The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is seeking nominations for the schools 2006 Smith Leadership and Excellence Awards. The annual awards, which pay tribute to business leaders and organizations that have made a significant and positive impact in the mid-Atlantic region, will be presented in four categories: Business Excellence, Leaders for the Digital Economy, Leadership Excellence, and Public Excellence.

The Public Excellence represents a new award category that the school has created in an effort to promote socially responsible business practices and to reward companies exemplifying the highest ethics standards in business and public policy. Details are as follows:

• The Business Excellence Award recognizes a public or private business that has made a significant and positive impact in the mid-Atlantic Region. Nominees must have been established for a minimum of 20 years and will be judged on a variety of characteristics including industry leadership, profitability, customer satisfaction, corporate citizenship, and commitment to the mid-Atlantic region
• The Leaders for the Digital Economy Award recognizes a business or individual that has successfully demonstrated what it means to be a Leader for the Digital Economy, an organization or person that has harnessed the power of information technology to transform business. Areas that are evaluated include electronic commerce, service marketing, business telecommunications, financial engineering, and management of technology
• The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant and positive impact on his or her industry, as well as the mid-Atlantic region. Nominations will be judged on criteria including leadership in the individuals profession, effectiveness and efficiency of management, customer orientation, and commitment to the mid-Atlantic region
• The Public Excellence Award recognizes an individual who works with community members to promote social responsibility in governance, business and community life

Nominations are sought from members of the mid-Atlantic business and academic communities and may be submitted online at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/awards.

The Smith School is charting a course to advance business thinking and education for the digital economy. Tied to that mission is recognizing those organizations that share similar values, said Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. We encourage members of the community to nominate organizations and individuals who they believe have earned a place of distinction and have made an impact with the highest standards and greatest advances in business practices, leadership and principles.

The deadline for award nominations has been extended to December 5, 2005. The entries will be judged by panels that include members of the Smith School Board of Visitors, Deans Advisory Council, faculty, and staff. The award winners will be announced at a gala award ceremony on May 4, 2006.