49th Annual Conference on Management
& Executive Development (CMED)

Innovation Showcase Award

Share Your Innovative Ideas and Get Recognition You Deserve!

Welcome, and congratulations on being invited to take part. This page is your complete guide to the Innovation Showcase: what it is, what to submit, and how to make the most of your moment in the room.
Who can enter? Any center, school or institution attending CMED 2026. Enter as many innovations as you like, each submitted separately.
Submissions due     October 15, 2026, to mykola@proed.com
The Showcase Day 1: a 60 to 90 second pitch, then an open booth
The award The Peer Choice Award: one winner and two honorable mentions, decided entirely by attendee vote

1. What the Innovation Showcase is

The Innovation Showcase is the centrepiece of the Day 1 at CMED 2026: a live, station-based exhibition where colleagues from across the field present work that has made a real difference at their centre or school.

Every nominee does two things:

  • A quick pitch. A stand-up introduction of 60 to 90 seconds, delivered to the full room before booth time opens.
  • An open booth. A staffed station where attendees circulate, ask questions, and dig into the detail. This is where most of the real conversation happens.

You design your own presentation. A live product or website walk-through, a slideshow, a short film clip, a poster, or simply a good conversation are all welcome. The guiding style is polished and credible up front, playful and creative in the back. Make it memorable.

Participating is worth it on its own terms. Every nominee gets a room full of peers who work on the same problems, and the questions you field at the booth are often more valuable than the award.

2. The Peer Choice Award

Decided by All conference attendees, by vote. There is no judging panel and no rubric, the award belongs to the room.
Recognition    One Peer Choice Award winner and two honorable mentions
Eligibility Every accepted submission is in the running. There is no qualifying test to pass.
Announced At the closing ceremony, with the trophy presented on stage

3. The three elements

The conference theme, People, Process, Programs, is the shared language of the Showcase. It is a way to talk about your work, not a hurdle to clear.

Element What it captures
People Talent, culture, learner experience, and the human outcomes of the innovation
Process How the work gets done: methods, delivery, operations, efficiency gains
Programs     The offer itself: design, content, format, reach, and market impact

On the submission form you will tick which elements your innovation advances. At least one is required, which is to say almost nothing, since every innovation worth showing advances at least one. The point of the tick box is to make you name it, because naming it sharpens how you present the work. Ticking all three is welcome but carries no advantage.

4. The six categories

Choose the one that fits best. Categories keep the entry pool broad and welcoming; they do not affect the vote.

1. A new and innovative program or course
2. Innovation within the delivery of an existing program or course
3. Partnerships (internal or external)
4. Community engagement
5. Marketing, business development, or customer engagement
6. Departmental innovation or operational excellence

5. What to submit

Two items, both to mykola@proed.com by October 15, 2026.

5.1  The submission form

A completed copy of the CMED 2026 Innovation Showcase Submission Form. It asks for the essentials: what the innovation is, when it launched, who it has reached, who you worked with, what makes it different, what changed as a result, and what you learned. Most entries take under an hour to prepare.

If you would rather tell the story in your own format, you may attach a PDF or Word document of up to four pages, or a link to an .mp4 video of up to five minutes, in place of the longer written sections. The form’s first page is still required so we have your details, category and elements.

5.2  A one-page slide

A single PowerPoint slide showing your institution, the title or type of the innovation, and a one- or two-line description. It goes on screen during the awards presentation, so keep it legible from the back of a room.

6. Preparing your pitch and your booth

6.1  The 60 to 90 second pitch

  • Lead with the change, not the background. What is different now that was not before?
  • Give one number. A single memorable figure does more than five vague ones.
  • Say who it was for. Learners, staff, employers, community, name them.
  • End with an invitation. Tell people what they will find at your booth.
You will be timed. Rehearse to 75 seconds so you have room to breathe.

6.2  Your booth

  • You will have a table with power and signage space. Bring any device, poster, handout or prop you would like.
  • Staff the booth for the full open-house window. This is when attendees form their impressions, and an unattended booth costs you votes.
  • Prepare for the three questions everyone asks: what did it cost, what went wrong, and could we do this at our institution?
  • Tell us on the form if you have special power, space or connectivity needs.

