Most Admired CEOs honors talented business CEOs, higher education leaders and nonprofit executive directors throughout Maryland whose leadership and vision are admired by those around them. A panel of judges selects these winners based on professional accomplishments, community service and the letters of reference submitted by co-workers, board members and community leaders showing the CEOs’ leadership and vision. Three-time winners are inducted into the Circle of Leadership.
Nomination Deadline: July 10, 2026
Application Deadline: July 24, 2026
Save the Date
November 16, 2026
Hilton BWI
1739 W. Nursery Rd
Linthicum Heights, MD
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits please contact your account manager or email shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com.
If you have questions about this awards event, please email events@origintdrdev.wpengine.com.
How can I be considered for the Most Admired CEO awards?
Nominations can be made by anyone, including yourself. An application is automatically emailed to all nominees and must be completed and returned to The Daily Record in order to be considered for this award.
To be eligible, applicants must live in or work in Maryland at the time of judging.
Can I win multiple times?
Yes, you can win more than once as long as there is a one-year gap in between. You can win up to three times and on the third time you will be retired to our Circle of Leadership.
Can I save the nomination and application forms while working on them?
Unfortunately, you cannot. We suggest filling out the forms in a separate document first or setting aside ample time to complete the forms.
Who are the judges and what are they looking for when selecting the CEO list awards?
A panel of judges selects the honorees based on professional accomplishments, community service and the letters of reference submitted by co-workers, board members and community leaders showing the CEOs’ leadership and vision.
Should I have a letter of recommendation sent?
Letters of recommendation are required to be considered for this award. Up to 3 letters of recommendations can be submitted through this form: https://origintdrdev.wpengine.com/letters-of-recommendation-submission-form/. The letter will be paired to your application when it is received.
Can I buy a table?
Yes, but the tables are limited so please contact shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com as soon as possible for more information.
What is the format of the event?
This event is broken down into both a networking reception as well a dinner. The event begins with networking and moves into dinner, followed by an awards program. We end the evening with a dessert reception and more networking.
Are children allowed?
Yes, a child’s ticket is half the price of adult tickets. Children younger than the age of 13 can be registered with a child’s ticket.
Do I have to pay for parking at the venue?
No, parking for this event is free and right next to the hotel.
Do winners sit with guests?
Yes, however the only guaranteed seating is through a sponsorship.
Myself or my guest has a food allergy or dietary restriction; what do I do?
Please email events@origintdrdev.wpengine.com with your allergy as early as possible.
Do winners have a speaking role?
No, there is no speaking for winners. They are brought on stage to accept their award and pose for photographs.
Do winners need to purchase a ticket?
No, winners do not need to purchase a ticket, all other attendees must.
Can I buy an ad in the publication?
Ads in the publication are reserved for our sponsors. Please contact shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com for more information.
I am a winner and I need ADA accommodations; what do I do?
Please contact events@origintdrdev.wpengine.com and we will accommodate anything you need.
One of my guests needs ADA accommodations; who should I notify?
Please contact events@origintdrdev.wpengine.com and we will accommodate anything your guests need.
Can a deceased person be a nominee?
Nominees must be living at the time of the nomination in order to be eligible for the award.
2025 Honorees
Circle of Leadership
Greg Abel
Abel Communications
Marco V. Ávila, P.E.
Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Franklyn Baker
United Way of Central Maryland
Br. John Kane, FSC, Ed.D.
Calvert Hall College High School
Susan Malone ***
Wide Angle Youth Media
Government
Karen Holt
Harford County Department of Economic Development
Brandi Stocksdale
Baltimore City Department of Social Services
Higher Education
Dr. Courtney Overton
University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Falecia D. Williams
Prince George’s Community College
Nonprofit With Less Than $10 Million in Annual Revenue
Marco V. Ávila, P.E. ***
Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Kim Callari
The Baltimore Station
Erika Strauss Chavarria
Columbia Community Care
David Fike
Leadership Maryland
Danista E. Hunte
Maryland Philanthropy Network
Mary D. Kane
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Hye Yeong Kwon
Center for Watershed Protection, Inc.
Susan Malone
Wide Angle Youth Media
Dr. Diandra Poe
Glass Soldier
Eddie Resende
World Trade Center Institute
Robin Rickard
Chrysalis House, Inc.
