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The final entry deadline for The 10th Annual American Business Awards, the top business awards program in the U.S.A., is April 25, and while the competition is on track to attract a record number of entries, several categories and a people’s choice competition present special opportunities for aspiring Stevie® Award winners. The entry kit is here, online.

Open to all organizations and individuals in the U.S.A., The American Business Awards honor organizations and individuals in a wide variety of categories, from management awards and public relations awards to technology awards, human resources awards, new product awards, and more.

“Historically, 20% of the ABA's categories receive 80% of the entries and this year is no different,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards, organizer of the ABAs.  “Certain categories are extremely popular and have stiff competition, but there are others with fewer entries that we encourage potential entrants to look at.”

Gallagher recommends that organizations consider entering the following categories:

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Therese Tucker, CEO and Founder of BlackLine Systems, won a Stevie® Award for Executive of the Year in The 2011 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A. Therese will chair the committee for final judging of the management awards categories in The 2012 American Business Awards. (The final entry deadline for the 2012 ABAs is April 25, get your entry kit now.)

What are your top 3 tips for senior managers looking to improve and streamline their account reconciliation and financial close processes?

1. Technology can automate repetitive, boring job functions and give your accounting staff more time to analyze and focus on strategic initiatives. 

2. Get organized: The best of tools won’t clean up a mess for you. 

3. Get executive sponsorship/buy-in early: Make sure that your CFO supports the initiative by understanding that a better process will give him/her confidence in the results. This will help garner the necessary time and resources to make meaningful changes and improvements.

What item of news recently caught your eye and why?
Another plane crash, in Siberia.  Regulations can be onerous, but as a frequent traveler I’m thankful that I mostly take the safety of flying for granted!

Do you have a favorite app?
The Sudoku app on my iPad.

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?
I would be either a yoga teacher or a chef.

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The Stevie® Awards have announced the preliminary schedule of events for America Means Business, a landmark three-day event about entrepreneurship, taking place in New York City on June 13, 14, and 15.

Headquartered at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street, with events taking place there and at other locations throughout New York City, America Means Business will feature informative panel discussions, “How I Did It” case studies, an exposition of products and services that can help aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners, and many other events about how to start and grow a business. 

Highlights from the current schedule include:

• How to Get Started and Which Business is Right for You, presented by SCORE
• Social Media and Email Marketing: How to Leverage the Power, presented by small business marketing experts of VerticalResponse
• How to Be a Pro at Hiring, presented by Joanna Shows of ActionCOACH, the world’s top business coaching firm
• How to Be a Master of Time Management, presented by Tony Signorelli, president and author of New Rules of Self Employment
• Sales Fundamentals for the New Economy, presented by Julie Thomas, president of ValueSelling Associates

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Which is the top company of the past 10 years? Apple? Facebook? Google? Take our April poll and vote for one of these or several other companies. Vote now. (The Apple iPhone was voted the product of the decade in our March poll.)

Apply to be a preliminary-round judge in The American Business Awards and/or The International Business Awards. ABA judging has begun, IBA judging starts in May. You'll learn how many of the world's top organizations are achieving success, and you'll receive a certificate of appreciation suitable for framing...

April 25: Final entry deadline for 2012 American Business Awards.

May 16: Entry deadline for 2012 International Business Awards

June 13-15: America Means Business. Celebration of entrepreneurship, featuring educational, networking, and social events throughout New York City, presented by the Stevie® Awards.

June 18: 10th American Business Awards Banquet, Marriott Marquis, New York

June 27: Late entry deadline for 2012 International Business Awards