The following Worcester Business Journal award nominations are currently open. Please scroll down the page to find the award nomination that you are looking for and click on the appropriate link to submit a nomination.
For nomination questions contact Editor, Brad Kane: bkane@wbjournal.com or General Manager Kris Prosser: kprosser@wbjournal.com.
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2026 Business Leaders of the Year & Hall of Fame Awards – Nominations Open
Know someone worthy of one of these awards? Our 2026 Business Leaders of the Year will be recognized in the following categories. Click on the category below to submit your nomination.
Nomination Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Small Business – an individual who is the driving force behind a company with less than $100 million in annual revenues and/or fewer than 150 full-time equivalent employees, coming off a successful year or string of years.
Large Business – an individual who is the driving force behind a company with at least $100 million in annual revenues and/or more than 150 full-time employees, coming off a successful year or string of years.
Nonprofit – an individual who is the driving force behind a successful non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that has made a significant impact in the Central Mass community.
Innovator – an individual who has developed a breakthrough product, service or strategy that has had a transformative effect on their organization and/or the community. This award is open to for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations.
Family Business – a leader of a company that has survived and thrived through at least two generations of family ownership and extended its family values to positively impact employees and the community.
Hall of Fame – we’ll induct another select group of Central Massachusetts business leaders in our annual Hall of Fame awards. These awards recognize business leaders who have shown sustained excellence in leadership at their organization and positively impacted both the community and the regional economy.
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2026 Manufacturing Excellence Awards – Nominations Open
WBJ is excited to announce that our 2026 nominations are now open for our annual Central Mass Manufacturing Excellence Awards program! This special awards program celebrates outstanding achievements and innovation across the manufacturing industry, recognizing individuals, teams, and organizations that demonstrate exceptional performance, leadership, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Whether it’s breakthrough technology, sustainability efforts, or operational excellence, this is your opportunity to spotlight the people and projects setting new standards in manufacturing. Don’t miss the chance to honor excellence – submit your nomination today!
Nomination Deadline: February 6, 2026.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MANUFACTURING AWARDS NOMINATION.
WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
- General Excellence – companies that are the best of the best.
- Emerging Manufacturer/Rising Star – a company in business for 10 years or less that has made significant strides.
- Product Design & Innovation – a company with either a new product or a change to an existing product that has been well-received in the marketplace.
- Workforce Development & Productivity – a company that has worked to train workers for its systems or developed programs with area schools to train the incoming workforce.
- Sustainability/Green Manufacturing – a company that has made strides to reduce its carbon footprint and become more eco-friendly, either through its operations or its products.
- Collaboration in Manufacturing – a company that has developed unique partnerships to move its business and the industry forward.
- Manufacturing Champion – recognition of an individual who has worked to improve and support the manufacturing industry in this region.
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2026 Forty Under 40 Awards – Nominations Open
WBJ’s Annual Forty Under 40 Awards program recognizes outstanding young leaders who are shaking up the Central Mass business community and leading us into the future. They come from a variety of industries and may be climbing the corporate ladder or charting their own courses as entrepreneurs.
These individuals will be part of a select class of upcoming business leaders who share a commitment to business success and personal growth, along with a passion to help strengthen the communities that they live and work in. They will join the ranks of the 900+ business leaders in the Central Mass/MetroWest region that have earned this title since WBJ launched the annual program in 2000.
Nomination Deadline: May 8, 2026.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR 40 UNDER FORTY NOMINATION
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For nomination questions contact Editor, Brad Kane: bkane@wbjournal.com or General Manager Kris Prosser: kprosser@wbjournal.com
