Latest news with #LifetimeAchievementAward
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
2025 BILD Awards celebrate home building excellence in the GTA
Toronto, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greater Toronto Area, May 30, 2025 – The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recognized excellence in the design, construction, marketing and sales of new homes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) at its 2025 BILD Awards Gala, held on May 29. BILD presented 50 awards in the categories of architecture, design, marketing, people and sales, and in the prestigious project and builder categories. A group of 51 expert judges from across North America determined the winners from over 700 submitted entries. 'The BILD Awards is one of the largest and most prestigious awards programs of its kind in North America,' said Dave Wilkes, BILD President & CEO. 'This year's winners truly exemplify outstanding innovation and showcase the excellence of the building industry in the Greater Toronto Area.' Howard Sokolowski, Founder and CEO of Metropia, received BILD's Lifetime Achievement Award. It is the highest honour BILD can present to a member, recognizing those who have dedicated a lifetime to the association and the industry and demonstrated significant leadership and commitment to the greater good. Mr. Sokolowski has been at the forefront of Canada's development industry for over 30 years. One of the most trusted and influential industry leaders, he is renowned for building iconic communities that residents are proud to call home. The Daniels Corporation was named Home Builder of the Year, Mid/High-Rise, while Great Gulf received the title of Home Builder of the Year, Low-Rise. The Home Builder of the Year categories recognize builders who set the standard for the rest of the industry through their professionalism and dedication to excellence. A key component of the judging process is a customer satisfaction survey, which ensures that the end user's experience is factored into the award criteria. The winners of the top project and builder categories include: In addition, Brixen Developments' Exhale Residences designed by Architecture Unfolded received the People's Choice Award, which is voted by the public. For a full list of BILD Awards winners, visit . . With more than 1,000 member companies, BILD is the voice of the home building, residential and non-residential land development and professional renovation industries in the Greater Toronto Area. The building and renovation industry provides 256,000 jobs in the region and $39.3 billion in investment value. BILD is affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders' Associations. -30- For additional information or to schedule an interview, contact Janis McCulloch at jmcculloch@ or 416-617-7994.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Howard Sokolowski Recognized with BILD's Lifetime Achievement Award
Toronto, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greater Toronto Area, May 30, 2025 – At the 2025 BILD Awards gala yesterday on May 29, The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to industry icon, Howard Sokolowski, Founder & CEO of Metropia. The BILD Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the development industry, demonstrating visionary leadership, unwavering integrity, and a commitment to the greater good. Mr. Sokolowski exemplifies these values through more than three decades of impactful contributions to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond. 'The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour presented to a BILD member,' said Dave Wilkes, President & CEO of BILD. 'Presenting this award to Mr. Howard Sokolowski is a true privilege. His vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting impact not only on our industry, but on the communities he has helped shape. We thank Howard for his decades of support to BILD, his contributions to the development industry, and his dedication to building stronger, more vibrant communities across the GTA and Canada.' A driving force in Canadian real estate for over 30 years, Mr. Sokolowski began his career as CEO and Co-Founder of Tribute Communities, where he helped deliver over 30,000 homes. He later founded Metropia, which has grown into one of Canada's most respected full-service developers, known for building innovative master-planned communities. Under his leadership, Metropia has developed more than 14,000 residential units across 22 communities, encompassing over 13 million square feet of residential, retail, and corporate space. Mr. Sokolowski has built a reputation on quality construction, exceptional customer care, and the ability to anticipate emerging market trends. His efforts have shaped communities nationwide and earned numerous accolades, including awards from J.D. Power and Associates, the Ontario Home Builders Association, and BILD. For a full list of BILD Awards winners, visit . With more than 1,000 member companies, BILD is the voice of the home building, residential and non-residential land development and professional renovation industries in the Greater Toronto Area. The building and renovation industry provides 256,000 jobs in the region and $39.3 billion in investment value. BILD is affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders' Associations. -30- For additional information or to schedule an interview, contact Janis McCulloch at jmcculloch@ or 416-617-7994. CONTACT: Janis McCulloch Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) 416-617-7994 jmcculloch@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Regency College Celebrates 31st Annual Awards with Industry Legends and Student Honours
Regency College of Culinary Arts & Hotel Management marked its 31st Annual Awards Ceremony on May 24, 2025, at T-Hub Auditorium with grandeur. The event honoured culinary icon Chef Manjit Singh Gill with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Industry leaders like Eleazer Prakash and Chef Vijaya Baskaran received the Grand Regent Award, while top HR professionals earned the Elite Regent Award. The ceremony celebrated exceptional alumni and student achievers, showcasing Regency's commitment to excellence. Principal P Ramesh Kumar Reddy highlighted the college's 98% placement rate and its alignment with emerging hospitality trends, preparing students for global success.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Herald Education Awards recognise university and college achievements
