2026 ACColades Award Nomination Form

2026 ACColades Official Nomination Form

Honoring Excellence in Visionary Leadership that Values Equity and Sponsorship
The Association of Corporate Counsel, Southern California Chapter, is proud to present the 2026 ACColades awards. These prestigious honors recognize exceptional individual leaders—Founders, CEOs, C-Suite Executives, General Counsel, and Senior Legal and Operational Roles—who navigate the complexities of organizational management with profound social impact or sponsorship. We honor those who demonstrate that institutional change and societal equity are the result of principled leadership, including in Southern California’s corporate and community sectors.

Award Categories
- The Private Sector Catalyst: Recognizing a distinguished leader within a for-profit enterprise who fosters an inclusive, growth-oriented mindset through active sponsorship and mentorship.
- The Non-Profit Sector Catalyst: Recognizing a distinguished leader within a non-profit who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to a purpose-driven mission and societal equity.
The Three Pillars of Commendation Nominees will be evaluated based on their demonstrated excellence in:
- Principled Stewardship: Institutionalizing equity and professional respect within their organization’s core mission.
- Sponsorship: Acting as a catalyst for inclusion and career development for others within their organization.
- Community Inspiration: Modeling ethical leadership for the broader Southern California professional community.
Key Dates & Deadlines
- Nomination Deadline: Friday, June 12, 2026
- ACColades Reception: July 15, 2026, hosted at Alston & Bird LLP (Los Angeles, CA) (Note: Award recipients are expected to attend the reception to accept the honor and provide brief remarks.)
Section 1: Candidate Profile
Nominee Name
Nominee Title
Organization Name
Sector
Total Employee Count
Brief Description of Current Role

0/50
The "North Star" (50-word limit): Please define the nominee’s fundamental philosophy regarding the intersection of professional enterprise, community responsibility, and societal equity, and how the nominee has demonstrated that philosophy outside of their employment setting.

0/50
Section 2: Narrative Submissions

(250-word limit per response)
Overall Strategic Achievement and Organizational Impact: Please detail a specific instance in which the nominee guided his/her organization to a significant milestone (e.g., a policy shift, deal, market breakthrough, or community achievement) while integrating the sponsorship and inclusion of others who seek higher professional and personal potential in their organization. How did the leader’s conduct reflect an inclusive, growth-oriented mindset?

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Prioritizing Equity in the Face of Adversity: Describe a period of institutional challenge when the nominee prioritized organizational and societal equity in the form of the professional and personal development of others within the nominee’s organization. Specifically, how did the nominee overcome particular obstacles while still prioritizing the professional sponsorship of others within the organization?

0/250
Legacy of Leadership: How has the nominee served as a catalyst for progress within the broader Southern California community? Provide recent example from the past 12 months of how the nominee’s leadership advanced the causes of respect and equity within the nominee’s industry or local community.

0/250
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2026 ACColades Official Nomination Form

Section 1: Candidate Profile

Section 2: Narrative Submissions