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HR Excellence Awards
2026 SHRM-MEMPHIS HR EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROGRAM
Excellence in Action: Celebrating the People Shaping the Future of Human Resources
Great HR work often happens behind the scenes. The SHRM-Memphis HR Excellence Awards bring it into the spotlight. Each year, we celebrate the people, teams, and partners across the Greater Memphis area who make workplaces better, from HR professionals just starting out to seasoned leaders. Know someone who deserves the recognition? Nominate them in one of the categories below.
Organization Awards
- Most Admired Organization in HR
- HR Innovation Award
- HR Team Excellence Awards (multiple awards)
Individual Awards
- Professional of the Year Award
- HR Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year
- HR Student of the Year
- HR Emerging Professional
Signature Awards
- George Mabon Executive Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominations will be accepted till October 18, 2026.
Eligibility for SHRM-Memphis HR Excellence Awards:
The SHRM-Memphis HR Excellence Awards are open to any organization in the Greater Memphis area, to include North Mississippi and Eastern Arkansas. Individual awards are open to all HR Professionals. There are no requirements to be affiliated with SHRM National; hold a SHRM Certification; or be an active member of SHRM-Memphis to be nominated or win an award.
Previous awardees will not be eligible for the same award with the exception of nominations for HR Professional of the Year in a different field of expertise.
Specific eligibility for Organization Awards
Team awards consist of any team with two or more members working together in a Human Resources field of expertise.
Areas of expertise include but are not limited to: Benefits, Talent Management, Compensation, Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion.
Specific eligibility for Individual Awards
HR Professional of the Year Award – Nominees must currently be working in the HR field of expertise for which they will be recognized.
· HR Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year - Nominees must have been an HR labor and employment attorney for at least a year in an organization.
· HR Student of the Year – Nominees must have attended at least one semester or currently be a student pursuing a Human Resources professional field at a Greater Memphis school.
· HR Emerging Professionals– Nominees must have 7 years or less of HR experience.
Specific eligibility for Signature Awards
The SHRM-Memphis HR Excellence Awards are open to any organization in the Greater Memphis area, to include North Mississippi and Eastern Arkansas. Individual awards are open to all HR Professionals. There are no requirements to be affiliated with SHRM National; hold a SHRM Certification; or be an active member of SHRM-Memphis to be nominated or win an award.
Previous awardees will not be eligible for the same award with the exception of nominations for HR Professional of the Year in a different field of expertise.
- George Mabon Executive Award - Nominees must be in an executive position and have over 10 years of HR experience
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Nominee must be a professional and have over 20 years of HR experience.
Nominations will be accepted till October 18, 2026.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Jenikka Oglesby, SHRM-Memphis President-Elect at [email protected].
Last year’s event was a sell-out!
Want your brand in the room? Sponsorships and program ads are available; email us at [email protected].