7. How Showcase day runs

You will hear back within 3 business days confirming your place in the Showcase. Closer to the conference we will send your presentation time, station number and set-up details.
  1. Set-up. Arrive 60 minutes early for station set-up and a quick facility check.
  2. Pitches. Every nominee delivers their 60 to 90 second pitch to the room, in the running order issued on the day.
  3. Open house. Attendees circulate among the booths, ask questions and talk with presenters.
  4. Voting. Voting opens the moment the open house ends and closes the same day, before the evening program.
  5. Ceremony. The Peer Choice Award and the two honorable mentions are announced at the closing ceremony.

8. How the vote works

  • Every registered attendee gets one ballot. Paper ballots are available at a staffed table.
  • Each ballot allows up to three selections, with no ranking. Attendees may select fewer than three.
  • Attendees may not vote for an entry from their own institution.
  • The entry with the most votes receives the Peer Choice Award; the next two receive honorable mentions.
  • Two committee members verify the count, paper ballots included. The Program Awards Committee is the final arbitrator in the event of a tie or any unforeseen issue.

9. Key dates

Milestone Date
Nominations open September 12, 2026
Submission deadline (form plus one-page slide) October 15, 2026
Logistics and presentation time sent to nominees October 19, 2026
Innovation Showcase and voting November 2, 2026
Awards ceremony November 4, 2026

10. Questions

Write to the Program Awards Committee at mykola@proed.com. If you are unsure whether your work qualifies, send us two lines describing it before the deadline and we will tell you. The answer is almost always yes.

Awards CMED2018

Nominations for the 2026 season are open now.

Here’s the step-by-step summary:

Step 1. Prepare your submission
Complete the CMED 2026 Innovation Showcase Submission Form. Pick your category (one of six), tick which elements your innovation advances (People, Process, and/or Programs), and answer the essentials: what it is, when it launched, who it reached, and what changed. Most entries take under an hour.

Step 2. Create your one-page slide
Make a single PowerPoint slide with your institution, the innovation’s title or type, and a one- or two-line description. Keep it legible from the back of a room.

Step 3. Submit both items
Email your form and slide to mykola@proed.com by October 15th, 2026. Enter as many innovations as you like, each submitted separately.

Step 4. Get confirmed
You’ll hear back within 3 business days confirming your place. Closer to the conference, you’ll receive your presentation time, station number, and set-up details.

Step 5. Prepare your pitch and booth
Rehearse a 60 to 90 second pitch (lead with the change, give one number, say who it was for, and invite people to your booth). Plan your booth: bring your device, poster, or props, and be ready for the three questions everyone asks: what did it cost, what went wrong, and could we do this too?

Step 6. Present on Innovate Day – Monday, November 2, 2026
Arrive early to set up. Deliver your pitch to the room, then staff your booth through the open house as attendees circulate and ask questions.

Step 7. Voting
Attendees vote by a ballot, up to three selections each, with no voting for their own institution. Voting opens when the open house ends and closes that day.

Step 8. Awards ceremony
The Peer Choice Award winner and two honorable mentions are announced on stage at the closing ceremony.

If you need immediate assistance, please call 763-656-3527.

CMED 2017-19 Winners by Category:

This category recognizes open enrollment programs available for registration to the general public.

2019  
Grand Prix: North Carolina State University – Women in Technical Leadership
Peer-Choice: University of Denver – Denver Leadership Experience

Other Contenders:
Southern Oregon University – Women’s Leadership Conference
Texas A&M University – Leading Champions
York University – The Wound Care Certificate

This category recognizes custom programs that demonstrate exceptional design and development of new services and content specifically for the customer.

2019
Grand Prix: York University – Health Coaching for Guidance Counselors
Peer-Choice: Oklahoma State University – OSU Introductory Tribal Finance and Accounting Certificate

Other Contenders:
Athabasca University – Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification
University of Arizona – DP World Integrated Leadership Development Program
University of Arkansas – Business Foundations certificate program

2018
1st Place: McGill University, School of Continuing Studies – Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Governance

Runner-up: Texas A&M University, Executive Development – Weatherford Leadership Development Program

Other Contenders:

2017

Winner: Chickasaw Nation Executive Development Program, Executive and Professional Development, Oklahoma State University
Runner-ups:
Digital Communication Strategies, Executive Education, Capilano University
Nickle Electrical Emerging Leadership Training, Professional and Continuing Studies, University of Delaware

This category recognizes excellence in fully online or hybrid programs by demonstrating positive impact to learners, industry, respective institution and/or department, and to higher education.

