Driven by engaged, entrepreneurial employees, employee-owned companies often emerge as industry leaders, pioneering best practices in a range of areas. The Excellence in Ownership Awards are designed to recognize employee-owned companies that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting employee ownership and innovation in their workplaces. The Excellence in Ownership program is composed of two awards: the Innovations in Employee Ownership Award and the Working Better Award.
The Innovations in Employee Ownership Award seeks to recognize the innovative practices that result from having an engaged workforce of employee-owners, as well as ideas that tie stock to improved company culture or performance. By sharing these ideas with the employee-ownership community, this award strives to encourage employee-owned companies to continue to innovate. The Working Better Award recognizes companies that develop high-engagement, employee-owned workplaces. These companies integrate employee-ownership into every aspect of their business, harnessing the full potential of every employee-owner. Winning companies incorporate programs, policies, and practices that empower employees to think and act like owners and illustrate the positive impact ownership has for workers, the community, and the company.
Eligibility: Any company with a stock or stock-based program is eligible (from ESOPs to stock appreciation rights). Companies may apply directly or be nominated by third parties. In the case of a third party nomination, the company nominated will be contacted and asked to fill out an application.
Award Criteria: An award committee determines the winning companies using a number of factors including the positive impact the innovation has on the company, its employees, the industry, the employee-ownership community, as well as the public perception of employee ownership.
For a list of past winners, click here.
Award and Recognition: Winning companies will be presented with the Innovations in Employee Ownership Award at the annual Employee Ownership Conference, and will receive one complimentary conference registration. In addition, winners will receive extensive recognition from the NCEO and Beyster Institute in a variety of formats including a dedicated webpage, articles, a presentation, and more. Submitted innovations of companies who do not receive the award may also be publicized.
Submission Information: Please submit this application by February 28, 2013. The winners for the Excellence in Ownership Awards will be notified by March 22, 2013. You may also submit a PDF application, available here.
For more information, please visit the Excellence in Ownership website or contact us at awards@nceo.org or 510.208.1301.
