Age Requirement
Under 40 years old as of December 31, 2026

Nominees must be 39 years old or younger on December 31, 2026. If a nominee will turn 40 on January 1, 2027 or later, they remain eligible for the 2026 awards.

Why this matters: We're focused on recognizing emerging leaders who are early-to-mid career and have significant runway to continue shaping the industry.

Professional Experience
Minimum 3 years in food safety, hygienic design, or related fields

Professional experience includes:

• Full-time employment in relevant roles
• Consulting work in sanitary design
• Regulatory or compliance roles related to food safety
• Equipment design and manufacturing positions
• Part-time experience that totals at least 3 full-time equivalent years

Why this matters: This ensures nominees have sufficient experience to demonstrate meaningful contributions and impact in their field

Current Professional Status
Actively employed or engaged in food safety/hygienic design work

Nominees must be currently working in or actively contributing to the field of food safety and hygienic design. This includes:

• Full-time employees
• Part-time professionals
• Consultants and contractors
• Researchers and academics
• Entrepreneurs and startup founders

Industry Sectors
All sectors eligible
Nominees may work in any sector related to food safety and hygienic design, including:

• Food Processing – Dairy, meat & poultry, produce, prepared foods, bakery, beverages, etc.
• Equipment Manufacturing – Designers and manufacturers of food processing equipment
• Consulting – Independent consultants, advisory firms, third-party auditors
• Research & Academia – Universities, research institutions, laboratories
• Regulatory & Government – FDA, USDA, state agencies, international regulatory bodies
• Technology & Software – Food safety technology, monitoring systems, digital solutions
• Pharmaceutical – Hygienic design for pharmaceutical processing (3-A related)
• Industry Associations – Professional organizations advancing hygienic design standards

Professional Standing
Demonstrated commitment to advancing hygienic design principles

Nominees should show evidence of:

• Active engagement with hygienic design concepts in their work
• Application of sanitary design principles to real-world challenges
• Commitment to food safety as a core professional value
• Contributions that advance the state of practice in hygienic design

Exclusions
The following individuals are NOT eligible:

• Current 3-A SSI staff members
• Current 3-A SSI Board of Directors members
• Individuals who turn 40 before January 1, 2026
• Those with less than 3 years professional experience
• Individuals not currently active in the field

Note: 3-A SSI committee members, working group participants, and general volunteers ARE eligible for nomination.

Our expert selection committee uses a balanced, weighted scoring system to evaluate nominations across five key areas. Each criterion is designed to identify professionals who are making meaningful contributions today while showing exceptional promise for future leadership.

Hygienic Design Innovation (30 points)
Weight: 30% of total score

What We're Looking For: 

Nominees should demonstrate creative, forward-thinking approaches to advancing sanitary design principles. Innovation can take many forms—from breakthrough equipment designs to novel sanitation protocols, from research discoveries to practical problem-solving.

Specific Evaluation Areas:

New Concepts & Technologies: Development of original hygienic design concepts, methodologies, or technologies that advance the state of practice

Implementation Success: Successful application of innovative solutions that produce measurable improvements in food safety outcomes

Intellectual Property: Patents, published research, proprietary developments, or other documented innovations

Creative Problem-Solving: Novel approaches to addressing complex sanitary design challenges where traditional methods fall short

Technology Application: Innovative use of emerging technologies (IoT, AI, advanced materials, robotics, etc.) to enhance hygienic design

Strong Examples:

• Designed equipment with breakthrough cleanability features (e.g., self-draining components, antimicrobial surfaces)
• Developed novel sanitation protocol that reduced contamination incidents by 75%
• Created predictive model for biofilm formation risk using sensor data and machine learning
• Implemented automated CIP system with real-time verification and validation
• Pioneered new welding technique that eliminates crevices in equipment fabrication
• Designed modular equipment system allowing easier disassembly for thorough cleaning

Evidence to Include:

• Technical specifications or drawings
• Before/after data showing improvements
• Patent applications or publications
• Photos or videos of innovations
• Third-party validation or testing results
• Cost-benefit analysis demonstrating ROI

Professional Impact & Achievement (25 points)
Weight: 25% of total score

What We're Looking For: 

Nominees should show measurable contributions to food safety and career accomplishments that demonstrate professional excellence. Impact can be within their organization, across their industry sector, or at the broader industry level.

