Individual Awards General Criteria and Categories
The individual Association Excellence Awards (AEA) is an annual program designed to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Executive Officers in the field of association management.
View the previous Individual Award Winners.
General Criteria
- One complete copy of entry (form, supporting materials, and samples) must be submitted online. Mailed in applications will not be accepted.
- Candidate must be submitted by a sponsor other than the nominee.
Entries must include:
- A one-page essay, submitted by the sponsor, on why the nominee qualifies and should receive the award.
- At least one professional recommendation for the nominee from the local HBA.
- At least 10 different professional-setting and five different personal photos of the nominee that relate to the content provided in the entry. (These photos will be used to produce a video presentation of the winners.)
- An executive officer cannot be nominated for more than one individual award category in the same year.
- Candidates must be a full-time executive officer of an NAHB-affiliated state or local association unless otherwise specified and must be in compliance with the NAHB affiliation agreement.
- Candidates must demonstrate participation in the state or national EOC.
- All entries become the property of the EOC and may be featured in the EOC promotional material and/or the AEA Award Database.
- Candidates may not submit in a category they have previously won in (previous winners can win in other categories).
- Entries (and all supporting documentation) must be received at the EOC office by the close of business on the stated deadline. No exception to the deadline date will be made. Incomplete entries will be returned to the sender.
How to Apply
Nominations for the 2024 AEA Awards are open. Winners will be announced at the 2025 Association Management Conference in Atlanta, Aug., 19-21, 2025. The deadline to apply is April 11, 2025.
The Career Achievement Award
Named after the former executive officer, Seldon Hale, who also served several years as an NAHB field representative, this award represents the highest level of dedication, loyalty, and commitment and is the highest recognition that can be awarded in the Executive Officers Council (EOC).
Criteria: Candidates must have served a minimum of 10 years (cumulative) as a full-time executive officer by Dec. 31, 2024, at an NAHB-affiliated state or local association and must be in compliance with the NAHB affiliation agreement.
The New Executive Officer Award
Named after a former executive officer, David Lloyd, this award is presented to an EO who has served no more than three years in an association management position and is judged to have made major contributions to the profession during this time period.
Criteria: Candidates must have served no more than three years (cumulative) as a full-time executive officer by Dec. 31, 2024, at an NAHB-affiliated state or local association and must be in compliance with the NAHB affiliation agreement.
The Small Office Honor
Named after the late executive officer of the Arrowhead BA (MN), Rachel Manley, this award is presented in recognition of an executive officer of a small association who has been an exceptionally effective manager in spite of limited resources.
Criteria:
- Candidates must have served a minimum of three years (cumulative) as a full or part-time executive officer by Dec. 31, 2024, at an NAHB-affiliated state or local association and must be in compliance with the NAHB affiliation agreement.
- Candidates’ associations must have at least two of the following as of Dec. 31, 2024:
- Membership of 400 or less
- Staff size of two or less, including the executive officer
- An annual gross budget of less than $400,000
- Candidates should exhibit creativity within budget limitations and promote activity within the association.
The Executive Officer of the Year Award
This award, named after NAHB’s former Chief Legal Counsel, Gary Komarow, recognizes the accomplishments of an outstanding executive officer during the prior calendar year. The award recognizes achievements from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 of the award year.
Criteria:
- Candidates must serve as an executive officer at an NAHB-affiliated state or local association and must be in compliance with the NAHB affiliation agreement.
