Tom Kuhn, Arlene Pietranton and Jade West are this year's winners; 'recognized leaders who have had distinguished careers'

CEO Update has announced the recipients of the 2015 Association Leadership Awards. Now in its second year, the program's honorees are:

Trade Association CEO Tom Kuhn Edison Electric Institute

Professional Society CEO Arlene Pietranton American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Association Lobbyist Jade West National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors

Honorees will receive their awards at a luncheon to be held Sept. 22 at the JW Marriott Grand Ballroom in Washington, D.C. (Read more on how to attend the Association Leadership Awards ceremony)

An independent panel of association experts chose the winners from a field of nominations that came to CEO Update in March in response to an earlier call to the association community for candidates. The online nomination process generated submissions keyed to clearly defined association leadership criteria. Nominees were forwarded to the panel, who made the final selection.

Criteria for CEO of the Year included:

• Effectiveness in presenting industry/profession story
• Reputation for accomplishing association mission
• Proven leadership in and outside the group
• Successful financial results
• Social capital—volunteer contribution to association-related, charitable or civic groups

Criteria for Lobbyist of the Year included:

• Demonstrable legislative or regulatory progress on behalf of an association
• Strong reputation, relationships with officials and within association advocacy circles
• Significant ability to communicate the association's public policy positions internally and externally

Association attorney Art Herold, panel chair, said, "The association community nominated many outstanding individuals to receive the awards this year. The panel evaluated the totality of the candidates' contributions to their organizations, as well as to their profession and to the public. All three winners are recognized leaders who have had distinguished careers."

The panel convened by CEO Update consisted of representatives from major association search firms, former association CEOs and attorneys with substantial association practices. These individuals brought with them many decades of experience in association circles to assist them in choosing this group of honorees.

In addition to Herold, partner at Webster, Chamberlain & Bean, the panel included:

Phil Brady, former president,
National Automobile Dealers Association

Red Cavaney, former president and CEO,
American Petroleum Institute

Denise Grant, managing director,
recruitment firm Russell Reynolds

Leslie Hortum, consultant,
recruitment firm Spencer Stuart

Julian Ha, practice leader
recruitment firm Heidrick & Struggles

Jonathan Howe, president and founding partner
Howe & Hutton

Dave Parker, former president and CEO,
American Gas Association

Charles Tate, managing partner,
public accounting firm Tate & Tryon

Jeff Tenenbaum, partner and chair,
Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group, Venable

Two subject specialists joined the other members to select the winner in the association lobbyist division:

David Rehr, professor,
The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management
and former president and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters

John Motley III, founder, lobbyist,
Policy Solutions

CEO Update is known for spotlighting the best practices of top CEOs and lobbyists. The awards program, launched in 2014, is another aspect of the publication's engagement with the association community.