Wanted: IT Heroes For 2016 InformationWeek Awards

10 Best Tech Jobs For 2016

InformationWeek wants to honor the heroes, high achievers, rising stars, and best companies in IT, and we need your help to do it.

We're delighted to announce the submission period is now open for four new awards that will be presented alongside our Elite 100 Awards during the 2016 InformationWeek Elite 100 Conference, May 2-3, at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas.

In addition to revealing our annual InformationWeek Elite 100, representing the top innovators in IT, we'll also honor winners in four new categories: the IT Hero Award, celebrating IT contributions among nonprofits; the Women in IT Award, honoring diversity in IT; the Pearl Award, celebrating IT professionals under the age of 30; and the People's Choice Award, showcasing the best IT workplace as voted on by the readers of InformationWeek.

[How do your hiring plans stack up? Read CIOs Detail Hiring Plans for the First Half of 2016.]

On Tuesday night, May 3, we'll reveal the winners of each category from among the nominees. Award recipients will be recognized on stage and on InformationWeek for the paths they've taken in order to stand out among their peers.

If you're too modest to nominate yourself for an award (don't be shy!), maybe there's a colleague or business partner you'd like to recognize? The editors of InformationWeek will judge each submission and select winners in each category, with the exception of the People's Choice Award. In that category, readers will have the chance to submit their votes, and the editors of InformationWeek will select the finalists based on the voting.

Honorees will be invited to join us at the InformationWeek Elite 100 Conference and will receive their awards on the same star-studded night that we celebrate the 2016 InformationWeek Elite 100 companies.

Here are the details on each award:

IT Hero Award: Interop and InformationWeek will co-present the IT Hero Award to promote leadership and service within the tech community. Managers are encouraged to nominate individuals who demonstrate the ability to collaborate and adapt in a changing technology landscape. For many in IT it's all about the bottom dollar. But for others, such as non-profit organizations, the reward comes from a job well done and the benefit of humankind. The IT Hero Award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual or company in the nonprofit sector, or in the for-profit sector in service of a nonprofit organization, whose work exemplifies service to the betterment of IT, or betterment of society through IT. Learn more and submit your entry here.

Women in IT Award: InformationWeek will present the Women in IT Award, honoring the IT leader who has made an extraordinary commitment to furthering the careers of women in IT. Qualified candidates will have worked in the past year on programs within their own organization or through external groups that have done some or all of the following: Addressed the gender gap in IT, mentored young women and girls, provided resources and/or counseling services for women working in IT, or created a group aimed at forwarding the cause of improving gender diversity in IT. Learn more and submit your entry here.

Pearl Award: In 2016, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Interop. The InformationWeek Elite 100 Conference, which is colocated with Interop, is marking the occasion by presenting an award to an IT professional who is 30 years of age or younger, and who exemplifies the professionalism and potential to make major contributions to IT. The pearl is the gem representative of 30-year anniversaries, and this award will celebrate IT excellence among the "pearls of potential" in the next generation of IT leaders. Eligible candidates must exemplify these qualities and represent the 30-and-under generation helping create IT innovation for tomorrow. Learn more and submit your entry here.

People's Choice Award: InformationWeek will present the People's Choice Award based on "The Most Rewarding Place to Work in IT." The award celebrates excellence in creating compelling, enriching, diverse, and empowering IT work environments. Eligible companies must exemplify these qualities and provide an IT department or environment that is a compelling and rewarding place to work. Topics can include collaboration, work/life balance, pay, flexible work hours, team building, advancement, diversity, and a variety of other characteristics. Learn more and submit your entry here.

This year, we'll also present the Decade Award, honoring the companies demonstrating consistent excellence over the past 10 years, and the Editors' Choice Award, honoring small businesses or nonprofits that don't qualify for the Elite 100. We look forward to celebrating your achievements at the 2016 InformationWeek Elite 100 Conference.