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Industry Awards:

2026 PLMA Emeritus Award

Audience member speaking to load flexibility professionals during a PLMA conference
PLMA’s new Emeritus Award has been developed to honor long-term contributors to PLMA who have made a meaningful impact on the organization over a period of seven years or more.

It intends to support these leaders in their ongoing engagement with PLMA by enabling them to continue to actively participate in and contribute knowledge and skills to PLMA following their retirement. 

PLMA expects the recipients of this award will play an important role enriching the experiences of current members and up-and-coming leaders, and in setting a strong example of lifelong learning and collaboration. 

Nominees for this first Emeritus Award should be PLMA member practitioners who are retired, or who are planning to retire by December 31, 2026, from a full-time role within a current or past PLMA member organization. In addition, nominees should be committed to remaining actively involved in continuing to support PLMA’s mission. 

Nominations will be evaluated on merit by the PLMA Awards Co-Chairs who will recommend a deserving recipient to the PLMA Board of Directors.

PLMA’s Board of Directors has determined that one Emeritus Award may be presented annually during the PLMA Spring Conference. 

PLMA’s Board of Directors will have final approval of recommended award recipients.

2026 PLMA Emeritus Award

Emeritus Award Recognition

Recipients of a PLMA Emeritus Award receive the following:

  • A lifetime PLMA membership.
  • Two complimentary event passes annually which can be used for PLMA Spring or Fall Conferences, or for PLMA Symposia.
  • A lifetime seat on the PLMA Leadership Council.
  • Recognition on PLMA’s website, on both the Awards page and also on the Leadership page.

  1. Nominees must be retired, or planning to retire by December 31, 2026, from a current or past PLMA member organization.
  2. Nominees should have a track record of significant and sustained PLMA contributions and meaningful service that extends over a seven-year (or greater) period of time. This could include serving in senior leadership roles such as board member, officer, taskforce leader, group co-chair, or instructor. It could also include presenting at a number of PLMA events as a subject matter expert.
  3. Nominees should have a strong interest in continuing to actively participate in PLMA following their retirement.
  4. Applicants for an Emeritus Award can be self-nominating or nominated by a colleague. PLMA recommends all member practitioners encourage deserving leaders to consider applying.

The following are key dates in the Emeritus Awards process. Please note the deadline for nominations is February 3, 2026:

Nomination Period

January 15 to February 3, 2026

Deadline for Nominations

11:59pm ET, February 3, 2026

Award Winner Notified

March 27, 2026

Award Presentation

May 12, 2026 in Indianapolis, IN

Emeritus (minimal) Project Period

May 12, 2026 to May 11, 2027

PLMA’s Board of Directors and the Awards Group reserve the right to:

  • Limit annual Emeritus Awardees to one per year;
  • Decline to select or approve an Emeritus Award recipient in any given year;
  • Make changes and modifications to the Emeritus Award program as needed.