Robert H. Smith School of Business Seeks Nominations for 2005 Leadership & Excellence Awards

College Park, MD December 2, 2004 - The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is seeking nominations for the schools 2005 Smith Leadership and Excellence Awards. The 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 three categories: Business Excellence, Leaders for the Digital Economy and Leadership Excellence. 

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 characters including industry leadership, profitability, customer satisfaction, corporate citizenship, and commitment to the mid-Atlantic region.

The Leaders for the Digital Economy Award recognizes a public or private business that has successfully demonstrated through its mission and everyday practices what it means to be a Leader for the Digital Economy, an organization that has harnessed the power of information technology to transform business. In addition to meeting the criteria for the Business Excellence Award, particular areas that may be 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.

As a world leader in management education and research for the digital economy, the Smith School of Business has a great interest in recognizing 21st century business leaders who are also working to advance business practices and improve their communities, said Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. We encourage members of the community to look across all industries and nominate organizations and individuals who they believe have earned a place of distinction and who share the values of the Smith School.

Nominations may be submitted online at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/awards. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 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 in the spring.

About the Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research for the digital economy. The school offers cross-functional study options in its six academic departments, which include accounting and information assurance; decision and information technologies; finance; logistics, business and public policy; management and organization; and marketing. More information about the Robert H. Smith School of Business can be found at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu.