The Gelman, Rosenberg and Freedman EXCEL Award recognizes and spotlights outstanding leadership among Washington-area nonprofit chief executives.  The award recognizes leadership achievement in the areas of innovation, motivation, community building, ethical integrity, and strategic leadership.

Up to three leaders are selected as EXCEL Awardees.  The EXCEL Awardees will each receive a $5,000 professional development account to be used for the individual’s continued professional development.  In addition, each recipient’s organization will also receive a $2,000 grant to support the professional development of the organization’s staff.

2011 is the seventh year for this competition, and the sixth year that the Bethesda-based accounting firm Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman has sponsored the award.

The recipients of the Gelman, Rosenberg and Freedman 2011 EXCEL Award were announced and recognized at the Center’s 2011 Annual Celebration.

The Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2011 EXCEL Award was presented to the following chief executives:

• Wendy Gradison of PRS, Inc.
• George Jones of Bread for the City
• Maya Enista Smith of Mobilize.org

The following executive directors were named Honorable Mention recipients for the Award:

• John Dillow of Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region
• Richard Tagle of Higher Achievement

The competition is open to any chief executive of a Greater Washington-area nonprofit organization with an annual budget of $10 million and under. Board members, staff members, volunteers, clients or community members may nominate chief executives.

This award is administered by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement.

Meet Our Past Winners

2010 EXCEL Award Winners:

• Scott Beale, Atlas Service Corps
• Michael Curtin, DC Central Kitchen
• Steven Park, Little Lights Urban Ministries

2009 EXCEL Award Winners:

• Manny Hidalgo, Latino Economic Development Corporation
• Pamela L. Michell, New Hope Housing, Inc.
• Eleni A. Rossides, Washington Tennis & Education Foundation

2008 EXCEL Award Winners:

• Karen Cleveland, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia
• Linda Dunphy, Doorways for Women and Families
• Layli Miller-Muro, Tahirih Justice Center

2007 EXCEL Award Winners:

• Rino Aldrighetti, Pulmonary Hypertension Association
• Lynn Brantley, Capital Area Food Bank
• Mary Funke, N Street Village

2006 EXCEL Award Winners:

• Rhonda Buckley, Patricia M Sitar Center for the Arts
• Jonathan Smith, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
• Adam Tenner, Metro TeenAIDS

2005 EXCEL Award Winner:

• Jayne Park, Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center