FMI Seeks Candidates for 2005 Maximizing People Potential Award Recognizing Superior HR and Training Initiatives

WASHINGTON, DC — June 9, 2005 — A call for entries for the Fourth Annual Maximizing People Potential Award (“Maxx” Award) was announced today by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). The awards program honors exceptional training and human resources initiatives in the food retail industry.
     

“FMI is thrilled to kick off this year’s Maximizing People Potential Award program,” said Kimberly Roberts, FMI’s senior manager of education programs. “We look forward to seeing the new and innovative programs food retailers and wholesalers have developed and strongly encourage our member companies to participate.”
     

The Maxx Award is presented to a retail or wholesale company that develops a human resources or training initiative that significantly improves the performance of employees or leads to the achievement of a key business goal. The competition is open to any FMI retailer/wholesaler member company that registers a representative for the 2005 FMI Human Resources/Training & Development Conference (HR/T&D), September 18-21 in San Francisco, CA.

Award submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Extent to which the program gives a tangible return on investment for the organization over a sustained period.




• Impact of the program to workplace learning and performance, including influence on practitioners and thought leaders within the organization.




• Use of minimal outside products and support materials, which must not comprise more than 50 percent of the submission.

Interested companies must submit a detailed 2,000 – 2,500 word report describing the program’s focus and scope, and how it improved overall business performance during the past year. All entries must be postmarked by August 17, 2005.

Three finalists will be presented to attendees of the 2005 HR/T&D Conference. Attendees will vote for the most exceptional program and the winning company will be announced during an awards dinner at the conference.

The winning company will receive an engraved trophy, acknowledgement in 2006 Maxx Award promotional materials and recognition on the FMI Web site and in FMI Spectrum magazine.

Previous award winners include Raley’s in 2004, Hy-Vee, Inc. in 2003 and Big Y Foods, Inc. in 2002.
     

For more information on the program, please contact Kimberly Roberts (202-220-0720, kroberts@fmi.org).