SQF Excellence Awards 2024
The SQF Excellence Awards celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of SQF professionals. It recognizes individuals for their outstanding performance and contributions to furthering the mission of the SQF program and promoting food safety.
2024 SQF Excellence Award Categories
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- Excellence in SQF Auditing
- Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership
Presented by
Excellence in SQF Auditing
Awarded to a credentialed SQF auditor who demonstrates exceptional performance and dedication to the SQF program through high quality audits, professional development activities, leadership and mentorship skills, and promotion of food safety culture.
Entries are scored based on the individuals demonstrated ability to:
- Achieve excellence in auditing and professionalism.
- Support and encourage the next generation of food safety auditors through mentorship and leadership activities (e.g. direct shadow audits, promote food safety culture, etc.)
- Seek continuous improvement by pursuing professional development opportunities (e.g. courses, conferences, speaking engagements, etc.)
Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership
Awarded to an SQF practitioner within an SQF certified site/company who demonstrates leadership and promotion of food safety at their current site.
Entries are scored based on the individuals demonstrated ability to:
- Lead, mentor, inspire and motivate the next generation of food safety leaders.
- Communicate and promote food safety culture.
- Seek continuous improvement by pursuing professional development opportunities (e.g. courses, conferences, etc.)
2022 SQF Excellence Award Winners
Excellence in SQF Auditing Winner: Joe Wieland
Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership Winner: Karen Vanegas
How to Nominate
All entries will be reviewed, judged, and scored by an outside panel of SQF stakeholders and by SQFI staff. Three finalists will be selected from each category and winners will be announced during SQF Unites.
All submissions must include:
- Completion of an online questionnaire
- One letter of endorsement:
- Identification of the applicant and their position
- Identification of the endorser and their relationship to the applicant
- A description of the applicant’s qualifications, achievements, and previous awards
- Signature and contact information of the endorser
- Completion of the Application Form, with one signature:
- If applying for the Excellence in SQF Auditing award, the required signature MUST be from an individual at an SQF-licensed certification body (e.g., a program manager, technical manager, technical reviewer, certification manager, etc.)
- If applying for the Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership award, the required signature MUST be from a senior site manager or other industry colleague.
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- The names of nominees must be entered into the submission portal no later than November 10, 2023 at 11:59PM EST
Supporting documents and materials for each nomination must be submitted no later than November 20, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST - Incomplete submissions (i.e., without supporting documentation) will not be considered.
- The names of nominees must be entered into the submission portal no later than November 10, 2023 at 11:59PM EST
One (1) Winner in each category will receive:
- A crystal award.
- A $250 gift certificate.
- One (1) complimentary registration for the 2025 SQF Unites.
Runners Up in each category will each receive:
- A $100 gift certificate.
All finalists receive a discount on ticket prices and will be promoted on social media and in a press release.
- All nominators and nominees must be affiliated with the SQF program. Examples of appropriate affiliations include: registered auditors; consultants or trainers; licensed certification bodies; registered and certified suppliers; licensed training centers; etc.
- Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted via the online portal by the advertised due date.
- Nominators must obtain permission from the nominee prior to submitting a nomination.
- Self-nominations will be accepted.
- Previous nominees and finalists are encouraged to apply, but previous award winners are not eligible.
- SQFI/FMI reserves the right to investigate the good standing and character of each nominee.
