Chief Executive magazine, in partnership with Thayer Leadership at West Point, a leader in applying military leadership principles to corporate leader development, presents the 8th Annual Patriots in Business Award, honor the Best Companies with Veteran & Military Initiatives.
This award recognizes outstanding businesses that lead our nation in supporting active-duty military members, veterans and their families and exemplify the values of Duty, Honor and Country through their business practices and throughout their community and industry. Through their initiatives on hiring, training, supporting, and honoring Active Duty, Veterans and military families, these outstanding companies are the gold standard for other companies who seek to support those who serve.
The company has made hiring veterans and military spouses a priority. They have defined objectives and established procedures to hire veterans and military spouses, as well as encourage other employers to hire our nation’s heroes.
Hiring veterans and military spouses: Percentage of 2024 hires who are veterans and military spouses
The company has established programs, policies and/or dedicated staff to support veterans and military spouses and ensure their success as they transition to the corporate world.
The company promotes awareness and support of veterans and veteran organizations within the company, as well as throughout their industry and community.
The Patriots in Business Award recognizes outstanding businesses who lead our nation in supporting active duty military members, veterans and their families. The recipients of this award exemplify the values of Duty, Honor and Country, through their programs and initiatives not only for hiring those who have served but also honoring veterans and their families within their organization, through their business practices, and throughout their community and industry.
The 2025 application will open on April 18, 2025 and close on June 15, 2025. For more information, please contact us at PatriotsAward@thayerleadership.com).
The sponsors for the Patriots in Business Award are Chief Executive Group and Thayer Leadership. The Award was created by Chief Executive Group and Thayer Leadership to thank and recognize outstanding corporations who, by their example, inspire other companies to invest in our military, veterans and their families.
Chief Executive Group, the leading community for business leaders worldwide, publishes Chief Executive magazine (since 1977), chiefexecutive.net, Corporate Board Member magazine and boardmember.com. In addition, the Group hosts conferences and roundtables that enable CEOs and board members to discuss key subjects and share their experiences with their peers. The Group also runs the Chief Executive Network, the leading CEO membership organization arranged by industry, and facilitates the annual “CEO of the Year,” a prestigious honor bestowed upon an outstanding corporate leader, nominated and selected by a group of peers. www.chiefexecutive.net
Thayer Leadership is a premier executive leader development organization, offering transformative leadership journeys that blend world-class applied academic and experiential sessions to unleash the “whole leader”. As an expert in values-based leader development, Thayer inspires and develops leaders grounded in the time-honored military leadership principles from the U.S. Army and West Point, translated to the corporate world and applied to your own organization. Their proprietary and motivating multi-pronged learning approach delivers a holistic experience for participants at West Point, online, virtually, or at any location around the world. At Thayer, like nowhere else, you’ll experience the legacy of military leadership learnings from those who have powered and led a nation. And today, empower organizations to adapt and thrive.
The Patriots in Business Award will be awarded in each of the following categories, which are based on annual revenue:
Each category winner will be profiled in the Fall 2025 issue of Chief Executive magazine. Winners will also be invited to the Nasdaq Veterans Day as a guest of Chief Executive and Thayer Leadership.
Any for-profit company headquartered in the United States can be nominated.
2024 award recipients are not eligible for the 2025 awards. 2023 honorees are eligible but must demonstrate advancements/innovations from previous application to be considered for 2025.
Entries may be self-nominated or submitted on behalf of corporations by those who work with them or by outside vendors and service providers.
No, any for-profit company is eligible.
Not at this time.
The 2025 application period for applications submissions will be April 18 – June 15, 2025. For information regarding our 2025 application please contact: PatriotsAward@thayerleadership.com
Yes. The organizers ensure that only authorized judges will review entries, and that information about nominees is not released to anyone without prior approval.
All entries will be evaluated by a panel of distinguished veterans and corporate leaders. A list of the judges will be announced.
Yes. Award winners will receive an award, public recognition and the privilege to display the Patriots in Business Award logo digitally and in print.
The winners for our 2025 awards will be notified by August 15, 2025.
Winners will be invited to the Veterans Day event at Nasdaq on November 11, 2025, as a guest of Chief Executive and Thayer Leadership.
The award announcement will also be published in the Fall 2025 issue of Chief Executive magazine.
Select C-level representatives from the winning corporations will be invited to the awards ceremony.
Award winners will receive an award, public recognition and the privilege to display the Patriots in Business Award logo digitally and in print. Award winners can expect to receive digital and print recognition through Chief Executive magazine and Thayer Leadership resources. All award recipients will be profiled in the Fall 2025 issue of Chief Executive magazine. Finally, you’ll have access to the judges’ comments about your entries and your business, which may be invaluable testimonials to your success and can be used for promotional purposes.
For additional questions, contact: PatriotsAward@thayerleadership.com
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