Colleges and universities submitted entries in 16 individual and group categories. The judging panel named Queen Margaret University (QMU) the Higher Education Institute of the Year for 2025, based on its winning submissions in two categories and its nods on the shortlist in three more categories. QMU won the Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member award for the work of Evelyn Weir, who has been a leading figure in podiatry for 30 years and Senior Lecturer in Podiatry, Clinical Lead for Podiatry, and Collaborative Academic Link for two podiatry programmes with QMU's Greek partner institution. Colleagues highlighted Evelyn's volunteer efforts to help homeless people and singled her out as the staff member who goes 'above and beyond' to support care-experienced students. 'Evelyn provides the extra care, encouragement and financial guidance necessary to ensure students have a transformative university experience – ensuring they reach their potential, during their degree and beyond.' QMU also won in the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category for their Wooden Spoon Frame Running Hub. Frame running uses purpose-built three-wheeled frames to allow individuals with limited or no independent walking ability the freedom of independent movement. QMU's hub is the first of its kind in Scotland and perhaps the first in the world. New College Lanarkshire (NCL) impressed this year's judges with the breadth of its submissions: NCL was shortlisted in eight categories and won for Outstanding Contribution from a College Student (Chloe Sandilands), Widening Access achievement in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), and NCL Deputy Principal Ann Baxter took home the Lifetime Achievement Award. Judges were impressed by Chloe's work at the college to extend support and a welcoming hand to her fellow students. After beginning her college career while she was homeless, Chloe became a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and student wellbeing. Chloe also capitalised on the ability to enrol in NCL's Undergraduate School, Scotland's first undergraduate school located on a college campus developed in partnership with UWS. The Undergraduate School won the 2025 Widening Access Award, demonstrating an ability to create useful new routes to degrees for communities that are typically below the Scottish average for degree achievement. Chloe was joined in the category by co-winner Jorja Boyd from City of Glasgow College. College staff said that Jorja struggled to receive full support during her school career due to her autism. Despite limited opportunities for qualifications, Jorja applied to the college's free support learning programme in bakery in 2019. This proved a crucial stepping stone, as Jorja went on to SCQF levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 and pursued her HNC in Legal Services. Read more: She advocates for students with additional support needs (ASN), particularly through biweekly basketball sessions for ASN youths. Meanwhile, Ann Baxter was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her 30 years in the college sector. Before starting in education, Ms Baxter worked as a nurse and Matron in Northern Ireland, serving as a frontline healthcare worker at the height of The Troubles. After moving to Scotland and beginning work in the college, she battled sexism and under-resourcing to create a variety of new programmes meant to connect students with employment opportunities. Other awards on the night included colleges and universities scooping honours for technological innovations, community service projects, inclusion, and top-shelf marketing campaigns. One of the standouts for the judges was Glasgow Clyde College's 'Swiftie Masterclass,' which won for Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year. With Taylor Swift's Eras tour coming to Scotland in Summer 2024, the college decided that it would provide an opportunity to create an 'authentic and meaningful' campaign that would capitalise on the natural buzz surrounding the pop sensation's arrival. The result was a free, one-off 90-minute masterclass, which targeted parents and plus-ones who would be attending the concert but may not be on the same level of fandom as their fellow ticketholders. From background information on songs and lyrics to essential concert choreography and attire, a Taylor Swift expert walked attendees through everything they would need to know to fit in and make the most of the night. The college received over 200 pieces of media coverage for its project, generating millions of views globally. Less glitter but no less impactful for students, the University of St Andrews' Common Extension Request System took home the Innovative Use of Technology Award Sponsored by Jisc for creating a system to streamline student extension requests and ensure fairness and efficiency in the process. The project makes it easier for students to access the support they are entitled to and gives the university better tracking abilities to create and implement more useful policies. Jason Miles-Campbell, Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland for award sponsor Jisc, said: "Congratulations to all the winners at The Herald Education Awards for 2025, and, in particular, to the University of St Andrews. 'The winning project streamlines requests for coursework deadline extensions, improving the student experience, and allowing staff to spend more time on student support rather than bureaucracy. The innovative introduction of a relatively simple system has addressed what is often a long-standing issue, to everyone's benefit." Full list of winners at The Herald Education Awards 2025: Enhancing Student Learning Award – Sponsored by QAA City of Glasgow College – Inclusive Cross College Sports Development Project Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award – Sponsored by Theorise University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School – Pause Together: Work, Live Thrive: Kirsteen Daly and Professor Kathleen Riach Innovative Use of Technology Award – Sponsored by Jisc University of St Andrews – Common Extension Request System Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year Glasgow Clyde College – Swiftie Masterclass Outstanding Business Engagement in Colleges Glasgow Kelvin College on behalf of Glasgow City Regional Colleges – College Local Innovation Centres (CLIC) Outstanding Business Engagement in Universities Heriot-Watt University – GRID – Global Research Innovation Discovery Outstanding Contribution from a College Student (Joint winners) City of Glasgow College – Jorja Boyd New College Lanarkshire – Chloe Sandilands Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member Queen Margaret University – Evelyn Weir Outstanding Contribution from a University Student University of St Andrews – Emma Hughes Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community Queen Margaret University – Wooden Spoon Frame Running Hub Partnership Award – Sponsored by QAA North East Scotland College on behalf of the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) – Building Skills for a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Schools Award Edinburgh College – Modern Language Department Research Project of the Year University of Stirling – Permanently Progressing Building Secure Futures for Children - Winner Heriot-Watt University – Deaf Women's Access to Support after Experiencing Domestic Violence - Commendation Supporting Student Wellbeing Award – Sponsored by Studiosity University of Strathclyde – Early Intervention Team Widening Access Award New College Lanarkshire/University of the West of Scotland – The Undergraduate School Further Education Institute of the Year New College Lanarkshire Higher Education Institute of the Year Queen Margaret University Lifetime Achievement Award New College Lanarkshire – Ann Baxter