2019
Grand Prix:  Davenport University IPEx – Amway
Peer-Choice: Athabasca University – Digital Transformation Leadership Certificate in Cloud

2018
1st Place: Case Western Reserve University – New Change Equation

Runner-up: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – Improving Your Business through a Culture of Health

Other Contender: Telenor-INSEAD-Intrepid – Creating a Culture of Innovation

2017

Winner: Business Essentials for Managers, Vanderbilt University

This category recognizes a program’s partnership of excellence. Programs can be in-class, hybrid or 100% online.
The partnership can be:

  • Within your school, state/province, national or international
  • A Corporate Partnership
  • A Non-Profit Partnership
  • A Government Partnership
  • With Multiple Partners

2019
Grand Prix and Peer-Choice: University of Victoria – Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs Program

Other Contenders:
Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma – Executive Development Program for State Officials
Oklahoma State University and the University of Nevada, Reno – Gaming Leadership Certificate
Texas A&M University – Fire Service Chief Executive Officers
Tsinghua University – Tsinghua-Qingteng Future Science & Technology Education Program (FSTEP)
University of Arkansas – The Leadership Circle for Healthcare

2018
1st Place: University of Dayton – Center for Leadership Collaborative Partner Model

Runner-up: Boise State University – K-12 Teacher Professional Development

Other Contenders:

2017

Winner: Masters Certificate in Project Management, York University and its Partner Universities
Runner-ups:
Executive Education Partnership Program, Oklahoma State University
Master Certificate in Project Management, Wichita State University

This category grants an award that will recognize the positive impact that a particular program has had on a specific participant. The participant is not required to be present.

2018

Emilio Amaro nominated by Boise State University, Center for Professional Development

This category recognizes the team that displays the best team spirit. With the understanding that we all work hard in our professions, this award gives the opportunity to showcase, in a creative and innovative manner, how your team exudes the true spirit of sportsmanship, fun, enthusiasm, camaraderie and team spirit.

2018
1st Place: University of Texas at El Paso, Professional and Public Programs

Other Contenders:

2017-18 Categories not active in 2019:

This category is not active in 2019. Here are winners and contenders in 2017-18.

2018

1st Place: Texas A&M University – Executive Certificate in Business Essentials

Runner-up: Drexel University – Digital Marketing Certificate

Other Contenders:

Davenport University – Certificate of Integrated Operations Management
University of Ottawa – Wellbeing for Leadership Resilience

2017

Winner:  Coaching Leader Program, Saint Joseph’s University
Runner-ups: Women’s Leadership, Ukrainian Catholic University, Leading Millenials, Vanderbilt University

This category is not active in 2019.

To be considered, please provide a one-page narrative on why your program should be awarded the Legacy Award Program.

Please also include information and/or documentation based on the following:

  • Program Description: Title, format and course outline, # of hours, program age, # of participants in the last 5+ years
  • Summary of Successes
  • Program Description URL
  • Supporting Evaluations/Testimonials demonstrating exemplary results and or impact
  • Curriculum examples
  • Number of participants impacted by the program
  • Income Generated/Operating Margin (Optional)

2018

1st place: University of Southern California – Food Industry Management Program
Runner-up: University of Southern California – Master of Business for Veterans Program
Other Contenders:
Davenport University – Amway Leadership Certification Program
University of Ottawa – Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Leadership Program

2017 Winner: Effective Executive Leadership Program, University of Saskatchewan
2017 Runner-ups:
Masters Certificate in Public Sector Management, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Leadership Development Program, Boise State University

“This was my first time at CMED and as a new Centre Director, I found the networking opportunities and the content of the sessions to be of tremendous value in helping me get up to speed, and to make connections with other Centres. I plan to come back every year if possible.”

Leigh Puddester, Gardiner Centre, Memorial University

“The caliber of this conference is much higher than any others that I attend due to the attention to detail in putting together the agenda and all the communication leading up to the conference.  The attendees’ willingness to reach out and help one another is unmatched.  I always leave re-energized for the work ahead of us.”

Caron Hobin, Bay Path University