Michael Sakata
Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials Association
Nico Sanders
Community Housing Associates
Nonprofit With More Than $10 Million in Annual Revenue
Franklyn Baker ***
United Way of Central Maryland
Tracy Broccolino
Community Action Council of Howard County Inc.
Bob Cohn
The Baltimore Banner
Johnathan Davis
Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc.
John Dumas
Service Coordination, Inc.
Bernard Gyebi-Foster, MBA, LCPC
Tuerk House, Inc.
Br. John Kane, FSC, Ed.D. ***
Calvert Hall College High School
Gregory T. Miller
Penn-Mar Human Services
Kristen Pironis
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Private Company With 50 or Fewer Employees
Greg Abel ***
Abel Communications
Patrick Collins
Greenspring Advisors
Dr. Nkem Okeke
Medicalincs
Stanford Oliver
Camelot Secure
Karen Pecora-Barbour
The Barbour Group, LLC
Kimberly Prescott
Prescott HR, Inc.
Dr. Jennifer Rios
Pinnacle Software Consulting Inc, DBA PSCI-LIA
John J. Scott, Jr.
Westminster American Insurance Company
Private Company With 150 or More Employees
Steven Attman
Acme Paper & Supply Co. Inc.
Jack Dwyer
Capital Funding Group & CFG Bank
Kim Wireman, LCSW-C, LCADC
Powell Recovery Center, Inc.
***Indicates Circle of Leadership Inductee
Past Honorees
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Thank you for a wonderful evening last night. The Daily Record definitely knows how to throw a party! You have all made me feel extremely proud and honored. I was also truly humbled to be standing on the stage with Maryland’s legendary business leaders, some of whom I’ve admired since my college days! I can’t wait to attend the event again in 2016 as a spectator to honor the next group of honorees!
— John Scott, Jr., CIC, President & CEO, Westminster American Insurance Company
It’s a pleasure for Peninsula Regional Medical Center to partner with The Daily Record and sponsor their recognition programs including Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEO and Influential Marylanders. All provide us a unique statewide opportunity to recognize a very talented leadership team at PRMC that is committed to advancing healthcare in Maryland. Suzanne Fischer-Huettner and her Daily Record staff can always be counted on to throw an amazing party and to provide each honoree with an experience that will last a lifetime.
— Roger A. Follebout, Jr., Community Relations Director, Peninsula Regional Medical Center
Thank you and the team for the honor of selecting me as a winner. We had a great time celebrating and meeting other award winners as well as guests at the event. It was truly the best event I’ve attended in the last 5 years.
Everyone at our table enjoyed the evening immensely and our DC partners who attended really appreciated the location not being a downtown Baltimore location.
I wanted to personally highlight how professional and expert the team was who put together the writing, photos, contact, etc. Every person was friendly and courteous – a rarity in my experience and something I thought you’d appreciate knowing.
I’ve highlighted this with our partners and others as they make choices publishing and promotion wise.
My unusual story has captured a lot of media attention, but uniquely yours has been the only publication, that like me, emphasizes that it takes a team of clients, employees and partners to make a company grow and by extension the economy. It was great to hear that message broadcast so loudly and clearly to so many people!
Thank you for the evening and as importantly emphasizing the power of collaboration in making our economy successful.
Best wishes,
— Janet Amirault, CEO, Software Consortium (2013 Most Admired CEOs winner)
“You and your team scored A+’s on several fronts: location, accommodation, ambiance, hospitality (including food , drink, and service), program content, program duration, and of course, program stewardship. The excitement and gaiety in the room was an extra, special bonus. Job well done!”
— Wilhelm Joseph, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau (2012 Most Admired CEOs Winner)
“We too can’t thank you enough for the lovely event and for supporting our desire to have some of our valued staff members participate in the celebration. We’re proud of our CEO, Jeff Rivest, and appreciative of The Daily Record for selecting him during this inaugural year.
“I’m sure you and your team are pleased with yourselves for hosting such a terrific first-time event that was both elegant and enjoyable. The enthusiasm was practically tangible!
“It was truly our privilege to participate as a sponsor for such a fine event, and we appreciated having the opportunity.”
— Paula Henderson, University of Maryland Medical Center
“I thought it was a lovely evening. Very nicely done. Well planned and run and just the right amount of time on all the various elements. All the folks I spoke with, including my group, felt the same way. Congratulations to you for putting on and hosting such a great event! I’m honored to have been selected in your inaugural class.”
— David Warschawski, Warschawski (2012 Most Admired CEOs Winner)
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