(Alexandria, VA) October 5, 2006 - The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) announces that 39 organizations from India, South Africa, and the United States are winners in the 2006 ASTD BEST Awards competition. Booz Allen Hamilton of McLean, Virginia holds the first place ranking.
The 2006 ASTD BEST Award winners are recognized in a special section of the October issue of Training Development (T D), ASTD´s monthly magazine, and were honored during a reception on October 4 in Washington, D.C. Many of the 2006 winners participated in the "Learn from the BEST" professional development event on October 5. Winners shared best practices during roundtable presentations and networking time.
The BEST Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success through employee learning and development. According to Tony Bingham, ASTD´s president and CEO, "The winners set the standard of excellence for exceptional learning practices and demonstrate that a skilled workforce is vital to achieving results. The 2006 BEST winners use learning as a strategic tool and have the support of senior leaders who champion a learning culture."
Through an online survey, the 2006 BEST Awards welcomed applications from 78 organizations in seven countries. These organizations submitted quantitative and qualitative information to ASTD about their learning and development practices and programs. Their applications were assessed by members of the BEST Awards advisory committee, a group of experts in the learning and performance field.
More information about the 2006 ASTD BEST Award winners may be found in the October 2006 issue of T D magazine. Details about the 2007 ASTD BEST Awards program will be available next February.
ASTD would like to acknowledge the following sponsors for their support of the 2006 ASTD BEST Awards: Better Communications´ Write to the Top solutions, eCornell, and Rio Salado College.
About ASTD
ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) is the world´s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ASTD´s members come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in 140 U.S. chapters and 24 Global Networks. Members work in thousands of organizations of all sizes, in government, as independent consultants, and suppliers.
ASTD started in 1944 when the organization held its first annual conference. ASTD has widened the profession´s focus to link learning and performance to individual and organizational results, and is a sought-after voice on critical public policy issues. For more information, visit www.astd.org .
The 2006 ASTD BEST Award winners and rankings:
1 - Booz Allen Hamilton
2 - Ascension Health
3 - Reliance Industries Limited, Jamnagar Refinery Division
4 - NCR Corporation
5 - Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
6 - Wipro Technologies
7 - Ruby Tuesday Inc.
8 - South African Breweries Limited
9 - American Express Travel Related Services Inc.
10 - JetBlue Airways Corporation
11 - Nemours
12 - Computer Sciences Corporation
13 - Hewlett-Packard Company
14 - Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
15 - Satyam Computer Services Limited
16 - Caterpillar Inc.
17 - EMC Corporation
18 - The Schwan Food Company
19 - Johnson Controls Inc
20 - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
21 - sanofi-aventis U.S.
22 - Equity Residential
23 - U.S. Engine Valve
24 - Tata Consultancy Services Limited
25 - Microsoft Corporation
26 - Merck & Company Inc.-Merck Manufacturing Division
27 - U.S. Security Associates, Inc.
28 - Vermeer Manufacturing Company
29 - CheckFree Services Inc.
30 - Infosys Technologies Limited
31 - Florida Department of Revenue
32 - Avnet, Inc.
33 - Reliance Industries Limited-Patalganga Manufacturing Division
34 - Randstad United States
35 - Telkom SA Limited
36 - ICICI Bank Limited
37 - Equifax Inc.
38 - QUALCOMM Inc.
39 - Verizon Communications Inc.