IMA Announces 2026 Excellence Award Winners
Motivforce, All Star Incentives, Blackhawk Network (BHN), 360insights, Fusion Marketing, Create Direct, Dash Solutions and SKUx were recognised for developing outstanding incentive and recognition programs that improve business performance.
22 July 2026 – The Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) presented its 2026 Excellence Awards during the IMA Summit Awards Ceremony at its annual IMA Summit earlier this week at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The Excellence Awards recognise the development and delivery of outstanding non-cash incentive programs that motivate employees, win customers and improve sales.
Excellence Award Winners
- Excellence in Channel/Dealer Incentives (B2B, Installer, B2B2C): Motivforce
- Excellence in Employee/Internal Incentives: All Star Incentives
- Excellence in Gift Cards: Blackhawk Network (BHN)
- Excellence in Incentive Travel: 360insights
- Excellence in Innovation & Technology: Fusion Marketing
- Excellence in Merchandise: Create Direct
- Excellence in Recognition: Dash Solutions
- Excellence in Social Responsibility and/or Sustainability: SKUx
EXCELLENCE IN CHANNEL/DEALER INCENTIVES (B2B, Installer, B2B2C)
Motivforce – Lenovo – Lenovo 360 Expert Achievers Program (LEAP)
LEAP (Lenovo 360 Expert Achievers Program), created and managed by Motivforce, targets Tier 2 resellers in Lenovo’s distribution channel globally at individual and firm level in 100+ countries (in nine languages). LEAP rewards participants for successfully completing product educational activities (Learn & Earn) and selling eligible Lenovo products (Sell & Earn). In 2025, LEAP continued to be a critical component in educating and incentivising resellers to sell the entire Lenovo 360 portfolio across devices, infrastructure, and services, underpinning Lenovo’s business objectives as an E2E solutions provider.
Highly targeted and regionalised educational and sales content and incentives enabled the program to drive specific channel partner behaviour globally and regionally. Of all the campaigns and incentives operated by Lenovo in its local markets, LEAP is recognised as the most effective global channel loyalty and enablement program to underpin Lenovo 360. This is evidenced by LEAP’s 2025 results, where participating reseller firms generated an average 11.70X more sales revenue for Lenovo globally, compared to similar-profiled, non-participating firms with products/solutions incentivised within the program.
EXCELLENCE IN EMPLOYEE/INTERNAL INCENTIVES
All Star Incentives – Milton CAT Heavy Equipment & Power Systems – Milton CAT Safety Above All and Total Rewards
All Star Incentives partnered closely with Milton CAT to design and implement the “Safety Above All” program — a comprehensive, technology-enabled safety recognition and engagement platform that has fundamentally transformed the company’s safety culture and performance. Facing inconsistent processes, limited visibility, and stagnant outcomes, Milton CAT needed a scalable, measurable solution. All Star Incentives delivered a fully integrated program that unified recognition, training reinforcement, communication, and rewards into a single, user-friendly ecosystem tailored to over 1,200 safety-sensitive employees.
Engagement centred on safety has surged with increased monthly participation, training retention reaching record levels, and proactive safety behaviours increasing tenfold. Most notably, Milton CAT achieved a more than 40% reduction in its Recordable Injury Frequency Rate after one year. Beyond metrics, the program reshaped organisational culture by embedding safety into daily behaviour, strengthening manager-employee relationships, and creating unprecedented visibility into safety performance. Its success was so impactful that Milton CAT expanded it into a broader Total Recognition Program, positioning safety as a cornerstone of long-term operational excellence and future growth.
EXCELLENCE IN GIFT CARDS
Blackhawk Network (BHN) – Matter – Powering Global Employee Recognition
Blackhawk Network (BHN) partnered with Matter — a top-rated employee recognition and rewards platform — to power a seamless global gift card experience for thousands of organisations worldwide. Through Tango — BHN's rewards platform — Matter embedded a catalogue of over 1,500 merchants across 10 currencies directly into Slack and Microsoft Teams, enabling employees to redeem digital gift cards without ever leaving the tools they use every day. What began as a response to growing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a transformative rewards infrastructure.
BHN's technology enabled Matter to scale from three reward options to a truly global catalogue, drive a 37% increase in employee survey participation through gift card-based incentives, and double its business year over year, all with zero platform downtime. Beyond the technology, BHN's hands-on partnership approach has made BHN an extension of the Matter team. This resulted in happier employees, measurable gains in engagement, and a recognition platform that delivers on its promise — because the rewards behind it are as exceptional as the recognition moments they celebrate.
EXCELLENCE IN INCENTIVE TRAVEL
360insights – Trulite Aluminum and Glass – TruRewards Platinum Travel Program
360insights and Trulite Aluminum and Glass partnered to deliver the TruRewards Platinum Travel Program, an incentive experience in Costa Mujeres, Mexico designed to increase sales, deepen client loyalty, and strengthen relationships with top-performing partners. The qualification structure, including a double-points promotion from January through June 2024, drove early and sustained engagement toward annual purchase goals. Hosted at the newly opened Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres Resort, the program combined private, branded events with personalised activity choices, from snorkelling and catamaran sailing to spa treatments and cenote adventures.
