From the Families and Work Institute: Families and Work Institute (FWI) will honor employers that have made significant contributions in supporting our military service men and women transitioning into the civilian workplace. We are asking for nominations for award winners. Please follow this link to apply and/or to nominate an employer.

Several companies asked for an additional week to complete the application, so we have extended the date that applications for the awards are due to May 22nd for all. We have created a nomination form that shouldn’t take very long to complete.

The Work Life Legacy Award Committee of the Board of Directors of Families and Work Institute and several other distinguished experts on this subject will select and notify the employer awardees by June 20th. They will be honored the evening of September 19th at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street) in New York City.

We hope that you will apply and/or nominate organizations that are doing exemplary work in hiring and supporting our transitioning service men and women. Please also circulate this information to all other organizations that should apply!

In addition to these awards for employers supporting our service men and women, Families and Work Institute will present a 2012 Work Life Legacy Award to a pioneer in the work-life field and, along with Bright Horizons Family Solutions, will present the 2012 Chris Kjeldsen Work Life Legacy Award to a work-life practitioner who has made a significant contribution to his or her organization and the field. If you would like information about past WLLA events and honorees, click here.

As always, Families and Work Institute’s Work Life Legacy Award supports our essential research. This year, your involvement will make it possible to conduct the 2012-2013 National Study of the Changing Workforce, the most comprehensive ongoing nationally representative study of employees’ lives on and off the job. Please click here to learn more about the National Study and here to review publications generated from this important research.

The Flyover 50 is a new award honoring the 50 fastest-growing companies in the middle of the country. The application period is open through May 18th, 2012. The Flyover 50 is also asking members of the business community in eligible states to nominate companies for the award.

Businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin are eligible and encouraged to apply. The award is open to all industries, and to be eligible to apply, companies must have more than $1 million in 2011 revenue.

The Flyover 50 will be released to the public shortly after the application deadline – revenue and growth metrics will not be published.

Kansas City-based Five Elms Capital created the Flyover 50 to highlight companies in the central U.S. The Flyover 50 validates a company as one of the fastest growing companies in the region to potential employees and customers. Winners will receive an honorary plaque at the awards banquet and a press packet with the Flyover 50 logo for their website and marketing materials. Honorees will also receive free services from Flyover 50 sponsors and the ability to attend an awards ceremony in June to meet other Flyover 50 winners.

To apply or nominate a growing company, please visit www.flyover50.com.

Flyover 50 Interview with Silicon Prairie News

A national economist is once again pointing to Rochester as a leading hot spot for future job growth in the U.S., particularly for “creative class” jobs. Read the Post-Bulletin article here.