Frequently Asked Questions
About the Admin Awards

The Admin Awards is the Administrative Profession's highest honor. Founded in 2012, the program publicly recognizes outstanding Administrative Professionals who make exceptional contributions to their Executives, teams, and organizations. The Admin Awards celebrates excellence across multiple award categories and culminates in the Good as Gold Gala, where all Nominees are recognized and Finalists and Winners are revealed live on stage.

The Admin Awards is widely regarded as the Administrative Profession's highest honor.


Founded in 2012, the Admin Awards recognizes outstanding Administrative Professionals who demonstrate excellence, leadership, initiative, impact, and service to their organizations.


The program has celebrated more than 20,000 nominations from over 4,000 companies, including more than 100 Fortune 500 organizations.


The Admin Awards' most prestigious individual recognition is the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence, named in honor of former Southwest Airlines President and COO Colleen Barrett, who began her career as an Executive Assistant.

The Admin Awards was created to address a long-standing gap in public recognition for Administrative Professionals.


For generations, Administrative Professionals have played an essential role in organizational success while often receiving little public recognition for their contributions. The Admin Awards was established to change that.

Our mission is simple:
Behind the scenes shouldn't mean invisible.

The Admin Awards was founded in 2012 and has spent more than 15 years recognizing excellence within the Administrative Profession, celebrating more than 20,000 nominations from over 4,000 companies.

Yes.

Founded in 2012, the Admin Awards has become the Administrative Profession's highest honor, recognizing outstanding Administrative Professionals from organizations of every size and industry. Over the past 15+ years, the program has received more than 20,000 nominations from over 4,000 companies, including more than 100 Fortune 500 organizations.

Finalists and Winners are selected through an independent judging process, and sponsorship has no influence on judging or award outcomes.

The Admin Awards has been trusted by Executives and organizations including Toyota, Southwest Airlines, Cisco, Salesforce, Uber, HP, Hyatt, and many others who believe Administrative Professionals deserve meaningful public recognition for their contributions.

The Admin Awards combines public recognition, Executive participation, independent judging, professional validation, and a community-wide celebration of Administrative excellence.

Unlike many workplace recognition programs, the Admin Awards creates a formal and highly visible recognition experience dedicated exclusively to Administrative Professionals.

Administrative Professionals hold more than 100 different job titles today, ranging from Executive Assistant and Administrative Assistant to Office Manager, Coordinator, Chief of Staff, Director of Administration, and even Vice President of Administration.

As long as the primary function of the Nominee's role is administrative, operational, or Executive support in nature, and both the Nominee and their organization agree that the role falls within the Administrative Profession, they are eligible for nomination.

The Admin Awards recognizes professionals across a broad spectrum of administrative and operational support roles because titles vary significantly from one organization to another.

Yes.

Today, there are more than 100 job titles that reflect the Administrative function. Eligibility is determined by the nature of the work performed, not simply the job title.

As long as the primary function of your role is administrative, operational, coordination, Executive support, or organizational support in nature, and both you and your organization agree that the role falls within the Administrative Profession, you are eligible for nomination.

If you're unsure which award category is the best fit, the Admin Awards team is happy to help guide you through the nomination process.

Anyone who has worked with or observed the impact of an Administrative Professional may submit a nomination, including:

• Executives
• Managers
• Coworkers
• Team Members
• Direct Reports
• Clients
• Board Members
• Vendors
• Business Partners

Yes.

Administrative Professionals may nominate themselves for the Admin Awards. However, self-nominated individuals will not advance in the competition without Supporting Nominations from their Executive, leader, coworkers, or others who can validate their contributions and impact.

Because the Admin Awards is designed to recognize excellence through the perspectives of those who have worked alongside a Nominee, Supporting Nominations play an important role in the judging process.

Yes.

Retired Administrative Professionals are eligible to participate provided they have retired within the previous 12 calendar months.

Retirees who meet this requirement may be nominated and considered alongside other eligible Nominees based on their accomplishments, contributions, and impact throughout their career.

Yes.

Current and former Executives, coworkers, clients, and colleagues may submit nominations and Supporting Nominations, provided they can speak meaningfully to the Nominee's contributions, accomplishments, and impact.

Yes.

Organizations may nominate multiple Administrative Professionals across one or more categories.

No.

There is no cost to submit a nomination for the Admin Awards. Once a nomination is submitted, the Nominee is notified immediately and invited to participate in the program.

