Updated 2025 Guidelines & Application - Coming Soon!  

Join us for a Celebratory Luncheon on March 18, 2026 at TripleM

Annual Awards – Guidelines & Nomination Forms

Nominate Yourself, a Colleague, or an Organization for a 2025 Award!
Deadline: Monday, January 13, 2025

ESSAE members continue to meet change and challenge with determination, creativity, and innovation. Across New York, individuals and organizations are working harder and smarter, turning turbulent times into triumphs, and delivering greater value to their members and stakeholders.

The Annual Awards Program is our chance to shine a spotlight on that excellence. Each year, we honor the people and organizations that exemplify leadership, service, and impact in the association community. Whether you’re recognizing a peer, celebrating your own work, or nominating your organization, these awards highlight the best of ESSAE’s member community.

Individual Awards

Individual Awards celebrate the outstanding professionals whose contributions strengthen our community.

• Eligibility: Nominees must be active ESSAE members, employed by an association or industry partner, and in their current role for at least one year. Active membership includes recent volunteer service, committee participation, or event involvement.

• Nominations: Individuals may be nominated in multiple categories, but each requires a separate submission. Nominators do not need to be ESSAE members.

• Submission Requirements: Entries must highlight the nominee’s 2025 accomplishments (except the George Burton Award, which takes a broader view of service). Supporting materials such as letters of support are encouraged.

Organizational Awards

Organizational Awards recognize achievements by ESSAE member organizations for a project, idea, publication, practice, or membership service introduced within the past 12 months.

• Eligibility: The nominated organization must have at least one current staff member who is an active ESSAE member in 2025.

• Nominations: Organizations may be nominated in multiple categories, but each requires a separate submission. Nominators, including board members, do not need to be ESSAE members.

• Submission Requirements: Each entry must include a general overview of the organization’s extraordinary 2025 accomplishments that fostered positive change in the award category. Supporting documents such as letters of support or examples are encouraged.

Selection Process

• All nominations are reviewed by the Awards Committee; ESSAE staff do not participate.

• The Committee’s decisions are final.

• Awards are presented to nominees who clearly meet or exceed the criteria for their category.

Get Started Today!
Download the full [2025 Awards Guidelines] for complete criteria and examples.
Then nominate an individual or organization using the online forms below:

[Nominate an Individual]
[Nominate an Organization]

About the Annual Awards Luncheon & Celebration

The ESSAE Annual Awards Luncheon & Celebration provides the association community and industry partners a distinguished platform to showcase significant achievements in the past year by honoring accomplishments in areas of leadership and professionalism, enriching lives, creating a competitive workforce, preparing associations for the future, and driving innovation. Held in conjunction with the Meetings, Membership and Marketing Institute (TripleM) on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, this event celebrates honorees the invaluable work and contributions of from around the state who advance their organization’s mission and vision, exceed expectations, and make an impact in the communities they serve.  

The Annual Awards program helps to:

• Promote awareness of the innovative, results-oriented programs, services, and initiatives undertaken by your association.
• Attain validation of your activities that you can share with your association’s membership, volunteer leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Justify continued investment in programs and activities that are related to the core mission or purpose of your association.
• Showcase for others how your association helps advance the industry or profession you represent.

While we continue to grow and adjust to changes in our industry, now is the time to celebrate our successes so that others can be inspired and learn new ways to provide value to their own membership base and stakeholders.

Special Thank You to Our Awards Committee

The Awards Committee, comprised past award winners and current ESSAE members, sorts through many impressive nominations from our members. Through thoughtful conversation, committee members will independently finalize this year’s winners based on curated criteria.

This award recognizes an This award recognizes an association professional, and active ESSAE member, who has made exceptional contributions to their association, provided all-around leadership both within their association and to the field at large, and has demonstrated abilities for continued high levels of achievement in the field of association management.

Rising Star

Sara-Melissa Conklin
Director of Member Services
New York State Veterinary Medical Society

This award recognizes an ESSAE member who has demonstrated extraordinary potential for future leadership in association or hospitality management. The Nominee goes beyond the call of duty, encourages participation among fellow members and non-members, and exemplifies qualities of leadership and professionalism within the organization.

Professional Development Award

New York State Veterinary Medical Society

This award recognizes an organization for its development of an exceptional educational program addressing the learning needs of its staff, clients and/or members. Submissions can include program development, education curricula, and/or special techniques or trainings to enhance professional development.

Meetings & Expositions Award

NYS Restaurant Association 

This award honors excellence in association meetings, conventions and/or exposition marketing and execution. Submissions can include innovative themes, virtual/hybrid programs or events, new meeting formats, promotional materials, special events, marketing plans that yield high attendance, etc. 

Government Relations Award

The American Institute of Architects New York State

Communications/Public Relations Award

New York School Nutrition Association

This award recognizes an organization’s innovative communications and/or public relations efforts to increase awareness of an organization or promotion of a program or issue among its members, staff and/or the general public, media or other external audiences. Submissions can include high quality communication pieces (print or electronic) such as magazines, newsletters or bulletins that display exceptional writing, format, graphic design and innovation; or successful public relations campaigns that have increased awareness of an association or its members, or public policy issues among the general public, media and/or other external audiences.

Check out our Past Award Winners