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Awards
Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award
The Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award was established in 2024 to celebrate the visionary ethos and spirit of our cofounders Sharon Kaleta and Marcia Carruthers. This award recognizes industry trailblazers, who have developed best-in-class integrated disability and absence management (IDAM) programs and can share objective data that illustrates better efficiencies and sustained improvement as a return on investment (ROI). DMEC will bestow the new Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award every other year.
2024 Award Presentation
Who Should Apply for the Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award?
- DMEC members who have pioneered IDAM programs that have demonstrated a ROI.
- DMEC members who have implemented innovative, cost-effective IDAM programs that demonstrate passion, creativity, and a willingness to take risks.
Award Benefits:
- 🌟 Complimentary full conference registration for the 2026 DMEC Annual Conference.
- 🏨 Complimentary hotel stay during the conference.
- ✈️ A $300 travel voucher for conference travel.
- 🌟 Complimentary DMEC membership for one year.
- 🌟 Complimentary registration for a DMEC microcredential course.
- 🍽️ Exclusive luncheon with the DMEC Executive Advisory Board, Employer Advisory Council, and Board of Directors.
- 🎙️ Featured in an @Work magazine article and/or a podcast.
- 🎤Opportunity to lead a webinar or conference session about the IDAM program.
- 🔊 Recognition on DMEC’s website, the DMEC Bulletin newsletter, and social media.
Award Announcement:
Award winners are notified in early June and announced publicly at the DMEC Annual Conference in August.
Nomination Process:
- The nomination process for the 2026 Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award will open in early 2026.
- Nominations will be open to individuals, who want to nominate themselves, and to colleagues and industry partners.
- Applications should highlight the effectiveness of IDAM programs with a documented ROI in cost and savings.
Past Recipients
RECIPIENT | YEAR |
| Krystle Barnes-Iwediebo | 2024 |
