ACCT Awards

Critical Link Award

Description:

The Critical Link Award was inaugurated in 2001 by the Accredited Vendors. It is presented each year at the ACCT International conference as a thoughtful and sincere thank you to a single ACCT International member who has gone significantly “above and beyond” over a long period of time. It serves as a testament to their dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to the ACCT International community. Their tireless efforts, leadership, and commitment to the organization have helped shape its trajectory and fostered its continued success.

This award is considered the ultimate recognition that a member of ACCT International can receive.

Criteria/Nomination Process:

Nominations can be made by completing the nomination form. Nominations will be sent to the Critical Link Award Task Force (CLATF), which includes all previous winners of the award.

1. The CLATF will use Ranked Choice voting to make the determination and final selection of the award winner.
2. The Executive Director will work with the CLA Coordinator to communicate confidentially with the winner, arrange for and purchase the award, as well as work with the award winner on travel arrangements for guests.
3. .The history of the award will be introduced by the CLA Coordinator.

Selection Process:

The Critical Link Awards Task Force is presented with the list of nominees and uses Ranked Choice Voting to determine each year's winner.

Past Recipients:

Nomination Form

Community Service Award

Description:

The Community Service Award was established in 2016 by ACCT International Staff to honor members of the ACCT International community who consistently exceed expectations in assisting ACCT International Staff and whose volunteer contributions have made a significant impact on the organization. 

These awards recognize the invaluable support provided by volunteers and aim to express gratitude. Each year, the ACCT International staff carefully selects and recognizes deserving volunteers for their outstanding service. These volunteers are identified based on their exceptional contributions, which are deemed valuable and impactful by the ACCT International staff members. The Community Service Award acknowledges the diverse ways in which volunteers contribute to the organization's mission and objectives. Whether through standards development, event support, or other forms of volunteerism, recipients of this award exemplify the spirit of service and generosity within the ACCT International community. Since its inception, the Community Service Award has served as a meaningful way to honor volunteers who selflessly give their time and expertise to support ACCT International initiatives. These individuals play a vital role in the organization's success and help foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among members. Through the Community Service Award, ACCT International Staff express appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, which we hope encourages continued engagement and involvement within the organization.

Criteria/Selection Process: 

Staff members propose potential candidates for consideration. There is no set limit to the number of annual nominations. Every staff member is granted the chance to nominate individuals who have substantially contributed to their work. A recipient is eligible to receive this acknowledgment multiple times.

Past Recipients:

Volunteer of the Year

Description:

The Volunteer of the Year Award is a prestigious honor within the ACCT International community, recognizing exceptional individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, dedication, and leadership in their service to the association. Established in 2024, this award celebrates volunteers who have made a significant and lasting impact on ACCT International’s mission and goals, embodying the values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity. Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and make invaluable contributions to ACCT International's success. Their dedication, leadership, and passion inspire others to engage actively in advancing the association's mission and vision.

Criteria:

Nominees for the Volunteer of the Year Award are chosen based on a set of criteria that reflect their exemplary contributions to ACCT International and its community. These criteria include:

Commitment and Dedication: Nominees must exhibit consistent efforts, contribute significant hours, or demonstrate a long-standing commitment to ACCT International's mission and goals.

Impact: Nominees must have made measurable and significant contributions to ACCT International's activities, such as leading successful projects, organizing events, or enhancing programs.

Leadership and Teamwork: Nominees should demonstrate effective collaboration with fellow volunteers, serve as positive role models, and inspire others to actively participate in ACCT International initiatives.

Innovation: Nominees should have introduced innovative ideas or methods that have improved ACCT International's operations, programs, or services.

Ethical Conduct: Nominees are expected to uphold high standards of ethical conduct, showing respect, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions within the association and the industry.

Positive Influence: Nominees should possess the ability to motivate others, resolve conflicts constructively, and foster a sense of community and belonging within ACCT International.

Support of Diversity and Inclusion: Nominees should actively promote and support diversity and inclusion initiatives within ACCT International and the broader communities it serves.

Nomination/Selection Process:

Nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Award are submitted by volunteer member peers and/or ACCT Staff who wish to recognize individuals within the ACCT International community who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, dedication, and leadership. Volunteers are invited to nominate other volunteers whom they believe have made significant contributions to ACCT International's mission and goals, embodying the values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity. The nomination process involves completing an online nomination form provided by ACCT, where volunteers can outline the nominee's qualifications and provide examples of their outstanding service and impact within the association. Nominations may include details about the nominee's contributions, leadership roles, innovative initiatives, and support for diversity and inclusion efforts. This selection process helps ensure that the award is bestowed upon an individual who truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism and has made a lasting difference within the association. By involving peers in the nomination process and entrusting the selection to ACCT International Leadership (ACCT Chairs, Board of Directors, and Board Emeritus Members), ACCT International ensures that the Volunteer of the Year Award recipient is a deserving individual who has earned the admiration and respect of their peers for their outstanding service and dedication.

Past Recipients: 

Nomination Form will be communicated to Volunteers from this year soon.

Innovator of the Year

Description:

The ACCT Innovator of the Year Award recognizes a person (or group of people), organization, or company that has demonstrated exceptional creativity and advancement of an aspect of our industry. This is not a mere next iteration of what has come before, but a big leap forward. 