The only cost associated with the Admin Awards is attendance at the Good as Gold Gala, where all Nominees are celebrated and Finalists and Winners are revealed live on stage. Ticket and table options are designed to make participation accessible for organizations of all sizes, from individual attendees to large corporate teams.

Participation in the Admin Awards begins with a free nomination.

The only cost associated with the program is attendance at the Good as Gold Gala, where all Nominees are recognized and Finalists and Winners are revealed live on stage.

Ticket and table options are available to accommodate individuals, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and large corporate teams, making the Admin Awards accessible to organizations of all sizes.

Because the Good as Gold Gala is the centerpiece of the recognition experience, all Nominees must be present in order to advance in the competition.

No.

There are no hidden fees, application fees, judging fees, nomination fees, or winner fees associated with the Admin Awards.

Submitting a nomination is completely free.

The only cost associated with the program is attendance at the Good as Gold Gala, where Nominees are publicly recognized and Finalists and Winners are announced.

Yes.

Once a nomination is submitted, the Nominee is notified and invited to participate in the program.

The Admin Awards process consists of four primary steps:

Step 1: Submit a Nomination

Choose the award category that best fits your Nominee and submit your nomination online.

Step 2: Share the Supporting Nominations Link

After submitting a nomination, you'll receive a Supporting Nominations Link that can be shared with coworkers, colleagues, and others who wish to provide additional supporting statements.

Step 3: Secure Tickets to the Good as Gold Gala

Nominees, Executives, coworkers, family members, and guests attend the Good as Gold Gala, the centerpiece of the Admin Awards recognition experience.

The only cost associated with the Admin Awards is attendance at the Good as Gold Gala. Ticket and table options are available for organizations of all sizes.

All Nominees must be present at the Good as Gold Gala in order to advance in the competition.

Step 4: Celebrate at the Good as Gold Gala

All Nominees are recognized publicly, and Finalists and Winners are revealed live on stage.

Immediately after submitting a nomination:

• Your Nominee receives notification of the nomination.
• You receive a Supporting Nominations Link.
• Additional supporters can submit statements on behalf of the Nominee.
• The Nominee gains access to the Nominee Portal, where they can review nominations and submit their Nominee Statement.

Supporting Nominations are additional statements submitted by coworkers, colleagues, Executives, clients, and others who have worked with the Nominee.

These statements provide Judges with a broader view of the Nominee's impact and help tell a more complete story of their contributions.

There is no limit to the number of Supporting Nominations a Nominee may receive.

The strongest nominations include specific examples, measurable impact, meaningful stories, and clear descriptions of how the Nominee has contributed to their Executive, team, organization, or community.

Specific examples are far more effective than general praise.

The Nominee Portal is a private online platform available to verified Nominees.

Inside the portal, Nominees can:

• View nominations submitted on their behalf
• Submit their Nominee Statement
• Access important deadlines
• Review event information
• Manage participation details

The Nominee Statement is an opportunity for Nominees to share their professional journey, accomplishments, leadership contributions, and impact on their organization.

It serves as an important component of the judging process.

The Admin Awards recognizes Administrative Professionals across ten award categories:

• Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence
• Strategic Partnership Award
• Leadership Award
• Above the Call Award
• Achiever Award
• Team Achiever Award
• Spirit Award
• Loyalty Award
• Kaizen Award for Continuous Improvement
• Excellence in Public Service Award

For detailed category descriptions, eligibility guidelines, and examples of the types of accomplishments recognized in each category, please visit the Award Categories page.

Choose the category that best reflects your Nominee's most significant contribution.

While many Administrative Professionals demonstrate strengths across multiple categories, the strongest nominations typically focus on a single category and provide meaningful examples that clearly demonstrate the Nominee's impact.

If you're unsure which category is the best fit, don't worry. The judging team reviews all nominations and may recommend that a Nominee be considered in a different category if another category better reflects their accomplishments and produces the best possible outcome for the Nominee.

Yes.

Administrative Professionals often demonstrate excellence across several areas, and multiple nominations may be submitted in different categories.

However, the Admin Awards generally recommends selecting the single category that best reflects the Nominee's most significant contribution. Focusing on one category typically allows nominators and supporters to provide greater depth, stronger examples, and a more compelling case for the Nominee's accomplishments.

The judging team reviews all nominations and may recommend that a Nominee be considered in a different category if another category better reflects their accomplishments and produces the best possible outcome for the Nominee.

Nominees may only advance as a Finalist in one category, with one exception: the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence.

Because of the unique nature of the award criteria, the Colleen Barrett Institute may independently declare a Nominee as a Finalist for the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence, even if that individual has already advanced in another award category.