Specific Evaluation Areas:

Quantifiable Results: Documented improvements in food safety metrics, contamination reduction, regulatory compliance, or operational efficiency

Project Leadership: Successfully leading significant initiatives from conception through implementation and measurement

Industry Recognition: Awards, honors, or acknowledgment from employers, professional associations, or industry organizations

Career Progression: Advancement trajectory demonstrating increasing responsibilities, scope, and impact

Significant Milestones: Major achievements relative to career stage and available resources

Strong Examples:

• Led facility redesign project that eliminated 90% of standing water issues
• Managed cross-functional team that achieved first-time FDA inspection approval
• Reduced pathogen positives from 12/year to zero over 18-month period
• Promoted from QA technician to Director of Food Safety in 6 years
• Received company's highest technical achievement award
• Successfully validated 15+ pieces of equipment to 3-A standards
• Reduced product holds due to environmental monitoring by 60%

Evidence to Include:

• Performance metrics with baseline and post-improvement data
• Project summaries with scope, challenges, and outcomes
• Award certificates or recognition letters
• Career progression timeline
• ROI calculations or cost savings documentation
• Regulatory inspection reports or third-party audit scores

Industry Leadership & Influence (20 points)
Weight: 20% of total score

What We're Looking For:

 

Nominees should demonstrate their ability to guide, inspire, and influence others in the field. Leadership isn't just about formal management roles—it includes mentorship, knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and collaborative work that elevates the entire industry.

Specific Evaluation Areas:

Mentorship & Development: Actively mentoring colleagues, interns, or junior professionals; developing talent within their organizations

Knowledge Sharing: Speaking at conferences, publishing articles or papers, teaching workshops, or contributing to industry knowledge

Collaboration Excellence: Building effective partnerships across functions, organizations, or sectors to achieve shared goals

Standards Contribution: Participating in working groups, standards development, or industry committees that advance best practices

Professional Community: Active engagement in professional associations, networks, or communities of practice

Strong Examples:

• Mentored early-career professionals
• Published articles on hygienic design innovations
• Presented at conferences 
• Served on industry volunteer committee 
• Led cross-company working group to address industry-wide challenges
• Developed and/or delivered training program on hygienic design fundamentals

Evidence to Include:

• Publication list 
• Speaking engagement schedule
• Committee or working group participation
• Letters from mentees describing impact
• Training programs developed
• Collaborative project descriptions
• Professional association involvement

Community Contribution (15 points)

Weight: 15% of total Score

What We're Looking For:

Nominees should demonstrate commitment to giving back beyond their day-to-day job responsibilities. This includes volunteer work, educational outreach, pro bono support, advocacy, or other contributions that strengthen the food safety community and profession.

Specific Evaluation Areas:

Volunteer Work: Contributing time and expertise to professional organizations, industry initiatives, or community programs

Educational Outreach: Public education, school programs, consumer awareness, or workforce development initiatives

Pro Bono Consulting: Providing free or reduced-cost expertise to small businesses, nonprofits, or underserved communities

Advocacy & Policy: Supporting regulatory improvements, standards development, or policy changes that enhance food safety

Underserved Populations: Supporting food safety in developing regions, small processors, or resource-constrained environments

Strong Examples:

• Volunteered 100+ hours with food bank to improve cold chain management
• Conducted free hygienic design workshops for 50+ small food businesses
• Mentored students from underrepresented groups pursuing food science careers
• Served on nonprofit board focused on food safety education
• Provided pro bono facility assessments for startup food companies
• Advocated for increased state funding for food safety inspector training
• Developed free online resources for small processors on sanitation best practices
• Participated in international development project improving food safety in Kenya

Evidence to Include:

• Volunteer hours and organization descriptions
• Letters from beneficiaries or partner organizations
• Documentation of training provided
• Photos or testimonials from community work
• Board or committee service records
• Policy advocacy efforts and outcomes

Future Potential (10 points)
Weight: 10% of total score
What We're Looking For:

Nominees should exhibit qualities suggesting they will continue to be leaders and innovators in hygienic design for decades to come. This criterion evaluates trajectory, vision, adaptability, and capacity for sustained impact.

