with ExportNZ to celebrate the export champions from the Bay of Plenty region. "At ASB, we are passionate about enabling exporters to scale up, be it through working capital funding or other advisory initiatives across productivity, sustainability, clean tech, and food & fibre." Executive Director of ExportNZ Josh Tan says, "These awards are a recognition of the incredible mahi of exporters in the Bay of Plenty who continue to deliver excellence. "The awards not only celebrate the individual enterprises, importantly they encourage a collaborative culture that nurtures exporting success across the region."
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local leaders nominated for Athena Award for empowering women
May 2—LIMA — Three Lima-area professionals have been nominated for the 2025 Athena Award, an honor recognizing individuals who demonstrate professional excellence, community service and a commitment to advancing women in leadership. Ronda Lehman, president of Mercy Health Lima; Alexis Hensley, mortgage loan officer at Federal Savings Bank; and Joe Patton, director of OhioMeansJobs Allen County are this year's nominees. The winner will be announced at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, during the Lima/Allen Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala at the University of Northwestern Ohio event center, 1450 N. Cable Road, Lima. Ronda Lehman Lehman began her career in the pharmacy department at St. Rita's Medical Center as an intern while attending Ohio Northern University. Nearly 30 years later, she leads Mercy Health Lima as its president. She has overseen numerous advancements, including the region's first Comprehensive Stroke Center, a new behavioral health unit, and expanded educational partnerships such as a rural medical school launched in 2024 with The Ohio State University. Her community involvement includes roles on the boards of the YMCA, Ohio Northern University, and United Way of Greater Lima. Lehman has also been a vocal advocate for mental health care and mentorship, especially for women in healthcare. "At Mercy Health Lima, 75% of our C-suite is comprised of women," Lehman said to the chamber. "I enjoy sharing my journey and encouraging other wives, mothers and leaders to not let anything hold them back from their professional goals." "I have the utmost respect for her commitment to her work at Mercy Health-St. Rita's and to the broader Lima/Allen County community and region," Dave Stratton, president and CEO of the Greater Lima Region, said to the chamber. Alexis Hensley As a mortgage loan officer at Federal Savings Bank, Hensley has helped numerous women, especially single mothers, become homeowners through financial education and guidance. Hensley frequently assists clients in overcoming credit obstacles and securing safe housing for their families. "I have taken the initiative to help women achieve their goals of becoming a homeowner," Hensley said to the chamber. Hensley wakes up every day with a personal mission to help someone. "I do wake up every day and say to myself, 'How can I empower a woman today?' I wake up every day wondering how I can make someone — anyone's day better," Hensley said. Outside of work, Hensley coaches softball, drives a school bus and volunteers in youth programs. "I choose to continue to drive the bus because I want to be the smile that some children do not get to see. Some kids go all day without a genuine smile or hello," Hensley said. "Alexis is deeply committed to giving her best financial guidance to our clients for their mortgage needs. She is very professional with everyone she meets," Dominic Guagenti, broker/owner, CCR Realtors, said to the chamber. Joe Patton Patton joined OhioMeansJobs Allen County in 2014 with a mission to improve operations within the community. Under the leadership of Patton, 41 women have received promotions and more than 600 employees have joined the list of employers with OMJ. Patton was instrumental in launching the Employment Incentives program in 2018 to help individuals transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency. In recent years, Patton has secured more than $500,000 annually for job training programs and developed initiatives like a high school job fair and the Student Employee of the Month campaign. He also serves on more than a dozen boards and committees, including the Rotary Club, Superior Credit Union, and the Public Assistance Benefits Accountability Task Force. Since 2018, Patton has promoted 41 women within his agency, where women comprise 77% of the workforce. "I remain dedicated to investing in our next generation of leaders," Patton said to the chamber. "Throughout his career, Joe has exemplified the qualities the Athena Award seeks to honor: leadership, mentorship and a committment to improving the workplace and broader community," Dean Monske, Regional Growth Partnership Northwest Ohio president and CEO said in a note to the chamber. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
Cision Canada
29-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
FASTSIGNS® Receives Franchisees' Choice Designation and Silver Award of Excellence From the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA)
