Five finalists have been selected for the 2014 Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman Excellence in Chief Executive Leadership (EXCEL) Award, an annual award program that recognizes exemplary leadership among DC-metropolitan area nonprofit leaders. The EXCEL award finalists are:

  • Valarie Ashley, Southeast Ministry
  • Michelle Cooper, Institute for Higher Education Policy
  • Bonnie Fogel, Imagination Stage
  • Peter Holden, New Horizons Supported Services, Inc.
  • Sylisa Lambert-Woodard, Pathway Homes, Inc.

Up to three winners and two honorable mention candidates will be announced at the November 18 annual conference of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, the membership organization for nonprofits which administers the award program. Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman has sponsored the EXCEL award since 2006.

The EXCEL award program recognizes nonprofit leaders at small nonprofits (those with an annual revenue of under $10 million) who, despite resource constraints, have successfully demonstrated an outstanding and positive impact on the local community served by their nonprofit organizations. Each winner will receive a $5,000 professional development account for their ongoing development as a nonprofit leader, while the winner’s nonprofit will receive a $2,000 professional development account for staff.

The EXCEL award winners and finalists are selected by an award selection committee comprised of former winners and other community stakeholders. In addition to the above-mentioned revenue requirement, competitive leaders for the award must demonstrate leadership excellence in innovation, motivation, community building, inclusiveness/diversity and/or ethical integrity.

To learn more, visit the EXCEL award page on our site.