The Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Award
The awards process is designed to:
- Recognize high-performing Florida manufacturing companies.
- Provide opportunities for organizational learning and development.
- Promote and elevate participating manufacturers and the Florida manufacturing sector.
Eligibility: All manufacturers with production facilities in Florida and Georgia are eligible to participate. It is not necessary for the nominee to be a member of any association.
The Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Award (SMBEA) process focuses on manufacturing performance excellence. In addition to recognizing high-performance and resilient manufacturing companies, SMBEA offers a variety of positive impact for participants. Check out this brief document to learn more.
Positive Impact for Participants
No nomination write-ups are required.
How to Nominate a Company: A nomination may be made by any individual or organization including any industry group, supplier, customer, workforce or economic development organization, University/College/ School, or government agency. Self-nominations are also acceptable. Nomination deadline December 20, 2024.
To nominate a manufacturer, complete the form or send an email to SMBEA@thesterlingcouncil.org
- the company you are nominating,
- a point of contact for the nominee company,
- their contact information,
- your name and contact information.
The Process:
Application Profile and Overview
- Following the nomination, the nominee will be notified and asked to complete the Organizational Profile, and forward the completed questionnaire with attachments to Phil Centonze, at SMBEA@thesterlingcouncil.org. The Profile provides context for evaluation, detailing company information, and describing internal and external pressures and influences. The Organizational Profile and Overview should be submitted by Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Application Profile
- Business Overview – Once the Profile is submitted, an initial web meeting is scheduled with the Nominee and a team of Examiners for an overview (about two hours) of the nominated company. Discussion will include review of basic elements of high performance based on the Evaluation Manufacturers screening favorably advance to the Semi-Finalist stage of the competition.
- Site Visit – The Examiner team will conduct a more in-depth interview (about three hours) with managers and employees to discuss detailed aspects of each Semi-Finalist manufacturer to evaluate company systems and
- Selecting Recipients – Upon completion of all company interviews, Examiners confer to review the evaluations, select, and recommend to a team of The Judges will review the recommended Finalist evaluations and decide the recipients based on scoring against the 2023 Evaluation Criteria for high performance.
- Recognizing Recipients – Recipients will be recognized on May 30, 2025, at the Sterling Governor’s Award Banquet, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
- Additional Benefits – All Recipients will be provided a value-added evaluation feedback session (about two hours) offering identified company strengths and opportunities for improvement. Afterwards, recipients should also expect to be invited to participate in knowledge sharing and developmental activities in the manufacturing
Please join us to help recognize high-performing manufacturers and elevate Florida’s manufacturing community. We welcome your nominations and invite you to share this award information with companies and organizations throughout the state.
The Sterling Council
Post Office Box 13907 Tallahassee, Florida 32317
P: (850) 922-5316