Sales and Marketing Executives, Inc. of Sioux Falls (SME) is seeking nominations for its annual Women of Excellence Awards which will be given at the 2012 SME Women in Business® event in April. The awards celebrate women in the greater Sioux Falls area who influence the lives of other women with their integrity and accomplishments.

For the 16th year, exceptional women from the Sioux Falls area will be recognized at the SME Women in Business® event, April 24, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.  Nominees must be women who live or work within 100 miles of Sioux Falls. Categories include Women Breaking Barriers, Young Women of Excellence and Women Mentoring Women and Women Working Through the Decades.

Nominee must live and work within a 100 mile radius of Sioux Falls. Nominations must be postmarked by April 4, 2012.  For more information about the Women of Excellence awards or the SME Women in Business® event, contact the SME office at 605-336-5626.

Scroll to the bottom to fill in the form on line, or click here to get a hard copy of the form.

Your nominee will be contacted and informed that she has been nominated and will be offered the opportunity to submit a resume or additional background information.

April 4, 2012  -- DEADLINE

Categories of Award:

1) Young Women of Excellence**

Include DOB:  Must be less than 35 years old as of 4/24/12

2) Women Breaking Barriers

3) Women Mentoring Women

4) Women Working Through the Decades**

Include DOB:  Must be at least 55 years old before 4/24/12

**Two categories require Date of Birth

Nomination Essay

Please answer the following questions, and those related to the respective Nomination Category in 500 words or less. Please use the Nomination Information area below for your essay.

• In what capacity do you know the nominee?
• Group that is nominating this person (if applicable)
• Please indicate how your nominee qualifies as a Women of Excellence (500 words or less)

Women Breaking Barriers

1) What is the barrier this woman is working to overcome?
2) How does this woman professionally handle obstacles that present themselves?

Women Mentoring Women

1) How has this woman supported, encouraged, coached, and mentored other women to take risks, develop skills and grow in their areas of expertise?
2) Describe how this woman has dedicated herself to the betterment of women in their professional and life journeys.

Young Women of Excellence (must be less than 35 years old as of 4/24/12)

1) How has this woman demonstrated outstanding skill, commitment, and accomplishment in her chosen field of interest?
2) What has this woman done to create opportunities to use her skill to enhance the lives of other people?

Women Working Through the Decades (must be at least 55 years of age as of 4/24/12)

1) How has this woman enhanced her community -- over multiple decades -- by working to increase public awareness, while creating various opportunities, programs and or support systems to deal with a variety of community situations or environments that previously had not received adequate attention or commitment?
2) What specifically has this woman done to create awareness and instigate change where it was needed?