Don't worry.

The judging team reviews all nominations and may recommend that a Nominee be considered in a different category if another category better reflects their accomplishments and produces the best possible outcome for the Nominee.

The goal is to ensure each Nominee is evaluated in the category that most accurately reflects their contributions, achievements, and impact.

The Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence is considered the Admin Awards' most prestigious individual honor.

Named after Colleen Barrett, the former President and COO of Southwest Airlines who began her career as an Executive Assistant, the award recognizes an Administrative Professional whose leadership, professionalism, impact, and contributions represent the very best of the profession.

Yes.

Administrative Professionals often demonstrate strengths that span multiple categories. As part of the judging process, Judges may recommend that a Nominee be considered in a different category if it more accurately reflects their accomplishments and produces the best possible outcome for the Nominee.

Generally, no.

Nominees may only advance as a Finalist in one award category.

The sole exception is the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence. Because of the unique nature of the award criteria, the Colleen Barrett Institute may independently declare a Nominee as a Finalist for the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence, even if that individual has already advanced in another award category.

This ensures that Administrative Professionals whose accomplishments embody the spirit, leadership, service, and legacy of Colleen Barrett may be considered for the profession's highest honor.

The Admin Awards uses an independent judging process designed to recognize Administrative Professionals whose accomplishments demonstrate excellence, leadership, initiative, impact, and service.


Judges review nominations, Supporting Nominations, and Nominee materials using a structured scoring methodology to evaluate the quality, significance, and impact of a Nominee's contributions.


Finalists and Winners are selected based on merit and performance, not popularity.

The Admin Awards utilizes a panel of independent Judges consisting of respected business leaders, Administrative Professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and community members.


Judges are selected for their experience, professionalism, and ability to evaluate nominations fairly and objectively.

No.


The Admin Awards does not use public voting.


Finalists and Winners are selected through an independent judging process designed to evaluate merit, impact, leadership, initiative, and professional excellence.


Unlike popularity contests, the Admin Awards focuses on the quality of a Nominee's accomplishments and contributions.

Absolutely not.


While sponsorship helps sustain and grow the Admin Awards program, sponsorship has no influence whatsoever on judging, Finalist selection, or award outcomes.


Sponsors do not participate in the judging process and have no ability to influence the selection of Finalists or Winners.

Nominee: An Administrative Professional who has been nominated and accepted their nomination.


Finalist: A Nominee who is present at the Good as Gold Gala and whose accomplishments place them among the top candidates in their category.


Winner: The highest-scoring Finalist in a category, announced live at the Good as Gold Gala.

Yes

Past Winners may be nominated and win again. However, there must be a minimum two-year gap between winning years before an individual becomes eligible to win another Admin Award.


This policy helps ensure broad recognition across the profession while continuing to celebrate Administrative Professionals who demonstrate sustained excellence throughout their careers.

In rare cases, Judges may conduct additional review and discussion to determine the Finalist or Winner whose accomplishments best reflect the intent and criteria of the award category.


The goal is always to ensure a fair and thoughtful evaluation process.

Nominations are shared with the Nominee once they accept their nomination and gain access to the Nominee Portal.


However, judging materials, scoring, deliberations, and Judge evaluations remain confidential.


This helps preserve the integrity and independence of the judging process.

No.


To protect the fairness and integrity of the competition, Nominees, nominators, sponsors, and supporters may not contact Judges regarding a nomination, category placement, scoring, Finalist selection, or award outcomes.


All judging decisions are final.

The Admin Awards was created to recognize excellence, impact, leadership, and professional achievement.


Public voting often favors the largest companies, the largest social networks, or the most aggressive promotional efforts rather than the quality of a Nominee's accomplishments.


The independent judging process ensures that every Nominee is evaluated based on merit and contribution rather than popularity.

The Good as Gold Gala is the signature event of the Admin Awards and the centerpiece of the recognition experience.

The Good as Gold Gala is also the official Finalist and Winner reveal event, and all Nominees must be present in order to advance in the competition.

The Gala brings together Administrative Professionals, Executives, coworkers, family members, and supporters for an evening dedicated to celebrating excellence within the Administrative Profession.

The Gala includes:

• Public recognition for all Nominees
• VIP red carpet experience
• Executive participation
• Premium prize drawings
• Years of Service Acknowledgements
• Good as Gold Best Outfit Competition
• Team Spirit Competition
• Live Finalist and Winner announcements

The Good as Gold Gala is a celebration of every Nominee.

