BusinessWest to Present New Award to 40 Under Forty Alums

When BusinesWest, HCN’s sister publication, launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals, many working within the broad spectrum of healthcare, who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments. Today, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. It’s called the Continued Excellence Award. Sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, this honor, as the name suggests, will be presented to the individual, who, in the eyes of a panel of three judges, has most impressively continued and built upon the track record of accomplishment that earned them 40 Under Forty status. The award will be presented at this year’s 40 Under Forty Gala on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, and will providing a fitting climax to what is always a memorable evening.

This will be a nomination-driven process, with nominations (available online) due to BusinessWest by 5 p.m. on May 22. Eligible candidates are those from all 40 Under Forty classes prior to the current year. Judges weighing the nominations received will consider:

• How the candidate has continued and built upon his or her success in business or service to a nonprofit;
• How the candidate has continued and built upon his or her record of service within the community;
• How the candidate has become even more of a leader within the Western Mass. community;
• How the candidate has contributed to efforts to make this region an attractive place to live, work, and do business; and
• How the candidate has been able to inspire others through his or her work.

The judges will first narrow the field of nominees to five candidates, who will be informed that they are finalists for the coveted honor — an accomplishment in itself. The judges will then choose a winner; the identity of which will not be known to anyone but the judges until the night of the event. Kate Campiti, associate publisher of HCN and BusinessWest, said the new award was created to recognize those who have taken already impressive resumes — it takes one of those to become a 40 Under Forty honoree — and committed themselves to add new lines to it. “All of our 40 Under Forty honorees — and there are, with this year’s class, 320 of them — are leaders; they excel in their chosen profession and they give back within the community,” she said. “This award seeks to identify those individuals who continue to build upon their track record of excellence and find new ways to improve quality of life in this region.” Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual, presenting sponsor of this year’s 40 Under Forty program and this new award, agreed. “The 40 Under Forty program has provided this region with an effective vehicle for recognizing those individuals across Western Mass. who are doing great things, and doing them at a relatively young age — accomplishments that often go unrecognized,” she said. “With this new award, we wanted to go a step further and recognize individuals who have made an even deeper commitment to this region.”

To nominate an individual for this new award, visit www.businesswest.com and click on “Our Events.”