, April 29, 2025 /CNW/ -- FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, was named as a recipient of the Franchisees' Choice designation this month during the Awards Gala at the 2025 CFA National Convention in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This is the 15 th year for the Franchisees' Choice Designation Program, and the 13th time FASTSIGNS was honored for its accomplishment in receiving this designation. Additionally, FASTSIGNS was awarded Silver in the Traditional Franchises (30–99 franchisees) category of the CFA's Awards of Excellence in Franchising, further underscoring the brand's continued excellence in franchise support and satisfaction. "Earning these double recognitions speaks volumes about the strength of our system, the depth of our support and the trust our franchisees place in us," said Mark Jameson, chief development officer of Propelled Brands. "We're committed to helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses and are honored to see that commitment recognized across Canada as we continue to grow our footprint." Both the Franchisees' Choice Designation and the CFA Awards of Excellence are based on direct feedback from franchisees through independently administered surveys. Franchisees evaluate their franchisor on critical aspects of the franchise relationship, including leadership, training, communication, marketing, support and overall satisfaction. While the Franchisees' Choice Designation reflects consistent satisfaction year-over-year, the Awards of Excellence recognize top-performing brands in a competitive, category-based format. FASTSIGNS' dual recognition in 2025 signals a strong endorsement from its Canadian franchisees and reinforces the brand's commitment to supporting small business owners in Canada. "Before we bought our FASTSIGNS, we had no business background–just a passion for creativity, service and a drive to work for ourselves," said Donna Bilodeau, FASTSIGNS franchisee of Windsor, Ontario. "From the day we took a leap of faith into small business ownership, FASTSIGNS gave us the tools, training and ongoing support to build something meaningful. With FASTSIGNS behind us, we haven't just bought a business; we've joined a family of franchisees and a corporate team that truly has our back." FASTSIGNS currently boasts 40 centers throughout Canada in markets such as Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. The brand is currently targeting further expansion in Canada, with a focus on its co-brand and conversion programs, which help existing business owners add a FASTSIGNS to their portfolio or fully convert their business to a FASTSIGNS franchise. FASTSIGNS has helped countless owners of print shops, photography studios, camera stores, embroidery shops, and more, diversify their product lines and services to meet the growing demand for signs, graphics and visual communication solutions. For more information about FASTSIGNS®, visit For more information about Franchisees' Choice designation and a full list of winners, visit the 2025 CFA Franchisees' Choice Designation web page. For more information on the Awards of Excellence in Franchising, visit the 2025 CFA Awards of Excellence web page. About FASTSIGNS® FASTSIGNS® is the leader in the custom signs and visual solutions industry. With 40 years of experience, FASTSIGNS helps customers bring their vision to life and achieve more than they ever thought possible. As the largest service-oriented business within the Propelled Brands® family, FASTSIGNS spans over 785 independently owned and operated centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®). FASTSIGNS is frequently recognized for franchisee satisfaction and with awards that include being ranked #1 in its category on ENTREPRENEUR's highly competitive Franchise 500® List in 2025 for the ninth consecutive year, and being named a 2024 Best-in-Category Franchise by Franchise Business Review for the sixth consecutive year. For more information or to learn about opportunities, visit or contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679). About the Canadian Franchise Association The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) helps everyday Canadians realize the dream of building their own business through the power of franchising. The CFA advocates on issues that impact this dream on behalf of more than 600 corporate members and over 40,000 franchisees from many of Canada's best-known and emerging franchise brands. Beyond its role as the voice of the franchise industry, the CFA strengthens and develops franchising by delivering best-practice education and creating rewarding connections between Canadians and the opportunities in franchising. Franchising is the 12th largest industry in Canada and franchised businesses contribute over $133 billion per year to the Canadian economy, creating jobs for almost two million Canadians. Learn more at: or
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Critics Choice Awards set for January 4, 2026
The Critics Choice Association has announced that its 31st annual Critics Choice Awards will take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026, marking the beginning of the nationally televised awards season. The ceremony will be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and will air live on E! and USA Network from 7 to 10 pm ET/PT. The Critics Choice Awards will continue its combined film and television awards format, honouring the year's best in cinematic, televised, and streaming achievement. The announcement comes as a surprise, given that the Golden Globes have traditionally taken place on the first weekend of the new year. However, the Golden Globes have moved to January 11, allowing the Critics Choice Awards to take the lead as the first major televised show of Critics' Choice Association has partnered with E! and USA Network for the second year in a row, expanding its reach and audience." The Critics Choice Association is excited to kick off awards season as the first major televised show of 2026," said CCA CEO Joey Berlin, as quoted by Deadline. This year's ceremony promises to be an unforgettable event, with notable speeches and momentum-building moments that champion the industry's best. The first weekend of January is shaping up to be a significant one for awards season, with the Palm Springs Film Festival set to hold its annual Awards Gala on January 3, a day before the Critics Choice nominations will be announced on December 4, and film nominations on December 5. The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards show will be executive produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment.