Specific Evaluation Areas:

Strategic Vision: Clear, compelling vision for how hygienic design should evolve and how they plan to contribute

Continuous Learning: Active pursuit of professional development through education, certifications, research, or skill-building

Change Agency: Track record of driving positive change and ability to overcome obstacles

Scalability: Potential for their innovations, approaches, or leadership to have broader industry impact

Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to adapt to new challenges, technologies, and changing industry conditions

Strong Examples:

• Currently pursuing PhD in food science while working full-time
• Developed 5-year roadmap for advancing hygienic design at organization
• Successfully pivoted research focus when original approach proved unworkable
• Created scalable training model being adopted by 20+ facilities
• Demonstrates entrepreneurial thinking by identifying and pursuing new opportunities
• Shows learning agility by quickly mastering new technologies or methodologies
• Articulates compelling vision for how AI/ML will transform sanitation verification

Evidence to Include:

• Educational pursuits (degrees, certifications in progress)
• Strategic plans or roadmaps developed
• Examples of overcoming setbacks
• Scalability metrics (e.g., adoption by other organizations)
• Endorsements from senior leaders about potential
• Track record of adaptation and learning

All complete nominations undergo rigorous review by an independent expert committee. Our process ensures fair, consistent, and thorough evaluation of every submission.

Selection Committee Composition

3-5 Expert Members: 3-A SSI Board representatives from diverse sectors, varied technical expertise, and commitment to confidentiality and objectivity.

Committee Expertise Spans:

• Equipment design and manufacturing
• Food processing and production
• Regulatory and compliance
• Research and academia
• Consulting and advisory services

Evaluation Process:

Initial Review & Eligibility Verification

3-A SSI staff verify all eligibility requirements, confirm completeness of submission materials and flag any missing documentation or information

Staff will remove ineligible nominations and assign anonymized codes to protect candidate identity during initial review

Outcome: Eligible nominations advance to scoring phase

Independent Scoring

 

• Each committee member receives full nomination packets
• Members independently score each nomination using standardized rubric
• Scores assigned for all five criteria (0-5 scale, multiplied by weight)
• Written comments provided for each criterion
• Members do not discuss nominations during this phase

Scoring Scale:

5 = Exceptional (significantly exceeds expectations)

4 = Excellent (clearly exceeds expectations)

3 = Strong (meets all expectations)

2 = Adequate (meets most expectations)

1 = Fair (meets some expectations)

0 = Insufficient (does not meet expectations)

Committee Calibration Meeting

• Committee convenes to discuss initial scoring patterns
• Identify and resolve scoring inconsistencies
• Ensure consistent interpretation of criteria
• Discuss borderline candidates
• Do NOT change scores, only clarify standards
• Address any bias or scoring drift

Outcome: Calibrated understanding for final selection

Final Selection & Consensus Building

• Committee reviews top-scoring candidates in detail
• Discusses qualifications, strengths, and unique contributions
• Ensures diverse representation across:
  • Professional categories
  • Geographic regions
  • Organization types (large/small, public/private)
  • Career stages within the under-40 range
  • Gender and demographic diversity
• Reaches consensus on 25-30 final recipients
• Identifies any honorable mentions (if applicable)

Selection Principles:

• Merit-based selection using transparent criteria
• Diversity ensures representation across all sectors
• No predetermined category quotas
• Minimum score threshold must be met
• Ties resolved through committee discussion

Due Diligence & Notification

• Final background verification of selected recipients
• Employment and achievement confirmation
• Reference checks (if not already completed)
• Recipient notification by email and phone
• Non-selected nominees notified with encouragement to reapply

Tips for Compelling Nominations

The most successful nominations tell a clear, compelling story supported by specific examples and quantifiable outcomes. Use these tips to strengthen your submission:

Be Specific & Detailed

Instead of: "Jose improved our food safety program."

Write: "John redesigned our CIP protocols by implementing a data-driven validation approach using ATP monitoring and environmental swabs. This reduced our pathogen positives from 15 incidents in 2023 to zero in 2024, while cutting water usage by 22% and saving $180,000 annually."

Why it works: Provides context, methodology, and measurable outcomes

Quantify Impact Whenever Possible

Include specific metrics:

• Percentage reductions (contamination, costs, time, resources)
• Financial impact (cost savings, revenue protection, efficiency gains)
• Scale (number of people trained, facilities impacted, products improved)
• Timeline (speed of implementation, sustained results over time)
• Comparisons (before/after, vs. industry benchmark, vs. previous methods)

Examples of Strong Metrics:

• "Reduced environmental monitoring failures from 12% to 2%"
• "Validated 25 pieces of equipment to 3-A standards in 18 months"
• "Trained 150+ employees across 6 facilities"
• "Published 3 peer-reviewed articles with 45+ citations"

Show Innovation & Novelty

Explain what makes the nominee's work different:

• What problem did traditional approaches fail to solve?
• What makes their solution innovative or unique?
• How does their approach differ from standard industry practice?
• What barriers did they overcome?
• Has their innovation been adopted by others?

