35th Sterling Leadership Conference

• 100 Governor's Sterling Award and Georgia Oglethorpe Award recipients since 1993
• 21 Sterling Sustained Excellence Award recipients since 2011
• 3,500 trained Examiners carrying Sterling practices into organizations across the region
• 23,000+ conference attendees over the life of the annual Sterling Leadership Conference

The Sterling assessment process serves organizations of all sizes and sectors across Florida and Georgia — from those just beginning their excellence journey to those operating at role-model levels of performance.

The program offers a tiered pathway — from the entry-level Sterling Collaborative through intermediate award levels to the Governor's Sterling Award and Georgia Oglethorpe Award, the highest recognition in the region. A Panel of seven internationally recognized judges evaluates top-tier candidates, and the Sterling Sustained Excellence Award recognizes organizations that maintain role-model status over time.

Every participating organization receives a detailed feedback report — typically one of the most actionable planning documents an organization receives in a given year.

The Conference has achieved 100% overall attendee satisfaction for several consecutive years — a distinction that reflects both the quality of content and the caliber of its audience.

Each year, attendees experience:

• Two nationally recognized keynote speakers addressing today's most pressing leadership and management challenges
• 40+ concurrent workshops and certification sessions — practical, immediately applicable – these include Six Certification Tracks including: Advanced Leadership Development, Leadership, Advanced Managing for Excellence, Managing for Excellence, Process Management, and Strategic Planning
• A Team Showcase and Storyboard Competition featuring real-world process improvement from high-performing organizations nationwide
• A Products and Services Exposition and structured networking with Sterling Award recipients, performance excellence practitioners, and peer leaders across sectors

For executive teams, the Conference offers something difficult to replicate: a shared experience that builds common leadership language, aligned vision, and the collective mindset that separates organizations achieving incremental progress from those achieving breakthrough performance.

For 34 years, the Sterling Council has been the trusted partner for organizations committed to performance excellence — guiding hundreds of Florida, Georgia, and organizations across the nation toward greater operational efficiency, higher performance, and lasting results.