Type to search

Delaware Business Times is seeking the First State’s exceptional CEOs in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. We welcome your nominations for top-ranking company officials, even if their title is not CEO (may include: president, executive director, manager, principal, etc.).

We will recognize seven (7) winners at the Annual CEO Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the Christiana Hilton. This year’s winners will be profiled in an accompanying print edition and digital platforms including a video presentation.

Award Categories:

  • Large For-Profit Company (500+ employees)
  • Medium For-Profit Company (100-499 employees)
  • Small For-Profit Company (25-100 employees)
  • Large Nonprofit Organization ($5 million+ in annual funding)
  • Medium Nonprofit Organization ($1-5 million in annual funding)
  • Small Nonprofit Organization (Under $1 million in annual funding)
  • Milestone Award

Eligibility Criteria:
Honorees will be chosen based on the criteria of Vision and Leadership; Financial Performance; Employee Development; Innovation; Social Responsibility, and Community Support.

  • Nominees must be based in Delaware
  • Nominees must have served in their capacity for at least 2 years with the same company
  • Nominees are expected to participate in the awards event in June 2024.

Required Supporting Materials:
The following supporting materials are required for a complete submission to be entered for judging. They are:

  • A copy of the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. (Please include, in point form, key elements of a nominee’s career and education)
  • High-resolution headshot of nominee (jpg format)

Optional Supporting Materials:

  • Up to 2 letters of support
  • Submission of financial performance, which requires a letter from the nominee’s accountant/CFO certifying accuracy  *Note these materials are optional but will be a part of the judging process

Please fill in the following online survey to complete the nomination process. Please note:

  • Confidentiality of all information is guaranteed and will only be reviewed by the judges.
  • To ensure all nominations are collected, please submit through the online application form.
  • Information and answers cannot be changed once the nomination form is submitted. If questions or issues arise, please contact editor Katie Tabeling ktabeling@delawarebusiness.com.
  • Nominations may come from the nominee personally or from another party. Please do not submit multiple nominations for one individual.


Nomination deadline:
Completed nominations, including supporting materials, must be received by Delaware Business Times no later than April 5, 2024.

Judging process
After nominations close, the Delaware Business Times and an independent panel of judges will select the honorees.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How are winners chosen? All applicants will be reviewed by Delaware Business Times staff who will determine a slate of finalists to be reviewed by a panel of independent judges. Event sponsors and DBT advertising staff do not participate in the judging and will have no influence on the outcome. Applicants will be judged on their supplied materials and answers to the survey.

What makes for a well-written nomination? The best nominations include specific examples, relevant data and dollar amounts, and layman’s explanations. Keep in mind that our judges come from a diverse business background and may not be familiar with the particulars of your industry.

What should be avoided? Submit a complete nomination that is free of boilerplate answers that would be typically found in company press releases. Give judges an inside look to your leader and why they have been instrumental to your company’s success.

Does a company have to be headquartered in Delaware? To be eligible, a nominee must work in Delaware and oversee the number of employees corresponding to their category. National companies with significant local presence should nominate the local leader of their operations. Companies with no Delaware locations or offices are not eligible for this award, even if they serve the Delaware market.

Premier Digital Partners

© 2024 Delaware Business Times