Qualifications
BEST BUSINESS AWARDS
OFFICIAL QUALIFICATIONS & REGULATIONS
OFFICIAL QUALIFICATIONS & REGULATIONS
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1. These Regulations define the procedure for organizing and conducting the Best Business Awards, including all stages of nomination, selection, expert evaluation, voting, and ceremonial awarding.
1.2. The purpose of the Award is to highlight and support outstanding businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and organizations that demonstrate excellence in leadership, innovation, impact, and community development across various industries.
1.3. The Award is open to exceptional individuals and organizations — including founders, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, nonprofit leaders, and social impact innovators.
Participants must demonstrate:
• Outstanding contributions
• Exceptional achievements
• Innovation and leadership
• Significant impact on business, community, or industry.
1.4. The Award is administered by the Organizing Committee of the Best Business Awards, in collaboration with:
• Russian American Media
• Council for Cross Cultural Affairs
• Slavic American Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Small Business Administration representatives
• Additional partners, industry advisors, and invited experts.
1.5. The following activities are conducted within the framework of the Award:
• Meetings of the Organizing Committee
• Meetings of the Jury Board
• Pre-selection and evaluation sessions
• Annual Award Ceremony & Gala
• Additional events and activities specified in these Regulations.
2. KEY CONCEPTS AND FUNCTIONS
2.1. Organizers
The Organizers are responsible for:
• Approving the Regulations of the Award
• Establishing the Organizing Committee
• Forming the Jury Board
• Conducting informational activities
• Ensuring transparent and credible evaluation
• Managing the Award Ceremony & Gala.
2.2. Organizing Committee
The Organizing Committee:
• Coordinates and oversees all stages of the Award
• Conducts initial selection of Applicants
• Communicates with nominees and partners
• Publishes all official Award updates on the Award website
• Reserves the right to make amendments when necessary.
2.3. Award Partners
Award Partners are companies and organizations supporting the Award through sponsorship, collaboration, or participation. Their roles and responsibilities are defined in agreements with the Organizers.
2.4. Jury Board
The Jury Board is formed from:
• Industry experts
• Business leaders
• Award partners
• Academic professionals
• Community leaders
• Government representatives
Each Jury member must meet the following requirements:
• Education & Qualifications: Higher education or relevant certifications
• Work Experience: Documented professional achievements
• Outstanding Achievements: Awards, publications, leadership, or innovations
• Reputation & Recognition: Positive standing in the business and professional community.
3. SUBJECT OF THE AWARD
3.1. The Award recognizes businesses, leaders, and projects that demonstrate excellence, innovation, development, and measurable impact.
3.2. Applications are accepted through the official Award website: www.BestBusinessAward.org
4. PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING APPLICANTS
4.1. Categories of the Best Business Awards include (but are not limited to):
• Achievement in Business Development
• Achievement in Innovation
• Best Entrepreneur
• Executive of the Year
• Marketing Leader of the Year
• Rising Star of the Year
• Community Impact Award
• Outstanding Small Business
• Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
• Family Business Excellence Award
• Technology Company of the Year
• Application of the Year
• Nonprofit Organization of the Year
• Industry-Specific Awards (Health, Beauty, Education, Real Estate, Finance, etc.)
4.2. Initial Evaluation
Applications undergo a preliminary review by the Organizing Committee based on:
• Originality of achievements
• Accuracy and completeness of submitted materials
• Professional reputation and public impact
Only applications that pass this stage advance to the Jury Board.
4.3. Formation of the Nominees List
Nominees are selected from Applicants based on Jury Board evaluation.
5. JURY BOARD — EVALUATION PROCEDURE
5.1. Two-Stage Evaluation
Stage 1 — Project Selection
Jury members review nominated applications grouped by category.
Stage 2 — Detailed Scoring
Jury members evaluate each application on a 10-point scale across the following criteria:
• Innovation: Originality of projects, solutions, or strategies
• Impact & Significance: Measurable impact on the industry or community
• Leadership & Achievement: Documented accomplishments, growth, and reputation
• Sustainability & Long-Term Vision: Capacity for long-term success
• Social Value: Contribution to society, community, or nonprofit causes
5.2. Additional Criteria for Tie-Breakers
• Business scalability
• Potential for future growth
• Broader social and economic significance
5.3. Confidentiality
Voting is confidential. A minimum of two-thirds of Jury members must cast votes for results to be valid.
6. PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING LAUREATES
6.1. Review and Evaluation
Each application is reviewed independently by qualified Jury members.
6.2. Scoring
Nominees receive an average score based on Jury evaluations.
6.3. Determination of Winners
An application is declared a winner if it achieves an average score of at least 8.5 on a 1-to-10 scale.
If multiple applications exceed this threshold, the highest score determines the winner.
If only one applicant is nominated in a category, they may be declared a winner with a minimum score of 7.
Incomplete evaluations are subject to re-review.
6.4. Additional Diplomas
The Organizers may introduce special diplomas and recognitions for exceptional nominees.
All Jury decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
7. AWARD STAGES
The Award follows the timeline below:
• Application Processing & Nominee Formation:
January 1 — August 31
• Formation of the Jury Board:
August 1 — August 31
• Jury Voting:
September 1 — September 30
• Summarizing Results:
October 1 — October 31
• Award Ceremony & Gala:
First Friday of November
All official documents and updates will be posted on the official Award website and the organizers’ social media channels.
www.CouncilForCrossCulturalAffairs.org
(916) 483-5454
1.1. These Regulations define the procedure for organizing and conducting the Best Business Awards, including all stages of nomination, selection, expert evaluation, voting, and ceremonial awarding.
