Individual Leadership Nomination Information

The Individual Leadership Awards are designed specifically to recognize people who have demonstrated a significant and sustained leadership role in championing excellence and effectiveness of developing, planning, implementing, and/ or advocating, as well contributing to community improvement within ULI Philadelphia’s regional footprint.

Nominees must meet a significant number of the award program criteria in the Leadership & Collaboration and Impact categories as detailed below and work within ULI Philadelphia’s regional footprint (Philadelphia Metro, Central PA, Lehigh Valley, Delaware, and Southern NJ). Individuals from the private, public, or nonprofit sectors are eligible. Applicable examples include business leaders, educators, consultants, citizen activists, neighborhood leaders, elected or appointed officials, and community volunteers; members of commissions and committees, economic development organizations, heritage and resource conservation groups, and community groups. Anyone may nominate a candidate for award recognition in either of the below categories. Self-nominations will not be accepted. All nominations will be kept confidential.

Categories

1. Emerging Leader – This category honors emerging leaders and/or students for outstanding, innovative, and sustained contributions to, and in support of, planning and real estate development in the community or region they serve.
2. Visionary Leader – This category recognizes people and their efforts to achieve exemplary development, design, planning and/or advocacy through professional practice; teaching, research, or writing; efforts in the public arena; and community leadership. The category honors professional, civic and community advocates for outstanding, innovative, and sustained contributions to, and in support of, planning and real estate development in the community or region they serve.

Criteria

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partnerships – Demonstrating a cooperative, coordinated, and/or regional approach to planning and real estate development. Using partnerships to develop and/or implement a project and achieve its goals.
• Civic Engagement – Using a comprehensive and inclusive community involvement process and public awareness program which ensures that many perspectives are reflected in the process and/or project.
• Consensus Building – Bringing stakeholders with diverse interests together to exchange ideas, build trust, bridge differences, and find mutually acceptable solutions based on a common vision and goals.

Impact

• Education / Advocacy – Championing or promoting a project, plan, program, or process increasing stakeholders’ and the public’s understanding of planning and real estate development principles and process.
• Organizational Development – Developing a functional structure, ensuring adequate resources, and promoting effective leadership within an organization, institution, or municipal government, etc.
• Mobilization of Resources – Identifying, organizing, aligning, and rallying resources to achieve a goal, implement a program, or complete a specific project.
• Innovation – Using creative and transformative technology, processes, procedures, programs, or approaches.

Leadership Award Honorees

Learn more about the 2025 Leadership Award Honorees

Learn more about the 2023 Leadership Award Honorees