Strong Innovation Description: "While most facilities rely on manual visual inspection for equipment verification, Maria developed an AI-powered computer vision system that automatically identifies sanitary design deficiencies during equipment acceptance. This system has identified issues in 34 of 50 pieces of equipment evaluated, catching problems that would have been missed by human inspectors."

Demonstrate Career Growth & Trajectory

Show progressive advancement:

• Starting position and current role
• Key promotions or expanded responsibilities
• Evolution of technical expertise
• Increasing scope of impact
• Recognition at each career stage

Example: "Started as QA Technician (2019) → Senior QA Specialist (2021) → Food Safety Manager (2023) → Director of Food Safety & Quality (2025), with each promotion earned through demonstrated innovation and impact."

Include Supporting Evidence

Strengthen your nomination with:

• Technical specifications or engineering drawings
• Photos showing before/after improvements
• Data visualizations (charts, graphs, dashboards)
• Publications or presentation materials
• Award certificates or recognition letters
• Letters of recommendation highlighting specific achievements
• Third-party audit reports or verification data
• Press coverage or industry recognition

Connect to Hygienic Design Principles

Explicitly link achievements to core hygienic design concepts:

• Cleanability and inspectability
• Self-draining design
• Material selection and surface finish
• Elimination of harborage sites
• Sanitary construction and fabrication
• Maintenance and access
• 3-A Sanitary Standards compliance

Example: "Rather than specifying standard equipment, James required all new conveyors to meet 3-A Standard 25-20, specifically focusing on self-draining design and elimination of horizontal surfaces. This resulted in 40% reduction in time required for daily sanitation."

Tell a Coherent Story

Structure your nomination as a narrative:

1. Context: What was the situation or challenge?
2. Action: What did the nominee do? (Methodology, innovation, leadership)
3. Result: What was the measurable outcome?
4. Impact: What broader significance does this have?
5. Future: How will this continue to create value?

Address Multiple Criteria

Don't focus only on innovation—ensure you address all five selection criteria:

• Describe innovations AND their measurable impact
• Include leadership/mentorship examples
• Mention community involvement or volunteer work
• Articulate vision and future potential
• Show breadth of contributions across multiple dimensions

Use Strong Verbs & Active Voice

Weak: "Was responsible for overseeing improvements"
Strong: "Led cross-functional team to implement comprehensive facility upgrade"

Weak: "Involved in developing training program"
Strong: "Created and delivered interactive training program reaching 200+ employees"

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Don't:

• Use vague generalities without specific examples
• Rely solely on job descriptions rather than actual achievements
• Exaggerate or make unsupported claims
• Submit incomplete documentation
• Ignore word limits (quality over quantity)
• Forget to proofread (typos undermine credibility)
• Wait until the last minute (rushing reduces quality)

Do:

• Start early and gather strong evidence
• Get input from multiple colleagues
• Revise and refine your narrative
• Ensure all required materials are included
• Follow formatting and submission guidelines
• Have someone else review before submitting

Nomination Methods
We accept nominations from multiple sources to ensure we identify deserving candidates regardless of their networking reach or self-promotion comfort level.

Peer Nominations (Recommended)

Who Can Nominate:

• Current or former colleagues
• Professional contacts from other organizations
• Supervisors or managers
• Clients or customers who have worked with the nominee
• Industry peers who have observed the nominee's contributions

Why This Works Well: Peer nominations often provide the most detailed, credible examples of impact because they come from people who have directly observed the nominee's work quality, innovation, and leadership.

What You'll Need:

• Your relationship to the nominee
• How long you've known them professionally
• Direct knowledge of their contributions
• Supporting documentation (optional but helpful)

Company-Sponsored Nominations (Highly Encouraged)

Who Can Nominate:

• Human Resources departments
• Quality/Food Safety leadership
• Executive management
• Corporate communications teams

Why This Works Well: Employer nominations signal organizational recognition and often include comprehensive documentation of achievements, metrics, and impact. Companies can dedicate more resources to developing strong nominations.

