04/24/2025

2026 Annual Awards Nominations

LeadingAge Ohio Awards Program

Eligibility

LeadingAge Annual Awards are a way to highlight innovative and impactful organizations or individuals, recognize exceptional leadership, and honor your dedicated colleagues or staff for the amazing work they do to care for our aging population. 

Awards will be presented during the LeadingAge Ohio Annual Meeting conference this Fall.

LeadingAge Ohio member organizations and/or individuals associated with them are eligible for consideration. 

Application Process

The Award submission deadline is May 29, 2026. 

The LeadingAge Ohio Awards Committee will review nominations and make selections for awards, notifying nominees of decisions by late June. Nominators/award winners are asked to prepare a video presentation. Award winners will be contacted by LeadingAge Ohio staff for photos, news releases and additional elements of the awards program.

Entry Form Prep Tips

1. Provide concrete examples of leadership, innovation, achievement and impact, as applicable, that supports your statement about why your nominee merits recognition.
2. It is helpful to use examples, stories, and other elements in the nomination to paint a picture as to why your nominee is deserving of the award. Be descriptive and showcase what makes your nominee unique. Many members are great; explain why your nominee is exceptional!
3. Finally, save a copy of what you have written for your records.  

See examples of videos here: Example 1  Example 2

Annual Award Selection Process

Annual Award winners will be chosen by the LAO Awards Committee and notified by mid-June, and each winning individual or organization will receive one complimentary registration to the LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference and Trade Show.

Video Requirement for Annual Award Winners
If selected for the award, winners/nominators are asked to create a 2-minute video to share what makes their Awardee exceptional. 

2026 Hall of Changemakers

The Changemaker recognition will celebrate an individual or LeadingAge Ohio member who has made a lasting impact and affected positive change in your life, the community, or their organization.

Created specifically for the 2026 Annual Conference and Tradeshow theme, Celebrating the Changemakers, this recognition is separate from LeadingAge Ohio’s Annual Awards program.

Each Changemaker recognition recipient will have their photo and story featured in the Hall of Changemakers display at the conference.

Honorees may include:

Colleagues
Mentors
Volunteers
Residents
Other individuals connected to a LeadingAge Ohio members or member organizations

Please note: Changemaker recognition recipients will not receive a physical award and recognition does not include complimentary conference registration or complimentary admission to the Annual Awards Luncheon. Changemaker nominees do not require a video.

Award Categories

Questions? Contact Molly Homan, Director of Operations, at mhoman@leadingageohio.org