One Week Left to Submit Nominations for Prestigious Awards; Categories Include Large Businesses, Small Businesses, Rookie of the Year and Non-Profits

HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK, JULY 2, 2010 – Does your Long Island-area business deserve recognition? Are you the best kept secret on Long Island? There is still time to submit a nomination for the HIA-LI 16th Annual Business Achievement Awards. The prestigious award from the HIA-LI (www.hia-li.org), the recognized voice for business on Long Island, highlights companies that meet and exceed criteria establishing them among the best run companies in the world. The HIA-LI has now opened the award to all Long Island-area companies. Nominations will close Friday, July 9, 2010. To nominate your own company or that of a client, download a copy of the nomination form at http://bit.ly/HIA-LI-BAA-FORM. The $400 application fee will be waived for HIA-LI members.

The awards will be announced during a gala luncheon event held September 14, 2010 at the Crest Hollow County Club in Woodbury to an expected crowd of over 400 Long Island-area business and government leaders.

The HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards recognize four business categories:

• Large Businesses (100 or more employees)
• Small Businesses (less than 100 employees)
• Rookie of the Year (companies that have been operating less than five years)
• Non-profit Organizations

“Our members’ ability to operate their businesses more effectively, efficiently and creatively is key to their success,” said Terri Alessi–Miceli, President of HIA-LI. “The HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards recognize their efforts and the awards luncheon provides them with a forum to listen to peer success stories that are critical to their own success.”

The award criteria include:

• Positive employer/employee relations
• Commitment to the growth or betterment of the Long Island business community
• Revenue and profitability trends over the last three years
• Three to five year vision for the company’s future

Additional criteria considered includes:

• Recent outstanding accomplishments
• Technical innovation or innovative processes
• Expansion into new markets
• Industry leadership
• Overcoming adversity

Prestigious award sponsors to date include: ClearVision Optical, Inc.; Communication Strategy Group; Fed Ex; Girl Scouts of Suffolk County; Holzmacher, McLendon & Murrell, P.C. (H2M); Newsday, People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union (PAFCU); Stalco Construction; Stony Brook University; VAI, Inc. and Verizon. Companies interested in sponsorship can contact Alicia Figueras at HIA-LI at afigueras@hia-li.org or 631-543-5355.

About HIA-LI
HIA-LI helps Long Island businesses prosper. For over 30 years, we have been the recognized voice for business on Long Island and a powerful force and economic engine for regional development. We provide a forum for business leaders to network, problem solve and obtain advice on critical issues facing their businesses. Our member companies represent tens of thousands of business professionals. We’re headquartered in and support one of the largest industrial parks in the United States. HIA-LI programs and events promote strategic partnerships, targeted networking, and information sharing and business advocacy. Members benefit from our committees, educational programs, career resources, research capabilities, mentoring opportunities and business advisory services. For more information, visit https://www.hia-li.org or call 631-543-5355.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anne Strauss, Communication Strategy Group, 631-766-6810; astrauss@gocsg.com