August 14, 2025
By Dione Geiger, President, The Sterling Council
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most committed leaders in the Southeastern region—and many of them share one thing in common: they’ve served as Sterling Examiners. It’s an experience that transforms your perspective on leadership, decision-making, and organizational excellence. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, grow your network, or see the bigger picture of how high-performing organizations operate, the Sterling Examiner role is one of the most rewarding professional experiences you can have.
Our 2025–2026 Examiner Leadership Development Program is now open for recruitment through September 10, 2025. The program is more than a training—it’s an immersive journey into every aspect of performance excellence, guided by the Sterling Criteria and our updated Framework for Performance Excellence.
What Makes the Examiner Experience So Valuable?
- Real-World Application of Leadership Skills
As an Examiner, you’ll move beyond theory into practice—analyzing organizations, identifying strengths, and uncovering opportunities for improvement. The process sharpens critical thinking, systems perspective, and communication skills that you can apply in your role. - Exposure to Best Practices Across Sectors
You’ll work with organizations from diverse industries—public, private, and non-profit—gaining fresh ideas and proven strategies that can inspire innovation in your work. - A Network of Excellence-Minded Leaders
The Examiner community is made up of dedicated professionals who share your commitment to performance excellence. The relationships you build here often turn into lasting professional connections and collaborations. - Personal and Professional Credibility
Serving as an Examiner signals to your colleagues, clients, and community that you’re committed to continuous improvement and leadership growth.
What’s New This Year?
We’re embracing exciting changes in our assessment process, including the integration of AI tools to accelerate evaluations. The new format allows Examiners to focus more on strategic insights and impactful feedback. The new Sterling Award Criteria represents the most substantial change for Applicants and Examiners in Sterling’s 33 years. This effort streamlines and simplifies the Criteria, enabling participants to focus on and achieve performance excellence in areas of best practices and leadership approaches.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
The recruitment period is open until September 10, 2025—but don’t wait. Review the Examiner Program details, explore our Framework for Performance Excellence Guide, and submit your Application of Intent to reserve your spot in this year’s cohort.
Joining the Sterling Examiner Corps isn’t just about volunteering your expertise—it’s about expanding your leadership potential, broadening your perspective, and making a lasting impact on organizations across our region.