PMINJ

Purpose

The PMINJ Program Excellence (PMEx) Award recognizes programs which demonstrate remarkable leadership, vision, values, and commitment to the program management community.

This award showcases how programs or organizations use their expertise and passion to transform the world through technological advancements, social initiatives, or business innovations.

Distinction Between a Project (POY) and a Program (PMEx)

Area	Project	Program
Duration	Short term, temporary.	Longer term.
Scope	Projects have defined objectives. Scope is progressively elaborated throughout the life cycle.	Programs produce aggregate benefits delivered through multiple components.
Change	Project teams expect changes and implement processes to address the changes, as needed.	Program teams explore changes and adapt to optimize the delivery of benefits.
Success	Success is measured by product and project quality, timelines, budget, customer satisfaction, and achievement of intended outcomes.	Success is measured by the realization of intended benefits and the efficiency of delivering those benefits.
Funding	Funding is largely determined up front based on ROI projections and initial estimates. Funding is updated based on actual performance and change requests.	Funding is up front and ongoing. Funding is updated with results showing how benefits are being delivered.

Eligibility

Any adaptive, hybrid, or predictable program with some or all team members located in the State of New Jersey, coordinated by a New Jersey based company, or completed within New Jersey that has effectively applied program management principles and techniques is eligible to submit, provided:

PMINJ affiliation is not required.
New Jersey programs of any type, from any industry in public or private sectors, are eligible.
Ongoing programs or phases are accepted.
There are no restrictions on the use of the submitted information after the final date of submission.
The PMEx winner will coordinate with their internal leadership or Communications team to ensure there are no data restrictions.

Verification, Evaluation and Selection

The PMINJ Project Awards Director and/or designee will contact the nominator to confirm receipt and eligibility of the nomination package.
The final evaluation process will consist of Zoom video conference interviews of the top three nominees by a panel of PMINJ Board members.
The Director will notify the PMEx winner at the conclusion of the evaluation process.
The nominations, evaluation process, and scores are proprietary to PMINJ and will not be disclosed to nominators or nominees.
If none of the nominees reflect the level of achievement expected, PMINJ reserves the right not to present an award.

Award

One PMEx award winner will be presented at the PMINJ November Monthly Meeting.
If requested by PMINJ, the selected PMEx winner will prepare a 16:9 PowerPoint presentation for the November monthly meeting.
PMINJ Pulse will feature the winning program.
Press releases will be made to external media for the presentation of the award.
The PMEx recipient may also coordinate additional publicity with PMINJ for the November event.

General Criteria

Demonstrate originality and uniqueness of applied program management practices, including innovative application of practices and methods.
Demonstrate complexity of the program and unusual conditions, issues, and barriers requiring special attention by management.

Each nomination is evaluated across five areas

Reason for Nomination

Briefly introduce the program and provide context of value. Summarize why the program deserves the PMINJ Program Excellence Award.

Alignment with Organizational Goals

Describe how the program aligns with the overall goals and objectives of the organization and contributes to strategic success.

Demonstrated Excellence

Highlight specific examples of successful program outcomes, accomplishments, objectives met, and overall success.

Innovation and Best Practices

Describe innovative approaches, methodologies, or best practices implemented, emphasizing the impact on program outcomes.

Impact on the Community or Industry

Outline how the program has made a positive impact on the local community, industry, or organization.

Schedule

Nomination window: 05/01/2026 to 08/15/2026. Apply Now is enabled only during this configured window.

Date	Milestone
01 Sep 26	Nominations Open
31 Dec 26	Deadline for Nomination Application
01 Mar 27	Finalist notified
03 Mar 27	If selected to present, the winner will provide a short video (30 to 60 seconds) to promote the March 2027 event.
04 Mar 27	If selected to present, the winner will deliver a final PowerPoint presentation in 16:9 format.
09 Mar 27	If selected to present, the winner will participate in the Presentation Dry Run.
16 Mar 27	If selected to present, the winner will present at the PMINJ Monthly Meeting.

Nomination Package

Complete the online nomination form.
Upload supporting documentation to PMINJ according to the application instructions.
The nominator ensures there are no restrictions on the use of submitted information, and permission has been obtained for the use of copyrighted materials included in the package.
A lead nominator should be designated to communicate with PMINJ regarding the nomination.