• Facility Small Business (1-15 Employees): This award recognizes a business with 15 or fewer employees, including the owners. The company has been operational and completed three or more fiscal years at the time of the nomination deadline, and has demonstrated professional integrity, excellence in customer service, success through innovation and a commitment to the community.
• Facility Medium Business (16-49 Employees): This award recognizes a business with 16-40 employees, including the owners. The company has been operational and completed three or more fiscal years at the time of the nomination deadline, and has demonstrated professional integrity, excellence in customer service, success through innovation and a commitment to the community. 
• Facility Large Business (50+ Employees): This award recognizes a business with 50+ employees, including the owners. The company has been operational and completed three or more fiscal years at the time of the nomination deadline, and has demonstrated professional integrity, excellence in customer service, success through innovation and a commitment to the community.
• Industry Partner: This award recognizes a company that has been operational and completed three or more fiscal years at the time of the nomination deadline, and has demonstrated professional integrity, excellence in customer service, success through innovation and a commitment to the community. The business must be a member in good standing with the IBPSA at the time of the nomination deadline. (Formerly known as the Vendor Award) A current list of IBPSA Vendor Partners is available here.
• Industry Leadership: This award recognizesindividuals and organizations who have made outstanding efforts to improve the pet care industry through humanitarian or animal welfare efforts and/or education and industry development.
• Independent Category: The Independent category is for pet care services individuals OR businesses who do not have a brick and mortar location (dog walkers, mobile groomers, pet sitters, etc.)

A Facility is defined as a single location OR multiple locations where employees are shared equally across locations. Examples include boarding facilities, dog daycares, training facilities, grooming salons, etc. Facilities must meet the following criteria:

1. The business has a reputation for integrity and a high level of customer service in the community.
2. The business, its owners, and/or its employee(s) participate and/or support community and industry-related activities.
3. The business demonstrates excellence in animal welfare.
4. Demonstrated excellence in a particular facet of the business such as service, product, marketing, HR, etc.
5. The business has a positive company culture and keeps their team engaged in achieving goals of the organization.