1.2. The purpose of the Award is to highlight and support outstanding businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and organizations that demonstrate excellence in leadership, innovation, impact, and community development across various industries.
1.3. The Award is open to exceptional individuals and organizations — including founders, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, nonprofit leaders, and social impact innovators.
Participants must demonstrate:
• Outstanding contributions
• Exceptional achievements
• Innovation and leadership
• Significant impact on business, community, or industry.
1.4. The Award is administered by the Organizing Committee of the Best Business Awards, in collaboration with:
• Russian American Media
• Council for Cross Cultural Affairs
• Slavic American Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Small Business Administration representatives
• Additional partners, industry advisors, and invited experts.
1.5. The following activities are conducted within the framework of the Award:
• Meetings of the Organizing Committee
• Meetings of the Jury Board
• Pre-selection and evaluation sessions
• Annual Award Ceremony & Gala
• Additional events and activities specified in these Regulations.
2. KEY CONCEPTS AND FUNCTIONS
2.1. Organizers
The Organizers are responsible for:
• Approving the Regulations of the Award
• Establishing the Organizing Committee
• Forming the Jury Board
• Conducting informational activities
• Ensuring transparent and credible evaluation
• Managing the Award Ceremony & Gala.
2.2. Organizing Committee
The Organizing Committee:
• Coordinates and oversees all stages of the Award
• Conducts initial selection of Applicants
• Communicates with nominees and partners
• Publishes all official Award updates on the Award website
• Reserves the right to make amendments when necessary.
2.3. Award Partners
Award Partners are companies and organizations supporting the Award through sponsorship, collaboration, or participation. Their roles and responsibilities are defined in agreements with the Organizers.
2.4. Jury Board
The Jury Board is formed from:
• Industry experts
• Business leaders
• Award partners
• Academic professionals
• Community leaders
• Government representatives
Each Jury member must meet the following requirements:
• Education & Qualifications: Higher education or relevant certifications
• Work Experience: Documented professional achievements
• Outstanding Achievements: Awards, publications, leadership, or innovations
• Reputation & Recognition: Positive standing in the business and professional community.
3. SUBJECT OF THE AWARD
3.1. The Award recognizes businesses, leaders, and projects that demonstrate excellence, innovation, development, and measurable impact.
3.2. Applications are accepted through the official Award website: www.BestBusinessAward.org
4. PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING APPLICANTS
4.1. Categories of the Best Business Awards include (but are not limited to):
• Achievement in Business Development
• Achievement in Innovation
• Best Entrepreneur
• Executive of the Year
• Marketing Leader of the Year
• Rising Star of the Year
• Community Impact Award
• Outstanding Small Business
• Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
• Family Business Excellence Award
• Technology Company of the Year
• Application of the Year
• Nonprofit Organization of the Year
• Industry-Specific Awards (Health, Beauty, Education, Real Estate, Finance, etc.)
4.2. Initial Evaluation
Applications undergo a preliminary review by the Organizing Committee based on:
• Originality of achievements
• Accuracy and completeness of submitted materials
• Professional reputation and public impact
Only applications that pass this stage advance to the Jury Board.
4.3. Formation of the Nominees List
Nominees are selected from Applicants based on Jury Board evaluation.
5. JURY BOARD — EVALUATION PROCEDURE
5.1. Two-Stage Evaluation
Stage 1 — Project Selection
Jury members review nominated applications grouped by category.
Stage 2 — Detailed Scoring
Jury members evaluate each application on a 10-point scale across the following criteria:
• Innovation: Originality of projects, solutions, or strategies
• Impact & Significance: Measurable impact on the industry or community
• Leadership & Achievement: Documented accomplishments, growth, and reputation
• Sustainability & Long-Term Vision: Capacity for long-term success
• Social Value: Contribution to society, community, or nonprofit causes
5.2. Additional Criteria for Tie-Breakers
• Business scalability
• Potential for future growth
• Broader social and economic significance
5.3. Confidentiality
Voting is confidential. A minimum of two-thirds of Jury members must cast votes for results to be valid.
6. PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING LAUREATES
6.1. Review and Evaluation
Each application is reviewed independently by qualified Jury members.
6.2. Scoring
Nominees receive an average score based on Jury evaluations.
6.3. Determination of Winners
An application is declared a winner if it achieves an average score of at least 8.5 on a 1-to-10 scale.
If multiple applications exceed this threshold, the highest score determines the winner.
If only one applicant is nominated in a category, they may be declared a winner with a minimum score of 7.
Incomplete evaluations are subject to re-review.
6.4. Additional Diplomas
The Organizers may introduce special diplomas and recognitions for exceptional nominees.
All Jury decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
7. AWARD STAGES
The Award follows the timeline below:
• Application Processing & Nominee Formation:
January 1 — August 31
• Formation of the Jury Board:
August 1 — August 31
• Jury Voting:
September 1 — September 30
• Summarizing Results:
October 1 — October 31
• Award Ceremony & Gala:
First Friday of November
All official documents and updates will be posted on the official Award website and the organizers’ social media channels.
www.CouncilForCrossCulturalAffairs.org
(916) 483-5454