ABOUT THE FAMILY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: The 2026 Family Business Achievement Awards will recognize organizations that have demonstrated best practices in keeping the business within the family for at minimum, one generational transfer (i.e. second-generation businesses or older).
ELIGIBILITY: Eligible award nominees must have a minimum of two family members involved in the organization, and be privately held. A family member is defined as siblings, spouses, children, grandchildren, or cousins. They may be from a single generation or multi-generations. Must have a physical location in Northeast Ohio.
NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS: Complete all the information on the nomination form.
SECTION ONE: Provide basic contact information about the person submitting the nomination form. This individual will likely represent the nominated company or individual or be familiar with the company’s operations.
SECTION TWO: Provide basic information about the company being nominated, including company size and industry.
SECTION THREE: Explain why the Nominee should be recognized with a Family Business Achievement Award. Provide a brief description that includes the "what," "how," and "why" to support the nomination. Essays can be as short as a single paragraph or as long as necessary to fully explain to the judges the merit of the Nominee. Please keep in mind that the more specific detail provided to the judges, the greater the opportunity the Nominee will have to be recognized.
The nomination deadline is Friday July 17, 2026.
2026 award winners will be honored at the Family Business Conference on September 10.
For more information, please contact Danielle Syroney at dsyroney@sbnonline.com
ABOUT THE SMART 50 PROGRAM: Who are the executives leading the smartest 50 organizations in Northeast Ohio? The Smart 50 Awards, presented by FIT Technologies, will recognize the top executives of the smartest companies in the region for their ability to effectively build and lead savvy organizations.
All 50 winners will be honored as the Class of 2026 at a special celebration in November. All honorees will be asked to attend a special judging session in October to be interviewed by the judges and make their best pitch for one of three specialty awards that will be awarded for outstanding innovation, impact and sustainability.
The nomination deadline is August 21, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY: Eligible Smart 50 nominees must be a top executive of an organization with a physical office in the Northeast Ohio region. Specialty award winners will be recognized for Innovation, Impact, and Sustainability. NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS: Complete all the information on the nomination form.
SECTION ONE: Provide basic contact information about the person who begins the nomination process. This individual will likely represent the nominated company or individual or be familiar with its operations.
SECTION TWO: Provide basic information about the person being nominated, including company size and industry.
SECTION THREE: Explain why your Nominee should be recognized with a Smart 50 award. Provide a brief description that includes the "what," "how," and "why" to support the nomination. Essays can be as short as a single paragraph or as long as necessary to fully explain to the judges the merit of your Nominee. Please keep in mind that the more specific detail provided to the judges, the greater the opportunity your Nominee will have to be recognized. Be sure to designate in which category (or categories) you would like the Nominee to be considered for the specialty award.
For more information, please contact Lisa Dore at ldore@sbnonline.com or (440) 610-9929.
ABOUT THE BUSINESS GROWTH AWARDS PROGRAM: The Business Growth Awards recognize and honor businesses from our 8-county region that have achieved superior growth in sales and/or employment over the past five years. Our judging panel will take special consideration this year as it relates to the measure of growth post-pandemic. Companies who managed to persevere and achieve any growth during this uniquely challenging time are encouraged to apply.
*Business must be located in Summit, Medina, Stark, Portage, Wayne, Ashland, Holmes or Lake counties to participate.
Each qualifying nominee will be recognized for his or her company's success in one of three categories: Service, Manufacturing or Technology
Specialty awards will be presented within each category for: Highest Sales Growth, Greatest Employee Growth, and Best Overall Success Story.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award: Presented to a local business leader who best exemplifies entrepreneurship by leading a dynamic, growing organization and inspiring others through innovative business practices.
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, August 14, 2026.
Winners will be notified in August and formally honored at the Business Growth Awards at John S. Knight Center in October. For more information, please contact Danielle Syroney at dsyroney@sbnonline.com.