Nominations for outstanding women in ag sought for Demeter Award consideration

DANVERS, Mass., May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations are now being accepted for consideration for the Demeter Award of Excellence, which acknowledges the outstanding achievements of women in the ag sector. The awards will be presented at the third annual Women in Agribusiness Summit, hosted by HighQuest Group, this year in New Orleans, October 6-8 at the Hyatt Regency.

The Demeter Award of Excellence, so named for Demeter, the goddess of the harvest from ancient Greek mythology, will be given in three categories. The categories reflect the mission of Women in Agribusiness Initiatives, which is to help agricultural and food companies recruit, retain and advance women in the agribusiness sector.  They are:

• Leader of the Year: This category recognizes the individual who has worked to expand and diversify the offerings of women's initiatives within their company, or the achievements of leaders and entrepreneurs who have made accomplishments of significance that further the mission of Women in Agribusiness.

• Innovator of the Year: This category recognizes the individual who has demonstrated innovation in the initiation, development or launch of gender diversity programs and/or who has affected positive change in her company or the industry with regard to women's advancement.  (NOTE: Nominees for this category should not hold executive positions within their companies.)

• Company/Organization of the Year: This award recognizes the achievements of a company that has initiated programs to support professional development, achievements and overall growth of women in the industry.

Nomination forms, which are due no later than Friday, July 11, 2014, and guidelines for submission are available on the Women in Agribusiness Summit website at http://goo.gl/de9UPw.  Award recipients will be notified prior to being recognized at the Summit in New Orleans this October.

The recipients of the Demeter Award of Excellence will be selected by the Women in Agribusiness National Advisory Board, which includes more than two dozen women in managerial and executive roles representing 21 select companies such as Bunge Ltd., Cargill, U.S. Bank Food Industries, Kraft and Monsanto. See the full list here.

More than 500 attendees are expected at this year's Women in Agribusiness Summit, whose goal is twofold: to make the agriculture and food sectors career destinations for today's talented women, and to provide tools for women to become more informed leaders in the sector. Visit www.womeninag.com for detailed event information.

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About HighQuest Group

HighQuest Group, headquartered in Danvers, Mass., is a globally recognized strategic consulting, conference, and media company serving the agribusiness, grains, oilseed, food, and biofuels markets. www.highquestgroup.com

CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier Marshall
PR/Media Manager
+1.978.887.8800, x117
[email protected]

SOURCE HighQuest Group