Awards

John A. Pieno, Jr. Leadership Award

Annual recognition of an exceptional leader who embodies the Sterling Core Values. Sponsored by the Sterling Foundation.

Start a Nomination

A new honor

In January 2025, the Sterling Council Board of Directors approved the John A. Pieno, Jr. Leadership Award. Sponsored by the Sterling Foundation, this annual award recognizes exceptional leaders who exemplify the Sterling Core Values and is presented at the Governor’s Sterling Awards Banquet during the Sterling Leadership Conference.

The standard

Award Criteria

Judging criteria are based on benchmarking other award programs, including the Baldrige organization, and grounded in seven of the 11 Sterling Core Values:

Systems Perspective

Visionary Leadership

Customer-Focused Excellence

Valuing People

Ethics and Transparency

Delivering Value and Results

In memoriam

Honoring John A. Pieno, Jr.

John A. Pieno, Jr. had an illustrious career as a Navy captain for 28 years. He was also a pilot who flew over 200 Vietnam missions, earning him three Silver Stars. John ended his Navy career as the commander of an aircraft carrier.

John subsequently established the Sterling Council, which seeks to enhance performance excellence and cultivate the highest level of leadership development. He will be remembered for his over 60 years of strong, steadfast leadership and lifelong commitment to excellence.

Karen Moore holding the John A. Pieno, Jr. Leadership Award

Karen Moore, The Moore Agency, Inaugural Recipient

The Sterling Council is pleased to announce Karen Moore as the first recipient of the John A. Pieno, Jr. Sterling Leadership Award. Karen is the Founder & CEO of the Moore Agency, a strategic communications and public relations leader recognized for her decades of visionary leadership, commitment to excellence, and extensive positive impact on her organization, community, and throughout Florida.

Karen Moore with Sterling Council and Sterling Foundation leadership at the Governor's Sterling Awards Banquet

The Sterling Foundation is pleased to name Karen Moore as the first recipient of the John A. Pieno, Jr. Sterling Leadership Award, as her decades of continuous leadership have had a positive impact in her profession, community, and the state of Florida.

— Randy Ledbetter, President, The Sterling Foundation

2026 Recipient

Nancy Millan

Hillsborough County Tax Collector — recipient of the 2026 John A. Pieno, Jr. Leadership Award, presented at the Governor’s Sterling Awards Banquet.

Nancy Millan, Hillsborough County Tax Collector, 2026 Recipient

Judging

Judging is conducted by five judges: the Foundation Chair, Sterling Council Chair, Sterling Council President, Examination Committee Chair, and the Assessment Judging Panel Chair. The scoring rubric emphasizes approach and results, with a provision prohibiting nominations for current-cycle Competitive Assessment Applicants or Executive Committee members.

Nominations

Nominations require a written online application with a word count limit of 1,500 words. The nomination is based on the Sterling Core Values and compliance with all stated nomination requirements.

Online nominations must be received by the Sterling Council no later than midnight on March 27, 2026.

Submit the nomination below. Questions? Email SterlingCouncil@thesterlingcouncil.org

Start a Nomination

Nominate

Nomination Form

A nomination is this form, the nominee’s biography or curriculum vitae, and the nomination essay. Have both documents ready to upload. Fields marked * are required.

Part I — Nominee

First Name*

Last Name*

Title*

Organization*

Mail Address*

City, State and ZIP Code*

Phone number*

Email address*

Nominator

The single point of contact for this nomination.

First Name*

Last Name*

Title*

Organization*

Mail Address*

City, State and ZIP Code*

Phone number*

Email address*

Additional Nominators

If more than one nominator, include each additional nominator's name, title, and current organization. Leave blank if there are none.

First Name

Last Name

Title

Organization

First Name

Last Name

Title

Organization

Nomination Essay

The essay uses up to 1,500 words to answer two questions: how the nominee approaches seven of the Core Value Attributes and Leader Behaviors, with examples illustrating the methods used, and what specific results and performance levels have been achieved for each. Insert the title of each Core Value as you address it, double-spaced in 12-point type.

Six Core Values are required: Visionary Leadership, Systems Perspective, Ethics and Transparency, Delivering Value and Results, Customer-Focused Excellence, Valuing People. Choose the seventh below.

Letters of support and links to websites are not considered in the selection process and should not be submitted.

Core Value of the nominator's choice*

The seventh Core Value your essay addresses, in addition to the six required above.

Nominee's biography or curriculum vitae*

A separate document, as required by the nomination form. PDF or Word, 10 MB maximum.

Nomination essay*

Up to 1,500 words, double-spaced in 12-point type, addressing the seven Core Values. PDF or Word, 10 MB maximum.

Eligibility

Any organization that uses the Sterling Framework may nominate a Senior Leader for the John A. Pieno Leadership Award. Organizations with members serving on the Sterling Executive Committee, current Governor's Sterling Award or Georgia Oglethorpe Award Applicants, and current Role Model organizations are not eligible for the current year recognition.

I confirm the nominating organization uses the Sterling Framework and is eligible under the terms above.*

Nominator's signature — type your full name*