The award spotlights the accomplishments of outstanding professional female leaders in our community in the following categories:

-Outstanding Woman in Arts and Entertainment
-Outstanding Woman in Business and Economics
-Outstanding Woman in Communications and Literature
-Outstanding Woman in Education and Research
-Outstanding Woman in Government and Law
-Outstanding Woman in Health and Human Services
-Outstanding Woman in Science and Technology
-Outstanding Woman in Sports & Athletics
-Community Spirit Award
-Posthumous Award
-Mayor's Pioneer Award

The Mayor's Pioneer Award honors a trailblazer who has proven leadership, creativity, and vision in addressing community issues in Miami-Dade County within the past 10 years. 

A committee of past winners and community leaders will review nomination forms in order to determine the nominee's eligibility. For the professional awards and the Posthumous award, emphasis will be placed on the nominee's contribution to women's progress in her profession/area of interest. For the Community Spirit award, emphasis will placed on the nominee's volunteerism within the community.  For the Mayor's Pioneer Award, emphasis will be placed on overall involvement in the community and women's progress. Appointees from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez's office will review nominations for the Mayor's Pioneer Award.

Nominees in each category must meet the eligibility criteria reflecting continued accomplishments in the following five areas: Professional Development (with the exception of the Community Spirit Award), Community Responsibility, Leadership and Vision, Contribution to Women's Progress, Promotion of Pluralism. 

Nominators are required to complete the nomination form and submit nine copies of the form along with nine photocopies of supporting materials including any newspaper or magazine articles about the nominee, if available. If you are nominating a woman for the Mayor's Pioneer Award, please submit only three photocopies of the nomination form. You must also submit three photocopies of recommendation letters from three individuals, not including the nominator, and any supporting materials including newspaper or magazine articles.  Nominations that fail to include these items and/or do not meet the application deadline will be automatically disqualified. 

Nomination forms and instructions can be located on the Miami-Dade Parks website at http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/women.asp.  Nomination forms must be mailed to Lisa Fernandez, Park Manager, Women's Park, 10251 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL  33174.

Past recipients of the In the Company of Women Award are not eligible. A list of past award winners is available at www.miamidade.gov/parks.

For further information and/or to request a nomination packet, call event coordinator Lisa Fernandez at 305-480-1717, ext. 104.

Miami-Dade Parks, a three-time National Gold Medal Award (AAPRA and NRPA) winner, Florida Governor's 2009 Sterling Award winner, and an accredited agency, is the third largest park system in the United States, consisting of 258 parks and more than 12,600 acres of land.  It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the nation.  Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises after-school, sports-development and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; arts and culture programs and events; environmental restoration efforts; Miami MetroZoo and Deering Estate; Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Ericsson Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; and more.  The Miami-Dade Parks mission is to create outstanding recreational, natural and cultural experiences to enrich you and to enhance our community for this and future generations.