Nominate someone you know for the Professional Development Awards of Excellence. These awards will be presented at the 2008 Trends in Agriculture fall meeting, November 11-12, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

The awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA): (1) Marketing Communications; (2) Product/Species Management; (3) Public Relations; and (4) Sales. Nominees must be NAMA members. Nominators should target individuals with direct planning and execution responsibilities in the respective Professional Development Area from agribusiness and related companies.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Select a nominee. This nominee should excel in one of the four professional development areas. Consult the eligibility requirements closely.
2. Fill out the application and then address the three Areas of Excellence. Include your contact information, if NAMA has questions regarding the application, the nominator will be contacted.
3. Send the application and narrative to NAMA by September 1, 2008.

Nominees will be judged solely on their write-ups. Please do not send any other appendices, video-tapes, or samples. There are no entry fees.

Judging Criteria for the awards is as follows:

Achievement (40 points): Describe the nominee’s accomplishments on the basis of innovation, Professional Development Area knowledge/expertise and overall industry impact. How has the nominee distinguished themselves among industry peers in the same PDA? Primary emphasis should be placed on achievement within the past 18 months.

Professional Development Area (PDA) Responsibility (40 points): Describe the nominee’s responsibility for the respective PDA. Reveal how the nominee has capitalized on opportunities for success in the respective PDA. How has the nominee’s excellence in the respective PDA enhanced their skills and increased networks and relationships for their organization?

NAMA Involvement (20 points): Describe how the nominee’s service has had a significant, positive impact on NAMA. Provide details regarding the nominee’s consistent participation and commitment to NAMA. How have the nominee’s activities served to enhance the image or to foster improvements of NAMA?

The deadline for submitting nominations is September 1. If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected].

To download the nomination form in an Adobe .PDF format, visit http://www.nama.org/awards/PDAapplication.pdf.

You can also fill out the form on-line at http://www.nama.org/awards/pdaonlineform.htm.

For more information on the awards, visit http://www.nama.org/awards/pdaawards.htm.