What You'll Need:

• Authorization to nominate on behalf of organization
• Access to performance data and metrics
• Professional development records
• Company awards or recognition history

Benefit to Organizations: Public recognition of employees demonstrates commitment to excellence, aids recruitment, and enhances company reputation.

Self-Nominations (Accepted with Requirements

Eligibility: Yes, professionals may nominate themselves for the HyGEN Excellence Awards.

Additional Requirements: Self-nominations MUST include two letters of recommendation from:

• Direct supervisors or managers
• Senior colleagues
• Recognized industry leaders
• Academic advisors (for researchers/academics)
• Clients or customers (for consultants)

Letters must:

• Come from individuals who can credibly speak to your qualifications
• Address specific achievements and contributions
• Be submitted directly by the reference (not by you)
• Include reference contact information for verification

Why Self-Nomination Is Allowed: Some of the most deserving professionals work in small organizations, are self-employed consultants, or simply have colleagues who are too busy to nominate them. We don't want to miss outstanding candidates due to lack of nominator availability.

Tips for Self-Nominations:

• Be factual and evidence-based (let achievements speak for themselves)
• Avoid hyperbole or excessive self-promotion
• Focus on measurable outcomes and impact
• Secure strong letters of recommendation
• Provide comprehensive supporting documentation
• Frame contributions in terms of beneficiaries (customers, organization, industry) rather than personal glory

Account Creation Required

All nominators must create an account to submit and manage nominations.

Benefits of Account Creation:

• Save drafts and return to complete later
• Track nomination status
• Receive updates about the program
• Modify contact information if needed

Account information needed:

• Name and email address
• Professional affiliation
• Contact information
• Password creation

Required & Optional Documentation

Required Materials

1. Nominee's Resume/CV (Required)

• Maximum 3 pages
• PDF, DOC, or DOCX format
• Maximum file size: 10MB
• Should include: education, work history, publications, awards, professional affiliations

2. Two Letters of Recommendation (Required)

• From supervisors, senior colleagues, or industry leaders
• 500-750 words each
• PDF, DOC, or DOCX format
• Must address nominee's specific qualifications and achievements
• Should reference multiple selection criteria\

Optional Supporting Materials

You may upload up to 3 additional files:

• Project reports or case studies
• Technical specifications or drawings
• Photos of innovations or improvements (before/after comparisons)
• Published articles or research papers
• Presentation slides from conferences
• Data visualizations showing impact
• Award certificates or recognition letters
• Press coverage or media mentions
• Video demonstrations (upload to YouTube/Vimeo and provide link)

File Requirements:

• Formats accepted: PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG, PNG
• Maximum file size: 10MB per file
• Clearly label each file with your Nominees Name
• Ensure files are readable and professional quality

Quick Answers to Common Questions:

Q: What if I don't have quantifiable data for every achievement? A: While metrics strengthen nominations, we understand not everything can be quantified. Provide the best data available and supplement with qualitative descriptions of impact. Expert testimonials, peer recognition, and documented innovations can compensate for limited numerical data.

Q: Can I nominate someone who's already received other awards? A: Yes! Previous recognition does not disqualify candidates. In fact, it may validate their excellence. However, focus your nomination on their unique contributions rather than simply listing other awards received.

Q: How much detail should I include in the written responses? A: Be thorough but concise. Use the full word count allowed (typically 250-750 words per section) to tell a complete story, but prioritize quality over quantity. Every sentence should add value.

Q: What if the nominee works in multiple categories? A: Select the PRIMARY category that best represents the majority of their work. The selection committee will evaluate them within that category, but cross-functional expertise is valued.

Q: Can someone be nominated multiple years in a row? A: Yes, if they remain eligible (under 40). Many successful recipients were nominated multiple times before being selected. Each year provides opportunity to showcase new achievements.

Q: How are conflicts of interest handled? A: Committee members recuse themselves from evaluating nominees with whom they have direct professional or personal relationships. The committee chair monitors for potential conflicts.

Ready to Submit Your Nomination?

You've reviewed the criteria, understand what makes a strong nomination, and identified someone who deserves recognition. Now it's time to tell their story.

Gather your supporting materials, prepare your written responses, and submit your nomination by February 27, 2026. Your nomination could launch someone's career to new heights and inspire the entire industry.