Call for Nominations
Raising the Bar Conference 2025 Workforce Development Professionals Awards
Do you know someone who “Raises the Bar” in their approach, support, leadership, and delivery of workforce development programming and services? If so, consider nominating someone for a 2025 Raising the Bar Award.
Deadline to nominate: FRIDAY, AUGUST 22nd , 2025
Deadline to nominate: Friday, August 22, 2025
Nomination Process
Anyone who is part of the workforce delivery system in Maryland is eligible to be nominated. Individuals must be nominated by someone who can fully describe the candidate’s qualities as it relates to the award categories. Nomination forms are due by August 22, 2025.
Review Process
MWA will have a review panel who will make the decisions based on the criteria and quality of the nominations. Nominees are scored based on achievement, circumstances or challenges faced, and the demonstration of professionalism in the field of workforce development. One winner in each category will be selected and announced at the Raising the Bar Conference in September.
| Category | Description | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Raising the Bar in: Customer Service |
Excellence and passion for quality and customer-centric approach; Demonstrates non-siloed approach to serving customers; Has proven track record of positive feedback from workforce system/center customers. | Frontline workforce staff/American Job Center staff; Case managers; Employment professionals |
| Raising the Bar in: Leadership |
Excellence in leadership, capacity building, leading effective partnerships, program development and delivery (with outcomes), | Workforce development professionals in leadership roles |
| Raising the Bar in: Innovation |
Unique program development, excellence in using data and industry/sector-driven models, public-private partnerships to solve 21st century workforce challenges | WIOA partners, workforce intermediaries, experienced workforce professionals, program managers/leaders |
| Raising the Bar in: Business Services Excellence |
Delivers viable, quality workforce solutions that meet businesses’ needs; Excellence in consultative approaches and demonstrated capacity to listen and deliver business driven solutions | Any business services focused staff |
| Raising the Bar in: Operations and Support |
Provides excellent support for operations, programming and services delivered by a workforce development organization; Demonstrates high commitment to quality, compliance, and integrity. | Staff serving in operations, human resources, fiscal, administrative, and/or support role. |
| Raising the Bar in: Blueprint Career Counseling Programs |
Excellence, passion, commitment to helping youth and young adults exploring their interests and potential. Demonstrates an understanding of the role of a Career Counselor (or Coach) and the importance of Maryland’s middle and high schoolers getting access to sound career information. | Career Coaches, Career Counselors supported by Maryland’s Blueprint for Education (Pillar 3 Career Counseling). |
| Raising the Bar in: Marketing, Communications and Outreach (NEW CATEGORY!) |
Excellence in marketing, communications, and outreach through innovative strategies that have significantly elevated the visibility and impact of Maryland’s public workforce system and increases the engagement and storytelling. | Staff from a workforce development organization whose main function is in communications, outreach, and/or marketing. |
| President’s Award (MWA Board Members and MWA President to nominate) | Demonstrates long standing commitment to the field of workforce development, a champion of partnership and collaboration, and a genuine passion for leadership, innovation, equity, and solutions-based approaches to solving workforce challenges. | Workforce development professionals from any organization. |