Awards season is officially here, but we’re not talking about Hollywood…

By Erin Reyes, IDA Communications Specialist

It’s that time of the year again—time to submit your IDA award nominations! The International Detailing Association (IDA) has developed an awards program to recognize deserving individuals and companies that have made significant contributions to the detailing profession and live up to the ideals indicated in the IDA Code of Ethics.

Nominees should be individuals or organizations that are doing their part to advance the industry and helping to establish a new level of professionalism for the trade. But, beyond that, there are few stipulations. The IDA encourages as many nominations as detailing professionals would like to submit for their well-deserving contemporaries and would love to have a wide pool of qualified nominees from which to select.

Hesitant to submit a nomination based on business age, size or location? Don’t be! Whether a relatively new company or a decades-old institution, a small business or a massive operation, stateside or abroad, we encourage your nominations. Candidates and winners will be chosen for the quality of their contributions, not how big or long-standing they are or where they are located.

Read on to learn more about each award category and find out how to submit a nomination.

IDA Leadership Award

This award will be presented to an individual who has served in a leadership capacity for the IDA (board member or committee chair) and has greatly advanced not only the IDA as an organization, but the detailing profession as a whole. The candidate must be an IDA member in good standing (or a retired past president). Nominations for this award may only be submitted by an IDA Board member, and the winner will be selected by the IDA Nominating Committee.

IDA Outstanding Service Award

This award is presented to a detailing industry professional who works above and beyond to advance the detailing profession.  The candidate must be an IDA member in good standing.  The winner will be selected by the IDA Board of Directors from all nominations received.  If any board members are nominated, they will be removed from the selection committee.

IDA Detail Shop of the Year Award

This award is presented to a detailing shop that is nominated for operating an outstanding facility.  Candidates must be fixed-location only (no mobile detailing units), but do not need to be IDA members.  The IDA Nominating Committee will narrow the field of candidates to the top three choices who will be put to an open vote.  IDA Board members are not eligible, and you may not nominate your own shop for this award.

IDA Mobile Detailer of the Year Award

This award is presented to a mobile detailing professional who has been nominated as having an outstanding operation. This award is open both to shops with mobile units, and to solely mobile detail operations.  IDA membership is not required.  The IDA Nominating Committee will narrow the field of candidates to the top three choices who will be put to an open vote.  IDA Board members are not eligible, and you may not nominate your own mobile detailing operation for this award.

IDA Detailer of the Year Award

This award is presented to a detailing technician who has demonstrated superior knowledge, technical skill and professionalism.  Once again, IDA membership is not a prerequisite.  The IDA Nominating Committee will narrow the field of candidates to the top three choices who will be put to an open vote.  Extra consideration will be given to those candidates holding the Certified Detailer designation.  IDA Board members are not eligible, and you may not nominate yourself for this award.

IDA Detail Supplier of the Year Award

This award is presented to a product or service supplier that has been nominated for making a significant contribution to the detailing industry by meeting at least two of the criteria shown below.  The nominee must maintain a superior reputation within the industry but does not need to be an IDA member.  The IDA Nominating Committee will narrow the field of candidates to the top three choices, which will be put to an open vote.  IDA Board members are not eligible, and you may not nominate yourself for this award.

Candidates for this award must meet at least two of the following requirements:

• Has introduced new product innovations
• Has increased awareness of the detailing industry’s professional status
• Contributes financially to furthering structured educational programs within the detailing profession
• Shares knowledge and experience for the betterment of the industry with no expectation of return on investment.

If you feel like you know someone who fits any of the above criteria, we encourage you to submit a nomination! While self-nominations are not permitted, you may campaign for others to nominate you if you feel that you would be deserving of one of the awards.

Members and non-members alike are invited to acknowledge the outstanding work their peers and mentors do every day by submitting their nominations via the IDA website by October 31, 2018.  Voting will open later this fall.  Winners will be announced and honored at the IDA Annual Business Meeting, to be held on Friday, January 11, 2019, at Mobile Tech Expo in Orlando, Florida.

For more information about the awards categories, eligibility, past winners, and to submit a nomination, visit https://the-ida.com/IDA_Awards.

The 2018 IDA Annual Business Meeting, held in January at the Mobile Tech Expo in Orlando, was the site of this year’s IDA awards presentation. The ceremony recognized individuals and suppliers for their outstanding contributions to the growth and progress of the detailing industry

Shown here from left to right: Sheryle Hazard, CAE, IDA Executive Director; Justin Labato, CD-SV, RT, 2018 IDA President; Mike Dickson, CD-SV, RT, IDA Leadership Award recipient; Vincent Macri, CD-SV, IDA Detailer of the Year; Greg Linacre, CD, IDA Mobile Detailer of the Year; Renny Doyle, CD-SV, RT, IDA Outstanding Service Award recipient; Chris West, IDA Detail Supplier of the Year; Dave Patterson, CD-SV; Dan Baker, CD, IDA Treasurer. (Photo credit: Prentice St. Clair, CD-SV, RT)