Awards

NMA Executive of the Year

This is the highest award NMA can offer to an individual. For the Executive in your organization who has supported your chapter, we encourage you to nominate him/her for NMA’s highest award, EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR. Chapters and/or councils must submit nominations for this award on the official nomination form found on NMA’s website to National by April 15 each year.

Nominees submitted shall be senior executive managers of companies affiliated with NMA who have gained noteworthy recognition for their accomplishments in the field of management and who have conducted their personal and business affairs in a manner in keeping with the Association’s Code of Ethics. The Recognition Committee receives and reviews all nominations submitted for the Executive of the Year Award and ranks the names in order of their preference. The names of the top three nominees are submitted to the Executive Board which makes the final selection for the Executive of the Year Award. This award is presented annually at the Association’s National Conference that is held in the fall each year.

Note that 2012 marks the first time in this award’s 77 year history that a BCBSM Executive and a female has won!

Bridget Hurd (2021)
Elizabeth Haar (2020)*
Stephen L. Anderson (2019)
Tiffany Albert (2018)*
Terry Burke (2017)
Michelle Billingsley (2016)*
James Lang (2015)
Kirk Roy (2014)
Kevin Klobucar (2013)
Tricia Keith (2012)*
Gail Ross (2011)
Equilla Wainwright (2010)
Chris Maier (2009)
Ken Dallafior (2008)
Dr. Thomas Simmer (2007)
Daniel J. Loepp (2006)
William P. Smith (2004)
Kevin Seitz (2003)
Dr. Thomas Simmer (2002)
Lisa DeMoss (2001)
Raymond R. Khan (2000)
J. Paul Austin (1999)
Robert Naftaly (1998)
George Francis III (1997)
George Francis III (1996)
*Denotes National award!!

NMA Member of the Year

The Member of the Year Award is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an NMA member. It was designed for the member in a chapter or council who has demonstrated exceptional support for his/her chapter and/or council over the previous 12 months. We encourage you to nominate him/her for this prestigious MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD. Chapters and/or councils must submit nominations for this award on the official nomination form found on NMA’s website to National by April 15 each year.

This award is presented annually at the Association’s National Conference that is held in the fall each year. The recipient receives a $500 cash award, plus a plaque similar to the permanent plaque located at National. All nominations must be sponsored by an NMA chapter or council and signed by at least two officers of the sponsoring organization. The Recognition Committee is responsible for the review of all nominations and makes the final selection for Member of the Year.

Charles Schultz (2021)
Erica Addison/Jennifer Pakkala (2020)
Heidi Saucier (2019)
Ann Charlick (2018)
Christina Frison (2017)
Danita Ford-Vaughn (2016)
Dreamai Crenshaw (2015)
Sharese Hogan (2014)
Angela Hollis (2013)*
Tracy Welch (2012)
Julie Sailus (2011)
Matt Zelman (2010)
Alisa Bennett (2009)
Michael Dowding (2008)*
Pam Braund (2007)
Cindy Vanderlinden (2004)
Tammy Conway (2003)
Susan Gillette (2002)
Carolyn Willemsen (2001)
Denise Coggins (2000)
Cindy Vanderlinden (1999)
Art Seidler (1998)
Art Seider (1997)
*Denotes National award!!

National Hall of Fame

This annual award honors individuals who have dedicated their lives to the development and recognition of management as a profession and the promotion of the American Enterprise System. Hall of Fame nominees need not have held membership in NMA and are customarily either retired from their primary career, working in their secondary career, or are deceased. Nominees must have a demonstrated record of management and leadership ability including formal recognition, be nationally recognized in their specific field of endeavor, and will have been lifelong supporters of the principles enumerated in the NMA Code of Ethics. Chapters and/or councils must submit nominations for this award on the official nomination form found on NMA’s website to National by April 15 each year. The Recognition Committee reviews these nominations to ensure that they satisfy the guidelines and make the final selection(s).

Dr. Thomas L. Simmer (2021)
Francine Parker (2020)
Tony T. Michaels (2019)
Gregory Sudderth (2018)*
Tonya Allen (2017)
Jack and Annette Aronson (2016)
Cindy Pasky (2015)
Dr. Lou Ann K. Simon (2014)
Peter Karmanos (2012)*
James Alton McDivitt (2011)
Michael & Marian Ilitch (2010)*
Roger Penske (2009)
Eleanor Josaitis (2008)
Stanford and Iris Ovshinsky (2007)
Anthony “Tony” Filippis, Sr. (2006)*
Florine Mark (2005)*

Wallace”Wally” Bronner (2004)
Will Keith Kellogg (2003)*
L. Brooks Patterson (2002)
Heinz C. Prechter (2001)
Heinz C. Prechter (2000)
Judge David Breck (1999)
Charles Allen (1998)
Jack Shelton (1997)
Franklin Pinkelman (1996)
*Denotes National award!!

Art Seidler Memorial Leader of the Year

In 2016, our Leader of the Year award was named to honor Art Seidler, a charter member of our NMA chapter in 1986. From the beginning, Art was a tireless advocate for and leader of our chapter. He served as Chapter President from 1995-1996, and became a National Director in 1997, serving on the national NMA board for six years until he retired from BCBSM in 2003. Retirement, though, did not stop Art from staying involved with NMA. He continued to serve our chapter as an Associate National Director, and continued to provide advice and counsel to chapter leadership teams in that capacity for almost 12 more years.

The objective of the NMA Leader of the Year award is to recognize a current BCBSM – NMA Leadership Development Association member, nominated by fellow members, for their demonstrated leadership during the past 12 months that enhanced the effectiveness of their functional area, division, or the enterprise in general. Nominees do not need to hold a formal leadership position, but rather show leadership characteristics and exhibit the ability to produce results through teamwork.

This candidate must be a BCBSM-NMA LDA member in good standing for at least 1 year, have demonstrated innovative leadership and made significant contributions to strengthen the Chapter and/or BCBSM enterprise. This individual should represent the highest standards of leadership traits, and be respected and recognized as a role model by his/her peers.

Dr. Jann Caison-Sorey (2021)
Helen Stojic (2020)
Keith Jennings (2019)
Valerie Keesee (2018)
Orin Lewis (2017)
Carol Zimmerman (2016)
Gerri Cash (2015)
Dan Martin (2014)
Patricia Wilson (2013)
Juanita Savage (2012)
Pam Yanis (2011)
Brenda Storie (2010)
Bill Parker (2009)
Satish Shah (2004)
Luzine Brister and Diane Meakin (2003)
Mary Ann Van Tiem (2002)
Warren Sylvertooth and Kirk Vogelei (2001)
Steven Hess (1999)
Dexter Shurney MD (1998)
Michelle Gaggini (1996)
John McCabe and Donald Puscas (1987)