Application Form - Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

Application Form
This packet contains:
Rules & eligibility requirements • Complete Application Form • Previous Award Recipients
These six awards are presented to companies and individuals which exemplify excellence in business, supported by their
mission statement, chamber and community involvement, customer satisfaction, and their demonstrated commitment to:
quality, leadership, marketing, training and development. Six awards will be presented with five Councils participating:
Business 1-25 employees; Business 26-100 employees; Outstanding Business Woman; Future Leader of the
Lehigh Valley; LGBT Business of the Year; Ambassador Award
We are pleased that you have chosen to apply for the 2014 Excellence in Business Awards
(EIBA) sponsored by the Diversity Councils of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The rules and eligibility requirements are as follows:
•
•
•
•
In order to qualify, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
Be an active Chamber member for at least one year.
Be engaged for at least three years in a for-profit venture.
Represent a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company
or locally owned, closely held corporation.
• Employ fewer than 101 employees (for the business awards)
• Deadline for receiving completed applications is noon on April 1, 2014. All company
representatives who submit applications will be personally notified of the results
within 48 hours of the judging meeting which will be held in May.
• E-mail applications are encouraged. Contact Danielle Joseph at the Chamber for
e-mail applications. [email protected] Applications will also be
posted on the Chamber web site: www.lehighvalleychamber.org
(Click on SBC, then programs, then Excellence in Business and the nomination
and application forms will be attached)
• There is no fee to participate.
EIBA’s page 1
• Six awards will be presented. One award will go to a company with 1-25 employees; one award
will go to a company with 26-100 employees; one award to an Outstanding Woman in Business; one
award to a Young Professional; one award to a LGBT Business of the Year; one Ambassador award
• The officials of applicant companies may be interviewed by the EIBA Committee.
• On site visits may be made at the discretion of the EIBA Committee.
• Officers and Board Members of the Councils and members of the EIBA Committee are not
eligible for the awards.
• Former board members & committee members must wait 2 full years to submit an application.
• A previous winner must wait seven years before submitting another application.
• When completing this application please follow directions or call Danielle Joseph at the Chamber
(484-226-0128) if you have any questions. Failure to follow the directions will result in disqualification.
• It is the committee’s experience that successful applicants have TPI (total participant involvement)
of staff in the application process.
Media Opportunities:
The recipient companies will receive the artwork to include in their literature and advertising, promoting this
recognition and honor. The companies may publicize the honor and use the title on promotional literature,
advertising, and identity packages (letterhead, etc). The winning companies will be recognized by numerous
media outlets and in public relations materials.
Winning companies will be featured at the June 17 cocktail reception, 6-8 pm at Renaissance Allentown and will
be asked to select a representative to deliver a brief acceptance speech.
Name:
Title/Position
Company:
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Category: ❑ 1 – 25 Employees (pg 3)
❑ Future Leader (pg 5)
❑ 26 – 100 Employees (pg 3)
❑ LGBT Business (pg 6)
❑ Outstanding Woman in Business (pg 4)
❑ Ambassador Award (pg 7)
Year Business started (for company awards):
Number of employees:
Full Time
Part Time
Other (contract, temporary, seasonal)
Please answer each question on your application using 500 words or less.
EIBA’s page 2
Application for Businesses 1 – 25 employees and 26 – 100 employees
1. Briefly describe the nature of your business, including your mission statement. (10 points)
2. How involved are you and your employees in the Chamber and the community? (20 points)
Thoughts: Describe the length and type of community service, positions or offices held and how this
involvement benefits both the community organization and your company.
3. Please share how your company demonstrates excellence in customer satisfaction and
a commitment to quality. (15 points)
Thoughts: What type of customer satisfaction data is collected and analyzed and how is the
information used to improve your operations? How do you measure quality and how do you know
your quality control efforts are effective?
4. How does your company demonstrate continuous, meaningful leadership in your business?
(10 points)
Thoughts: What evidence do you have that this leadership results in more productive employees
and/or improved products or services? How do you compare to others in the same industry or
field of expertise?
