The International Business Awards are the only global, independent business awards program.   All organizations worldwide may participate – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.  The entry deadline is 15 May.  Late entries will be accepted through 12 June, and results will be announced in late June.  Entry details are available at www.stevieawards.com/iba. 

The complete online entry kit is available at
http://thestevies.com/EntryKits/
IBA09EntryKit.html.

Entries may be submitted in more than 40 categories including Multinational Company of the Year, Management Team of the Year and Best New Product of the Year.  The IBAs also feature scores of categories for media such as web sites, advertising campaigns, brochures and annual reports, and live events such as sales meetings.

The 5th Annual International Business Awards were presented last September in Dublin, Ireland to organizations from 40 countries including Accenture, BT Group, Canada Post, IndianOil, INSEAD, LANXESS AG, PLEON Europe, Samsung Electronics, and Weber Shandwick, among others.  Executives from 29 countries attended the event.  Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Group Ltd., received a Lifetime Achievement Stevie Award, joining Donald Trump as the only recipients of the award.

		Learn More About the International Business Awards...

There are just two weeks until the entry deadline for the 7th annual American Business Awards, the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A.

The complete online entry kit for the 2009 ABAs is available at http://thestevies.com/EntryKits/ABA09EntryKit.html.

All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to participate in The American Business Awards – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.  The entry deadline is March 31.  Late entries will be accepted through April 30 with a late fee, and the awards will be announced in New York on June 22.

“Especially in tough economic times like these, participating in awards shows is a cost-effective way to thank and honor your valued employees and to build or burnish your brand,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. “The 2009 American Business Awards will shine a spotlight on the achievements that American organizations, executives and workers continue to turn out.”

Entries are accepted in dozens of categories from Executive of the Year, Company of the Year, and Best New Product or Service to Best Web Site and Best Annual Report. New categories in 2009 include Business Innovation of the Year and Fastest-Growing Company of the Year.

The 2009 ABAs will also mark the introduction of the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products, in which the general public will vote for their favorite new products and services of the year. Each new product or service nominated in The American Business Awards will automatically be included in people’s choice voting.  Voting begins in April and winners of the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products will be honored at the June awards gala in New York.

		Learn More About The American Business Awards...

Thumbplay, Inc. is defining the mobile entertainment experience for U.S. consumers and is the nation's largest and fastest-growing provider of mobile content. Thumbplay.com features licensed music, video and games from some of the world's largest entertainment companies, including: EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Pictures Television, as well as several independent labels and artists and video game companies.

Michael Biondo is Thumbplay's VP-Customer Support. Michael won the Stevie Award for Customer Service Leader of the Year in the 3rd annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, which were presented at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on February 9.

We recently spoke with Michael about how he got his start in business, how customer service departments can succeed in an environment where they are expected to do more with less, and his advice for anyone building a customer service operation in these challenging economic times.

		Listen to the Podcast Interview...

		Read Michael Biondo's Stevie Award-winning Nomination ...

We invite you to apply to be a preliminary judge for the 2009 American Business Awards. As a judge you'll get to see how businesses across the U.S.A. are creating success for themselves and their organizations. Judging will be done online, at your convenience, in April-May. The two preliminary judges who score the most entries will be offered two free tickets to the awards dinner in New York on June 22. Learn more...

Stevie Awards supporting sponsorship is a great option if you want to grow your participation in the Stevie Awards and save money. Supporting sponsors can submit an unlimited number of entries without having to pay entry fees, among other benefits. Learn more...

Vote for your favorite new products in the People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products, and you could win a $1,000 gift card. Voting opens in April. Learn more...

March 31: Entry deadline for 7th annual American Business Awards

April 30: Last day late entries will be accepted for American Business Awards

Mid-May: Finalists announced in American Business Awards

May 15: Entry deadline for 6th annual International Business Awards

June 12 : Last day late entries will be accepted for International Business Awards