ACE Awards

6th Annual “Lenny Schwartz” Award Contest

The Lenny Schwartz Award, will be back for it’s sixth consecutive year at the conference in Columbus.

Once again, it is time to share your brilliance with AMCEA and the world. As we’ve seen the past two years, this group has some great ideas that can and need to be shared with the group. No idea is too small or unworthy. If it saved time or money or improved processes in your shop, chances are very good your idea could do the same for others. The strongest aspect of this organization is the sharing of ideas. The Lenny Schwartz Award formalizes that process while at the same time rewards those who participate and win.

2008 information is not yet available but you may review information from 2007 below:

To download a copy of the 2007 application click here.

RULES FOR ENTRIES
All applicants must:

Complete the entry application included in this brochure by deadline.
Provide a brief summary of the situation or problem your department faced (200 words) and the solution that was implemented to address it (300 words).
Eligible credit management situations or problems can be defined fairly broadly; for instance, anything that ultimately affects the credit, accounts receivable, customer service, vendor relations, employee relations, or other aspects of our members’ areas of responsibility.
Applicants may submit unlimited entries.

ENTRY DEADLINE

Entry submissions must be received by AMCEA no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on August 6, 2007. AMCEA will not be responsible for submissions that are delayed in delivery, lost or damaged, and reserve the right to disqualify mutilated, altered or illegible submissions or those that do not comply with the rules.

AMCEA will notify finalists and winning organization by September 7, 2007.

All entries must be mailed or faxed to:

AMCEA
ACE Award Program
8840 Columbia 100 Parkway
Columbia, MD 21045-2158
Fax # 410-740-5574

or completed on our website at www.amcea.org

JUDGING

AMCEA will facilitate judging through a panel of industry experts chosen from within and/or outside AMCEA. Every attempt will be made to secure impartial independent judges and ensure anonymity of the entries for an unbiased evaluation.

AWARD PRESENTATION

The overall Grand Prize Winner and several of the Finalists (number to be determined by the total # of entries but not to exceed 5) will be recognized during the AMCEA Annual Conference.

The Finalists and ACE Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to present their solutions to attendees during the Annual Conference. In addition, News and Views committee will help the finalists develop their entries into articles for publication.

Finalists’ and ACE Grand Prize Winner’s supervisors will be formally notified of the member’s accomplishment.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

AMCEA will provide one waived conference registration, as well as $500 towards individual transportation and/or lodging to the conference for the ACE Grand Prize Winner.

WIN $1000 FOR YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY

At the AMCEA Annual Conference, a check contribution on behalf of the ACE Grand Prize Winner’s organization will be presented made payable to the charity of its choice.

AWARD CRITERIA

A panel of experts will evaluate entries based on the extent to which each solution:

Used technology to effectively solve a credit or finance problem or;

Demonstrated credit working as a strategic partner with senior management to effect positive change within the organization or;

Applied creative thinking and innovation to solve a credit or finance problem or;

Re-engineered a business process to maximize efficiency.

ADDITIONAL RULES

All entries become the property of AMCEA for the general advancement of knowledge in the credit financial field. AMCEA may publish and publicize entries in any manner and without compensation. Entries will not be returned to applicants. Individuals and organizations submitting entries to the AMCEA acknowledge that they:

Grant permission to AMCEA and to anyone authorized by the sponsors to publicize the organization’s name.

Affirm that the submission is the original work of the entrants/credit department and that it does not infringe upon the property rights of any third parties. Further, affirm that the credit department has the full right to enter the ACE Award program and to transfer all rights in the submission to AMCEA.

Agree to hold AMCEA harmless from claim by any third parties arising from any use of the submission.

Good luck and keep those bright ideas coming!