5. What has been your most effective marketing strategy? (10 points)
Thoughts: What does your company do to communicate or promote your product or service
to the marketplace? Are there unique aspects to your product/service?
6. Describe your commitment to training and development. (15 points)
Thoughts: Provide examples of what you have done in the last 12 months to implement
your philosophy as it relates to training and development. How do you measure the
effectiveness of these programs?
7. Why do you believe that you/your firm are qualified to receive this award? (15 points)
Please attach a total of two testimonial letters (5 point value)
and return completed application no later than noon on April 1, 2015 to:
Danielle Joseph
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205
Allentown, PA 18101
PHONE: (484) 226-0128; FAX: (610) 437-4907
E-mail: [email protected]
EIBA’s page 3
Application Outstanding Woman in Business Award
DESCRIPTION: This annual recognition will be awarded to an active female member or female
employee of a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. The recipient must
be an active member (committees served, events attended, etc) with confirmation of such activities. Both the recipient and the recipient's company/business must have a proven track record of
a high customer/client service rating, a commitment to service in the community and promote
continuing education. Applications MUST be fully completed or they will not be accepted. Two
customer/client references must be included.
Please give the year your Business Career Commenced:
Do you manage Employees - Y or N
1. Describe your profession. If you are the owner of the company/business, explain the nature of
your role in your company/business and how your mission statement relates to your role. If
you are an employee, explain how your position and how it relates to the mission statement.
(10 points)
2. To what degree are you and your company/business involved with the Chamber (which
committees have you served, which events have you attended, etc.) and the community?
Please include the length of time and type of community service, positions or offices held and
how this benefits the community organization and your company. Describe any mentoring
services you have provided to women (volunteer opportunities). (20 points)
3. Share how your company/business demonstrates excellence in customer satisfaction and
a commitment to quality. How is the customer satisfaction data collected and analyzed, then
used to improve operations? (15 points)
4. How does your company/business demonstrate leadership in its environment and in the
community? (10 points)
5. Name the most important task of your position and how it relates to the overall success of your
company/business? (10 points)
6. Do you and you company/business believe in continuing education? What are your
philosophies on training and development? Please describe what learning opportunities
you have pursued in the last 12 months and how have these opportunities added or will add
to your future success? (15 points)
7. Why do you believe you are qualified to receive this award? (15 points)
Please attach a total of two testimonial letters (5 point value)
and return completed application no later than noon on April 1, 2015 to:
Danielle Joseph
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205
Allentown, PA 18101
PHONE: (484) 226-0128; FAX: (610) 437-4907
E-mail: [email protected]
EIBA’s page 4
Application for Future leader of the Lehigh Valley Award
1. What qualities do you possess that make you a good leader? (15 points)
2. What achievement(s) in your professional career have you found provided inspiration for other
young professionals? (15 points)
3. What lessons have you learned as a young professional that can be used as you develop and
grow in your professional career? (10 points)
4. Name a current/past leader you admire and inspired you most in your career (business or
personal). What characteristics make this person a great leader? What has this person done to
impact you? (15 points)
5. How have you demonstrated excellence, creativity, and leadership in your profession, within the
Lehigh Valley and/or surrounding communities? (20 points)
6. As a future leader of the Lehigh Valley, what practices have you found contributed to your
success that you would share with other young professionals? (10 points)
7. As a future leader, how are you outperforming your coworkers/peers in your industry?
(10 points)
Please attach a total of two testimonial letters (5 point value)
and return completed application no later than noon on April 1, 2015 to:
Danielle Joseph
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205
Allentown, PA 18101
PHONE: (484) 226-0128; FAX: (610) 437-4907
E-mail: [email protected]
EIBA’s page 5
Application for LGBT Business of the Year
1. Your business’ name
2. Is your business ❑ LGBT owned and operated or ❑ LGBT friendly? (10 points)
If you checked LGBT friendly, what makes your business LGBT friendly?