Awardees are trailblazers who, through their innovative ideas and strategies, have significantly advanced our industry. While our industry is relatively young, it was built on the backs of individuals, organizations, and companies that pushed it forward and created something new. This award promotes the continued creation of those  new programs, tools, models, systems, services, or products that have direct benefit to the people that we all serve. The outcomes of the innovation are primarily to the benefit of others and our industry. While the innovations may certainly have a commercial value, items that result primarily in financial gain for the creator are not considered.
Examples of things that might qualify for such altruistic intent could include, but are not limited to, a helmet design for large hairstyles, a new harness formatted for people with physical disabilities, an event that generates widespread and positive change, or perhaps a program that provides a dramatic increase in inclusion.

This prestigious award is not constrained by annual traditions but is bestowed upon those rare leaps forward that demonstrate remarkable innovation and leadership, akin to pioneering new paths in our industry. This award could be given yearly, but is more likely to be sporadic.

Nomination:

Members and ACCT Staff are welcome to nominate a person (or group of people), organization, or company that exemplifies these innovative qualities in the fall of each year via a form on the ACCT website. The nominee does NOT need to be a member of ACCT International.  While nominations will be accepted each year, the award may not be given each year due to the rare qualities needed by the circumstances and requirements of the award.

Eligibility:

To qualify for the Innovator of the Year Award, a candidate(s) must:

• Be a person (or group of people), organization, or company that has been actively involved in the association or contributing to our industry in general.
• The person (or group of people), organization, or company is not necessarily required to be an ACCT International member.

Criteria:

• Innovation and Strategy: The nominee should have introduced innovative ideas or strategies, significantly contributing to the industry’s advancement 

• Significant Impact: Look for candidates who have made a measurable and substantial impact on ACCT and the industry at large, such as leading pivotal projects or initiatives that have steered ACCT or the industry toward big leaps of advancement.

• Ethical Conduct and Integrity: Nominees must demonstrate high ethical standards in all their professional dealings within ACCT and those in our industry.

• Altruistic in Nature: While the innovation may have a commercial value and be sold, items that exist primarily for the financial gain for the creator are not considered.

Submission:

Submissions will be accepted via the ACCT International awards webpage.

Selection:

Nominations will be reviewed by the ACCT International  Awards Workgroup along with an awards selection task force, which will determine if the work of nominees has risen to the level of the Innovator of the Year Award. This committee will evaluate each submission based on the established criteria and the overall impact of the nominees on ACCT and the industry at large.

This award may not have a winner each year, even when nominations are submitted.

Recognition:

The Innovator of the Year Award recipient will be celebrated at the upcoming ACCT International conference. The announcement will be made at the main Awards ceremony, where the recipient's significant contributions and achievements will be highlighted. The recipient and/or nominee of this award may be notified in advance so that we can appropriately honor them. 

Past Recipients: 

Nomination Form

Mover of Mountains

Description: 

Throughout the year, countless members of our association contribute their expertise, passion, and hard work in various roles, including committee participation, task force leadership, board memberships, and special project involvement. These individuals are the backbone of our industry. There are times when individuals go above and beyond the hard work of volunteer work, pushing us forward during challenging times. To honor these exceptional efforts, we introduced the Mover of Mountains Award. This prestigious award is not constrained by annual traditions; but is bestowed upon those rare individuals who demonstrate remarkable perseverance and leadership, akin to pushing a boulder uphill. Their efforts keep ACCT International moving forward, or perhaps just afloat, during its most tumultuous periods.

Nomination:

Members and ACCT Staff are welcome to nominate a colleague who exemplifies these monumental qualities each year via a form on the ACCT International website. While nominations are accepted each year, the award may not be given each year due to the rare qualities needed by the circumstances to earn this award.

Eligibility:

To qualify for the Mover Of Mountains Award, a candidate must:

• Have been actively involved in significant roles within the association, contributing to its advancement, especially during challenging times.
• Be a current member of ACCT International.
• Not have previously received the Mover Of Mountains Award.

Criteria:

Consider the following exceptional contributions when nominating a candidate:

• Resilience and Leadership: The nominee should have displayed extraordinary leadership and resilience, holding ACCT International (or some part of it) together and advancing it during challenging times.
• Significant Impact: Look for candidates who have made a measurable and substantial impact on ACCT International, such as leading pivotal projects or initiatives that have steered ACCT International or the industry through critical periods.
• Innovation and Strategy: Acknowledge those who have introduced innovative ideas or strategies, significantly contributing to the industry’s advancement and adaptation during tough times.
• Ethical Conduct and Integrity: Nominees must demonstrate high ethical standards in all their professional dealings within ACCT International.
  Inspirational Influence: Consider candidates who have positively influenced ACCT International’s morale and culture, especially in periods of uncertainty or change.

Submission:

Submission will be accepted via the ACCT International awards website.

Selection:

Nominations will be reviewed by the ACCT International Awards Workgroup and an awards selection task force, who will determine if the work of nominees has risen to the level of the Mover of Mountains Award.

This committee will evaluate each submission based on the established criteria and the overall impact of the nominees on ACCT.

This award may not have a winner each year, even when nominations are submitted. 

Recognition:

The Mover Of Mountains Award recipient will be celebrated at the upcoming ACCT conference. The announcement will be made at the main Awards ceremony, where the recipient's significant contributions and achievements will be highlighted.

Past Recipients:

Nomination Form