SOURCE: The Stevie Awards

April 23, 2008 10:00 ET

Tips for Entering the Sixth Annual American Business Awards

April 30 Final Deadline for "Oscars for Business;" Opportunities in Key Categories

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 23, 2008) - The final entry deadline for the sixth annual American Business Awards is just a week away, and while the competition is on track to attract a record number of entries, several categories present special opportunities for would-be entrants.

Hailed as "the business world's own Oscars" (New York Post, April 27, 2005), The American Business Awards is the only national, independent business awards program honoring organizations of all types -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.

"Like everything else in life, 20% of the ABA's categories receive 80% of the entries," said Michael Gallagher, president of The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the ABAs. "On the other end of the scale, some categories receive relatively few entries, and the competition is less intense in these categories."

Gallagher recommends that would-be entrants take a look at the following categories:

--  Best Chairman
--  Best Franchisee
--  Best Support Organization
--  Best Support Team
--  Any of the Live Event categories for meetings, product unveilings,
    tradeshows, etc.
--  Any of the non-executive individual categories such as Best Corporate
    Communicator, Best Marketer, Best Sales Director, and Best Support Staffer.
    There is no entry fee for these categories.
    

Historically, the majority of companies that enter the ABA's categories that recognize entire companies have fewer than 2,500 employees. Because separate Stevie Awards are conferred in these categories to organizations with up to 100 employees, up to 2,500 employees, and more than 2,500 employees, Gallagher recommends that organizations with more than 2,500 employees also look at submitting entries to the following categories:

--  Best Overall Company
--  Most Innovative Company
--  Best Business Turnaround
--  Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program
--  Best Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program
    

Entry kits for The 2008 American Business Awards are available at www.stevieawards.com/aba. The 2008 awards will honor accomplishments made since January 1, 2007.

Nicknamed the Stevie® for the Greek word "crowned," the awards will be presented at a gala and nationally broadcast ceremony in New York City on June 12, 2008.

Global Sponsor of the 2008 Stevie Awards is Dow Jones. Supporting sponsors of The 2008 American Business Awards include FIS Softpro, High Performance Technologies Inc., John Hancock, RCN Corporation, Richardson, and Ultimate Software. Media sponsors include the Business TalkRadio Network, CRM Advocate, and Human Resource Executive.

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.