3. Does your primary non-discrimination or equal employment opportunity policy include the terms
(check all that apply; 10 points)
❑ Sexual orientation
❑ Gender identity or expression
Please attach a copy of your employee and job applicant non-discrimination or equal
employment opportunity policy.
4. Does your business offer benefits to same-sex spouses of benefits-eligible employees?
(5 points) ❑ Yes ❑ No
5. Does your business offer a health insurance plan(s) to employees? (10 points)
❑ Yes, to employees only.
❑ Yes, to employees and their different-sex partners.
❑ Yes, to employees and their partners, same-sex and different-sex.
❑ No, the business does not offer a health insurance plan to employees.
6. Does your business have at least one health insurance plan available to all employees that
affords coverage for the medically necessary health care services that transgender people
need, including transition-related treatment such as genital surgeries, hormone therapy, and
mental health counseling? (5 points)
❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ The business does not offer a health insurance plan for employees.
7. What is your and your employees’ involvement in the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber
of Commerce? (10 points)
8. What is your and your employees’ involvement in the LGBT community in the Lehigh Valley?
Pennsylvania? (15 points)
9. What has your company done to support LGBT rights in the Lehigh Valley? (15 points)
10.Why do you believe your business is qualified to receive the LGBT Business of the Year
award? (10 points)
11.Please attach two testimonial letters to your application from customers or outside business
partners, not employees, in support of your application for the LGBT Business of the Year.
(10 points)
Danielle Joseph
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205
Allentown, PA 18101
PHONE: (484) 226-0128; FAX: (610) 437-4907
E-mail: [email protected]
EIBA’s page 6
Application for Ambassador Award
This award recognizes a person who serves as a true “connector” of people; one who brings
people together to build lasting relationships and promote commerce. We want to reward and
promote a culture of service to others.
1. Briefly describe the nature of your business, including your mission statement. (5 points)
2. Describe your personal and your organization’s involvement in the Chamber. (10 points))
3.How many Chamber events do you attend yearly? (10 points)
4. Please tell us what you think is the most important trait of a “connector”. (15 points)
5. What makes you an effective connector of people to people, people to business,
business to business? (15 points)
6. Give an example of how your “net-weaving” has helped build relationships or attained
business. (20 points)
7. Why do you believe that you are qualified and deserving of this award? (20 points)
Please attach a total of two testimonial letters (5 point value)
and return completed application no later than noon on April 1, 2015 to:
Danielle Joseph
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205
Allentown, PA 18101
PHONE: (484) 226-0128; FAX: (610) 437-4907
E-mail: [email protected]
EIBA’s page 7
Past Recipients
ABE Doors & Windows
Keystone Consulting Engineers
A D Computer Corporation
MKSD architects
AFC First Financial Corporation
Moravian Book Shop
Allied Building Corporation/a Scarcia Company
Morris Black and Sons, Inc.
American Hairlines
Oaks Printing Company
Apollo Grill
Ondra-Huyett Associates, Inc.
Ashley Development Corporation
OraSure Technologies Inc. (STC Technologies)
Benchmark Civil Engineering Services, Inc.
Patt, White/GMAC Real Estate
Boyle Construction, Inc.
Plantique, Inc.
CC Inc. Construction Services
RLB
Chad Tyrrell
Scott Chevrolet, Inc.
Concannon Miller & Co.
Spillman Farmer Architects
Corporate Environments
STC Technologies
Creative Closets®, Ltd.
Sunburst Property Management
Dale Carnegie Training
Susan's Gourmet Shop & Catering
Dan’s Camera City
Tina Hamilton
Deiter Brothers Heating-Cooling-Security
Tru-Comfort, Inc.
Eastern PA Health Network
Vistacom Communications, Inc.
FireRock Productions
Walp's Restaurant & Guest House
Haggerty Services, LLC
West Side Hammer Electric (R.I. Hammer, Inc)
HMK Insurance
William Elek, Ltd.
Jack’s Glass, Inc.
Yeager's Fuel, Inc.
Joanne Kostecky Garden Designs, Inc.
Zator Law Offices
John Yurconic Agency
EIBA’s page 8