SEVENTH ANNUAL AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDSSM ANNOUNCES 2009 CALL FOR ENTRIES

Business Awards to Honor U.S. Organizations, Executives, and Workers

New York, NY – January 28, 2009– Just when American workers and companies could use a pick-me-up, the Stevie® Awards issued a call for entries today for its Seventh Annual American Business Awards, the awards that honor achievements in the American workplace, from the executive suite to the mailroom. The 2009 awards will honor work since the beginning of 2008.

All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to participate in The American Business Awards – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. Entry details are available at www.stevieawards.com/aba. The entry deadline is March 31. Late entries will be accepted through April 30 with a late fee, and the awards will be announced in New York on June 22.

“Especially in tough economic times like these, participating in awards shows is a cost-effective way to thank and honor your valued employees and to build or burnish your brand,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. “The 2009 American Business Awards will shine a spotlight on the achievements that American organizations, executives and workers continue to turn out.”

Entries are accepted in dozens of categories from Executive of the Year, Company of the Year, and Best New Product or Service to Best Web Site and Best Annual Report.

New categories in 2009 include Business Innovation of the Year and Fastest-Growing Company of the Year. For a full list of all categories, please visit: http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/awards/70_816_3655.cfm

The 2009 ABAs will also mark the introduction of the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New ProductsSM, in which the general public will vote for their favorite new products and services of the year. Each new product or service nominated in The American Business Awards will automatically be included in people’s choice voting. Voting begins in April and winners of the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products will be honored at the June awards gala in New York.

The Sixth Annual American Business Awards were presented last June to a diverse group of American organizations including Monsanto, the Philadelphia Eagles, Energy Control, Inc., Harrah’s Entertainment, John Hancock, LifeLock, Omniture, The Marketing Arm and Wingstop, among others. For complete results of the 2008 awards visit: http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/awards/403_2183_17775.cfm

To get an entry kit for The 2009 American Business Awards, visit http://www.stevieawards.com/aba.