Business Journals
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis marks record fundraising and historic milestones at 107th Annual Dinner
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis capped off a historic year with its 107th Annual Dinner Meeting, held Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. The sold-out event brought together business leaders, public officials and community advocates for an evening that celebrated leadership, community impact and a record-breaking fundraising total that surpassed all previous Urban League dinner events. The occasion reflected on a pivotal year of growth, honored outstanding partners and inspired continued investment in the Urban League's mission to empower communities and change lives. expand Celebrating local champions Two major awards highlighted the evening's focus on leadership and legacy. Anthony 'Tony' Thompson, founder and CEO of Kwame Building Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact in both business and philanthropy. Thompson built one of the largest African American-owned construction management firms in the country and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through his Kwame Foundation to support scholarships and youth development. His work has left a lasting imprint on the city's civic and economic landscape. The Corporate Citizen of the Year Award went to Emerson, led by president and CEO Lal Karsanbhai. The company has demonstrated strong corporate responsibility, investing in equity, education and housing initiatives. Its partnership with the Urban League has strengthened efforts to close opportunity gaps and expand services across St. Louis. expand Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis A year of breakthroughs The 107th Annual Dinner also served as a platform to highlight 2024, a year described by Urban League leadership as the most transformative in its 107-year history. The Urban League scaled up major programs and secured unprecedented investments that expanded its capacity to serve. Public safety initiatives like Clean Up Build Up, Grill to Glory and Urban Opioid Triage mobilized churches, residents and law enforcement to build trust and reduce violence. Meanwhile, the Reroute program supported individuals in the justice system with mentorship and employment resources. Workforce development remained central. Save Our Sons and Save Our Sisters trained hundreds of men and women for high-demand careers, while the Energy Sector Training Initiative created job pathways in partnership with local utilities. Additional programs in digital literacy, small business development and Boeing Bootcamps broadened access to opportunity. A major milestone came when the Centene Corporation donated a $25 million building marking the largest gift in the 115-year history of the National Urban League. Now called the Centene Connected Community, the North County site houses the Urban League's Head Start division and serves as a shared space for nonprofits and entrepreneurs. The Urban League also broke ground on the Urban League Plaza, a mixed-use campus in the Ferguson-Dellwood corridor designed as a hub for advancement in education, economic opportunity and health. expand A record fundraising night In addition to celebrating these milestones, the event shattered past fundraising records. It drew strong support from corporate sponsors, philanthropic leaders and individual donors all dedicated to sustaining the Urban League's vital work. Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, emphasized collective effort in his remarks. 'The Urban League was born out of crisis in 1917, and here we are, 107 years later, still rising to meet every challenge,' McMillan said. 'This work is about more than programs — it's about people. This record-breaking night proves that when the community believes in the mission, we can do extraordinary things together.' The evening also included program testimonials, a multimedia recap of 2024 and a reminder that the work ahead remains urgent. Looking ahead With more than 60 programs and a strong network of partners, the Urban League is set to expand its impact in 2025. As it enters its 108th year, the focus remains on innovation, inclusion and investment in underserved communities. Sustaining and growing strategic partnerships is essential to that vision. By working with corporate, grassroots and regional collaborators, the Urban League continues to deliver meaningful, lasting solutions. The 107th Annual Dinner was more than a celebration — it was a powerful reminder of what's possible when equity and leadership unite. With continued support, the Urban League is ready to build on this momentum and drive even greater progress ahead. The Urban League extends its deepest gratitude to the generous sponsors who made the evening possible. Chairman Sponsors included World Wide Technology, Inc.; the Centene Charitable Foundation; Ameren; Emerson; and the Steward Family Foundation. President Sponsors were Dowd Bennett LLP, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, the William F. Siedhoff Foundation, and Edward Jones. Advocate Sponsors included BJC HealthCare, Clayco, Jeff & Nancy Jensen, and JuVee and Nike. Thanks to their unwavering support, the Urban League's mission remains not only alive but thriving. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. provides a roadmap to equality for African Americans and others through partnerships with corporations, community leaders and governmental and civic institutions. Since its founding, the Urban League has continuously worked to diffuse racial tensions and improve living conditions for African Americans in St. Louis. The St. Louis Urban League is the largest in the nation, the first to earn a five-star rating, and one of only two providing services in both Illinois and Missouri. It serves over 200,000 individuals annually through 25 facilities and 65 different programs.