The evening includes public recognition, Executive participation, special traditions, premium prize drawings, cocktail reception, and the live announcement of Finalists and Winners.

Unlike many award programs, the Admin Awards recognizes every Nominee in attendance, ensuring that each participant receives meaningful recognition for their accomplishments.

Yes.

The Admin Awards is designed as a recognition experience, not simply a competition. All Nominees must be present at the Good as Gold Gala in order to advance in the competition.

The Gala is where Finalists and Winners are announced, and attendance is a required part of the Admin Awards experience.

The Admin Awards was created to publicly celebrate Administrative Professionals and the important contributions they make to their organizations.

The Good as Gold Gala is the centerpiece of that recognition experience and serves as the official celebration of all Nominees.

Because recognition is a core part of the program's mission, all Nominees must be present at the Good as Gold Gala in order to advance in the competition.

Yes.

Approximately 97% of Nominees are accompanied by their Executives at the Good as Gold Gala.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the Admin Awards experience is seeing Executives publicly celebrate and support the Administrative Professionals who contribute to their success.

Many Executives attend alongside their Nominees, join them for photographs, participate in the evening's festivities, and celebrate their accomplishments alongside coworkers, family, and friends.

One of the most meaningful forms of recognition an Administrative Professional can receive is the visible support of the Executive they serve.

Over the past 15 years, the Admin Awards has consistently found that having an Executive present to celebrate alongside their Administrative Professional is one of the most memorable and meaningful aspects of the experience.

Executive participation reinforces the value Administrative Professionals bring to their organizations and publicly demonstrates appreciation for their contributions.

Yes.

The Good as Gold Gala is open to Executives, coworkers, family members, friends, and supporters who wish to celebrate a Nominee's accomplishments.

Many attendees participate as part of company teams, family groups, or support networks, helping create one of the most energetic and memorable aspects of the evening.

No.

The Good as Gold Gala celebrates all Nominees.

Every Nominee in attendance is recognized during the evening, regardless of whether they ultimately advance as a Finalist or Winner.

The Admin Awards believes that being nominated is itself a meaningful achievement worthy of public recognition.

The Good as Gold Gala is a formal celebration, and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly.

Many attendees choose cocktail attire, business formal attire, or black-tie optional attire, often incorporating gold accents in recognition of the event's theme.

Guests who enjoy a little extra creativity may also participate in the Good as Gold Best Outfit Competition.

Finalists and Winners are revealed live during the Good as Gold Gala.

The announcements are one of the most anticipated moments of the evening and are designed to celebrate the accomplishments of Administrative Professionals in front of their peers, Executives, family members, and supporters.

The Team Spirit Competition celebrates the Executives, coworkers, family members, and supporters who come together to cheer on their Nominee at the Good as Gold Gala.

Attendees are encouraged to show their enthusiasm through coordinated attire, creative table themes, signs, team colors, and other displays of support. The competition has become one of the Gala's most beloved traditions and highlights the pride organizations have in their Administrative Professionals.

The winning team receives a special Team Spirit prize and, more importantly, earns bragging rights for bringing the most enthusiasm and support to the celebration.

The Years of Service Acknowledgements recognize Administrative Professionals who have dedicated 10 or more years to the Administrative Profession.

During the Good as Gold Gala, eligible attendees are invited to stand as years of service are called out. As the number increases, participants take their seats until the most tenured Administrative Professional remains standing.

The final participant standing is recognized for their remarkable career and receives a Major Prize valued at $500 or more.

The Years of Service Acknowledgements have become one of the most inspiring moments of the evening, celebrating the experience, dedication, and longevity of Administrative Professionals across generations.

The Good as Gold Best Outfit Competition is a lighthearted Gala tradition that celebrates creativity, personality, and style.

Guests are encouraged to embrace the Good as Gold theme, with attendees often incorporating gold accents, elegant formalwear, and imaginative interpretations of the event theme.

Winners are selected and recognized during the evening's festivities and receive a special prize in recognition of their creativity and spirit.

The Admin Awards was designed to be more than a traditional awards ceremony.

The program combines professional recognition with celebration, community, and memorable experiences that bring Administrative Professionals, Executives, coworkers, family members, and supporters together.

Traditions such as the Team Spirit Competition, Years of Service Acknowledgements, and Good as Gold Best Outfit Competition help create an atmosphere that is both meaningful and fun while reinforcing the importance of recognizing Administrative Professionals publicly.

Yes.

In addition to the award categories themselves, the Good as Gold Gala features numerous Major Prizes and giveaways throughout the evening that every attending Admin is eligible to win.

