Presented by
The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with National Association of Women Business Owners
The Business Ledger's Influential Women in Business Awards are given to suburban business women who share a commitment to professional excellence and their communities in the suburban circulation area of the Daily Herald Business Ledger (Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County and Will County.) (Please see eligibility and procedure below.)
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN. CLICK HERE FOR SUBMISSION FORM
NOMINATIONS CLOSE Sept. 23, 2021
Click here for a profile of the 2020 IWIB honorees.
For more information regarding the Influential Women in Business Awards, as well as for advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Andy Zielonka, Daily Herald Business Ledger, at (630) 955-3592 or azielonka@dailyherald.com.
INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS GUIDELINES
The judges will base their selections on the nominees' business and professional achievements and the challenges they have met in building their careers. The selection committee will also consider how the nominees "give back" to their communities and/or employees.
Nomination Procedure:
Individuals, businesses or organizations may submit nominations. Nominations must be submitted online at www.dhbusinessledger.com using the online form.
A cover letter is recommended from business management, customers, employees or others familiar with the nominated individual. The letter is helpful to our editorial staff that will conduct the judging.
After the nomination is submitted, the nominee will be asked to submit a nomination portfolio consisting of supporting materials. (See IWIB Nominee Checklist below.)
Nominees will be contacted and asked to submit a nomination portfolio consisting of supporting materials.
Self-nomination is permitted.
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN. CLICK HERE FOR SUBMISSION FORM
NOMINATIONS CLOSE Sept. 23, 2021
Eligibility:
Nominated individuals should have a significant business presence in the Chicago suburbs. If the individual does not have a business address in the suburbs then the suburban business presence must be described in supporting materials.
Individuals that have been nominated in previous years but not selected may be nominated again.
Previous award recipients are also eligible, except for those recognized in the past five years.
Selection Process:
Judges' decisions are made from personal knowledge of the nominees and/or the quality of the supporting materials that are submitted.
All nominees will be notified of their status following the judging.
IWIB NOMINEE CHECKLIST
Please use this guide to provide additional information/materials about your company or organization. Include whatever information you think would be helpful to the selection committee in considering this year's honorees.
Remember, judging is conducted solely from the quality of the information and materials submitted. Please do not submit audio/visual materials or materials that must be returned.
Biography This could include the nominee's resume detailing their achievements in business, civic or personal arenas. Include information that tells the story of the nominee.
Business and Professional Achievements The selection committee will consider the nominee's business and professional achievements and the challenges they have met in building their careers.
Honors and Awards List honors, awards or achievements that the nominee and/or the company has earned.
Community Support The selection committee will consider how the nominees "give back" to their communities and/or employees. List any involvement with business organizations, charitable or civic causes.
Magazine or newspaper articles may also be included, as well as brochures, letters or any materials that tell the nominee's story.
Electronic submissions for supporting materials are strongly encouraged and should be e-mailed to blawards@dailyherald.com. All information and supporting materials should be received by the deadline, 5 p.m. Sept. 23, 2021, via e-mail to blawards@dailyherald.com.
FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. What do you do with the nomination supporting materials that I provide?
A. The supporting materials that you provide are the basis for selection. The material is also used to profile your company at the recognition event and in the follow-up issue to the event. You should NOT submit any materials that you do not want disclosed either verbally or in print.
Q. How much financial information must we disclose?
A. Not that much. There is no need to disclose proprietary information. We are looking for some general benchmarks of financial growth and success. Percentages are often used. (e.g. "the company grew by over 200 percent in the last five years and expects sales to exceed $25 million in 2022.")
Q. Why should our company participate in this awards program?
A. The awards provide a significant public relations opportunity and allows your entire company to share in your success. Honorees are profiled in the Daily Herald Business Ledger as well as online through our e-mail newsletter The Business Edge. You can send out your own press release to interested media. You can post your honor on your company's web page and insert copies of articles in your sales kits. You will also have the opportunity to meet other successful entrepreneurs who are being honored.
Q. Who does the judging and what are they looking for?
A. The editorial staff of the Daily Herald Business Ledger conducts the judging. They are looking for a diverse group of honorees: by industry, size of organization, financial success, product or service. Our goal is to select a representative sample of entrepreneurs who are successful in our community. We are looking for good business stories.
Q. Is there a recognition event?
A. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, all recognition events, including IWIB, will be presented virtually. Honorees will be featured in a presentation that will include a profile of recipient and/or company being recognized. Honorees also will be profiled in a special section to be published in the Dec. 20 issue of the Business Ledger and online. Stay connected on our Facebook page, facebook.com/DHBizLedger.
Q. What happens after the nomination is entered?
A. The week after the deadline, the key contact at each nominated company or organization will receive an e-mail acknowledging the nomination. At that time you will be asked to submit additional materials to support the nomination.
Questions? E-mail Kat Polomsky at kpolomsky@dailyherald.com or call (847) 427-4637
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN. CLICK HERE FOR SUBMISSION FORM
NOMINATIONS CLOSE Sept. 23, 2021
PREVIOUS IWIB AWARD HONOREES
Click here for a profile of the 2020 IWIB honorees.
Click here for a profile of the 2019 IWIB honorees.
Click here for a profile of the 2018 IWIB honorees.
Click here for a profile of the 2017 IWIB honorees.
