IEEE-USA Entrepreneur Achievement Award for Leadership in Entrepreneurial Spirit

Purpose

To recognize an IEEE member who has been instrumental in furthering both entrepreneurial growth and spirit in the United States.

Form of Recognition

Specially engraved award.

Frequency

One per year.

Eligibility

The nomination for the IEEE-USA Entrepreneur Achievement Award for Leadership in Entrepreneurial Spirit is to exemplify an IEEE member who embodies the spirit of an entrepreneur.

The IEEE member has demonstrated this spirit — “creative mindset” (Faltin, 2007) — through perseverance by using their own visionary efforts to create a successful business that has commercialized technology products or services. The IEEE member and his or her successful business have advanced society through commerce and community improvement.

No current member of the IEEE Board of Directors, the IEEE-USA Board of Directors, the IEEE-USA Awards and Recognition Committee, or IEEE staff may be candidates, or nominate or endorse candidates for this award.

Criteria

Following are the criteria against which candidates for the award should be measured. The following are guidelines for comparison of the pool of nominees:

1. Embodies the spirit of an entrepreneur by having a creative mindset; and by showing perseverance to an entrepreneurial vision
2. Created, started, or founded a successful U.S.-based business, where technology products or services are creating commerce
3. Carries forward the spirit of the entrepreneur in the community through volunteerism
4. Is an active member of IEEE
5. Shows or demonstrates an interest in mentoring future entrepreneurs.

The criteria are designed to provide a framework for continued collaborative relationships between entrepreneurs, would-be entrepreneurs, and mentors working in IEEE-designated fields of interest.

Nominations

The nominations for the IEEE-USA Entrepreneur Achievement Award for Leadership in Entrepreneurial Spirit are open to all IEEE members. Nominations may be for candidates who demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit, support the goals of IEEE, and improve the general image of the engineer, or engineering profession. Nominations may be submitted by completing the online nomination portal.

Basis for Judging

The IEEE-USA Awards and Recognition Committee shall evaluate all proposals and shall select the proposal which, in their judgment, is best and recommend the proposed candidate to the IEEE-USA Board of Directors for approval.

Presentation

IEEE-USA will recognize the award winner during an award ceremony at a time and venue mutually agreed upon by IEEE-USA and the award recipient.