Major Prizes are typically valued at $500 or more and are provided by sponsors and supporters of the Admin Awards.

Prize packages vary by market and year but often include travel experiences, luxury items, dining experiences, professional development opportunities, technology products, and other high-value gifts.

These prizes are intended to further celebrate the accomplishments of Administrative Professionals and add excitement to the recognition experience.

Admin Awards Winners receive public recognition as one of the profession's highest achievers.

In addition to receiving an Admin Awards trophy, Winners join a distinguished community of Administrative Professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism, initiative, impact, and service.

Winners are recognized before their peers, Executives, coworkers, family members, and supporters during the Good as Gold Gala.

Becoming an Admin Awards Winner signifies that an Administrative Professional's accomplishments, contributions, and impact have distinguished them among an exceptional group of peers.

Admin Awards Winners represent the highest standards of excellence within the Administrative Profession and serve as examples of leadership, innovation, service, and professional achievement.

Yes.

Admin Awards Winners are publicly recognized during the Good as Gold Gala and may also be featured in Admin Awards publications, communications, social media, marketing materials, and other recognition initiatives.

Public recognition is a core part of the Admin Awards mission and helps shine a spotlight on the important contributions Administrative Professionals make to their organizations and communities.

Yes.

Winners are encouraged to include their Admin Awards recognition in professional biographies, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, speaker introductions, and other professional materials.

Being named an Admin Awards Winner is a significant professional achievement and serves as a lasting testament to excellence within the Administrative Profession.

Being named a Finalist is a significant accomplishment.

Finalists represent the top-performing Nominees within their category and have distinguished themselves through their leadership, professionalism, accomplishments, and impact.

Because of the highly competitive nature of the Admin Awards, becoming a Finalist is itself considered a meaningful professional achievement.

Yes.

One of the unique aspects of the Admin Awards is that all Nominees in attendance are recognized during the Good as Gold Gala.

The Admin Awards believes that being nominated by peers, Executives, coworkers, clients, or supporters is itself an achievement worthy of celebration.

Yes.

Past Winners may be nominated and win again, provided there is a minimum two-year gap between winning years.

This policy allows the Admin Awards to recognize a broad range of Administrative Professionals while continuing to celebrate individuals who demonstrate sustained excellence throughout their careers.

Administrative Professionals often make significant contributions behind the scenes, helping organizations operate more effectively, supporting leaders, improving processes, building culture, and driving results.

Meaningful recognition helps validate those contributions, strengthen engagement, increase visibility, and reinforce the value Administrative Professionals bring to their organizations.

The Admin Awards was created to provide the kind of public recognition that many Administrative Professionals have historically gone without despite their impact and accomplishments.

One of the most remarkable career journeys in the Administrative Profession belongs to Colleen Barrett.


Colleen Barrett began her career as an Executive Assistant and went on to become President and Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines, helping build one of the world's most admired companies.


Her career serves as a powerful reminder that Administrative Professionals often possess the leadership, business acumen, judgment, and relationship-building skills required to make significant contributions at the highest levels of an organization.


In recognition of her extraordinary accomplishments, the Admin Awards' highest honor is named the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence.

Throughout history, Administrative Professionals have helped shape governments, social movements, businesses, and institutions, often without receiving public recognition for their contributions.


Notable Administrative Professionals include:


• Jeannette Marie Pacenti Castellano, a career Executive Secretary whose remarkable career inspired the creation of the Admin Awards, the world's first public recognition program dedicated exclusively to Administrative Professionals. (LinkedIn)
• Tobias Lear, private secretary to George Washington and one of the earliest examples of a strategic Administrative partner in American history.
• Alexander Hamilton, who served as George Washington's aide-de-camp before becoming one of America's Founding Fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury.
• Meriwether Lewis, who served as Thomas Jefferson's personal secretary before leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
• Maude Ballou, personal secretary to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a critical operational leader during the Civil Rights Movement.
• Antoinette Tuff, a school Administrative Professional whose extraordinary courage and emotional intelligence helped prevent a mass tragedy in 2013.
• Evelyn Lincoln, longtime secretary and trusted confidante to President John F. Kennedy.
• Bette Nesmith Graham, a secretary who invented Liquid Paper and became one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in American history.
• Darrell Williams, who began his career as an Administrative Professional before becoming a Fortune 500 Chief Executive Officer.
• Colleen Barrett, who began her career as an Executive Assistant and ultimately became President and COO of Southwest Airlines.

History often remembers the leader. Less often does it remember the trusted Administrative Professional standing beside them.