2010 AFP Pinnacle Awards

How do I access the official Pinnacle entry form? Is this form the only way to apply?

• To apply for a Pinnacle Award, click here to fill out a Simple Online Entry Form -- this is the only way to apply. Soon after you submit your entry, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address you provide in the form. The e-mail will include a link to your entry so that you can make changes and/or additions as necessary.

How do I know what category to enter: Strategy, Innovation, or Risk?

• Good question, as an award-winning “strategic” solution might also be seen as highly “innovative” or “risk-averting,” etc. The best rule of thumb is to take a look at the descriptions below and ask in which category does your solution best fit? You should apply for the Pinnacle Award in that category.
• Strategy: Treasury and Finance as a Strategic Partner. These winning solutions demonstrate the value that treasury and finance creates as a strategic player with business units and operations by designing optimal capital structures and capital market deal structures enabling corporate growth.
• Innovation: Leading Advances in Treasury and Finance. These winning solutions highlight the work of treasurers and financial professionals designing and developing new organizational structures, innovative technologies and processes, and sophisticated performance metrics that are on the cutting edge of treasury and finance.
• Risk: Advanced Risk Management Methodologies. These winning solutions award treasurers and financial professionals for designing and utilizing advanced risk management methodologies that reduce organizational risk related to financial risks, internal controls and compliance, fraud prevention, business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

Are turn-key solutions accepted?

• No. The Pinnacle Award is an opportunity to show off original strategy and innovations. Turn-key solutions are not accepted.

Does it matter what size company I am with?

• No, size does not matter. Treasury and finance departments of companies, organizations or government entities – regardless of size or industry or location – may enter for a 2010 Pinnacle Award.

Do you need to be an AFP member to apply for a Pinnacle Award?

• No, AFP membership is not a prerequisite for applying.

What happens if I win?

• Each 2010 AFP Pinnacle Category Award Winner will be flown out to this year's AFP Annual Conference in San Antonio, November 7-10, to receive the Pinnacle Award in front of over 4,000 treasury and finance professionals. The awards will be presented by a senior Wells Fargo executive in concert with the President of AFP. The AFP Pinnacle Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the category winners and be awarded this special honor during the ceremony. The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a $10,000 charitable donation to the charity of their choice from Wells Fargo. AFP provides for up to two complimentary conference registrations, transportation and lodging for each of the category winners.

The winners will also have the opportunity to present their winning solutions during the Annual Conference. In addition, AFP's Publications staff will help the winners develop their entries into articles that will be published in an upcoming AFP Exchange magazine.

How are the Pinnacle Awards judged?

• All entries are screened to mask any material necessary to ensure blind and impartial evaluation by the judges. Judging occurs in two rounds. In the first round judges rate and reveal category winners. The second round of judging reveals the grand prize winner from the 3 category winners.

Judges rate each entry on 4 dimensions using a 1 to 5 ratings scale. The dimensions are:

• Category Fit: Does the entry represent the award category to which it was submitted?
• Effectiveness: Does the entry reflect programs, activities, methodologies, etc., that solve the defined objective or problem?
• Relevance: Is the entry relevant to treasury and finance?
• Difficulty: Was the solution defined in the entry particularly difficult or challenging?

What is the deadline for entering?

• June 4, 2010

Is there a fee for entering?

• There are no entry fees.