The TruRewards Platinum Mobile App supported real-time updates, digital agendas, and on-site networking, enhancing the attendee experience while reducing printed materials and helping the team manage a complex program efficiently. Post-event results confirmed the program’s impact, with 92% of participants reporting increased loyalty to Trulite, and feedback praised the “above and beyond” service and flawless execution. Attendees especially valued the opportunity to connect with Trulite’s leadership in a relaxed setting. With a built-in giving-back component supporting a Mexican charity, the program delivered not only business results and exceptional experiences, but also meaningful local impact.
EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Fusion Marketing – VGP Holdings LLC – Valvoline Sticker Bucks
Fusion and Valvoline reimagined a decade-old rewards program for the modern era. With the launch of the Valvoline Performance Rewards app, the long-running Sticker Bucks program evolved from paper claim forms and physical stickers into a seamless mobile experience. Technicians could now earn rewards instantly by scanning a unique QR code after completing a service, eliminating manual processing, reducing errors, and delivering payouts in as little as an hour. The transformation also freed Valvoline sales representatives from over 500 hours of administrative work each year. Successfully transitioned in 2025, the program is now a fully digital platform providing real-time insights, enhanced security, and a faster, smarter reward experience across the automotive aftermarket.
EXCELLENCE IN MERCHANDISE
Create Direct – REHAU – REHAU Rewards
REHAU Rewards is a multi-country incentive platform designed for professional installers across 13 Central and Eastern European markets. Built to address low loyalty and price-driven purchasing behaviour, the program introduces a performance-based model that rewards progress relative to each installer’s potential, rather than absolute volume. Beyond incentives, the platform integrates tools that support installers’ daily work, including quote generation, technical support, training, and digital warranty management. This approach transforms the program from a traditional rewards platform into a practical business tool used regularly on the job.
With over 10,000 rewards delivered and a catalogue exceeding 100,000 items — including professional equipment and high-value incentives — REHAU Rewards combines relevance with scale. The results demonstrate its impact with a 31.2% increase in sales among participating installers, 40% progression to higher performance tiers, and over 80% of installer sales tracked through the platform. REHAU Rewards sets a new standard for B2B incentive programs by combining fair performance logic, real-world utility, and measurable business outcomes.
EXCELLENCE IN RECOGNITION
Dash Solutions – Aveanna Healthcare – Aveanna Heartbeat
Aveanna Healthcare, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading provider of home-based care in the United States, delivering private duty nursing services to medically complex children and adults in 38 states. Supporting more than 80,000 patients, Aveanna emphasises the meaningful connection between caregivers and patients, pairing compassionate care with strong training, technology, and recognition to improve work-life balance and clinical outcomes.
To support its 35,000 employees, Aveanna developed Aveanna Heartbeat, an enterprise recognition system that strengthens engagement, reinforces organisational values, and embeds appreciation into daily routines. The platform centralises recognition, communication, and culture, aligning seamlessly with Aveanna’s core values. Recognition is integrated into key moments, such as onboarding, compliance, leadership development, enterprise celebrations, and patient feedback, making it a true cornerstone of organisational culture. Aveanna Heartbeat demonstrates a scalable, meaningful, and enjoyable approach to sustaining engagement and driving excellence in care.
EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND/OR SUSTAINABILITY
SKUx – Islamic Relief USA – California Wildfire Rapid Relief Program
In response to the Los Angeles wildfires, Islamic Relief USA partnered with SKUx to deliver emergency financial aid in minutes. At a community relief event, recipients scanned a QR code to instantly receive funds via a digital prepaid card, usable immediately through their mobile wallet. The program distributed $175,000 to 3,560 individuals, enabling families to purchase essential goods such as food, medicine, transportation, and temporary housing without delay. By combining instant access with built-in spending controls, the initiative ensured funds were used appropriately while maintaining dignity and ease of use for recipients. This approach redefined disaster relief by transforming aid delivery from a delayed process into a real-time, human-centred experience.
Special thanks to the Excellence Awards judges who give their time and support to make it possible to recognise and honour the outstanding work of IMA members.
Judges: Neely Adkins, CRP, RecogNation; Ivory Alexander, MAS, Inc.; Vera Barovska, Ovation Incentives; Debbie Bertram, Continental Premium Corporation; Taylor Collier, Fiserv; Sharon Conley, Marriott International; Fintan Connolly, Engage Loyalty; Renee DeBell, Virgin Experience Gifts; Johane Desjardins, Vibe SMG, Inc.; Debbie Ghillino, The Incentive Company; David Gould, CPIM, 360insights; Jackie Gracia, CRP, O.C. Tanner; Matt Griffiths, 212F; Lisa Grimaldi, Northstar Meetings Group; Andrew Johnson, Diggecard; Marlene Johnson, CRP, Dash Solutions; Elizabeth Keeslar, Best Western Hotel Group; Mark McCowan, Synchro Marketing; Cindy Mielke, CPIM, BHN | Tango; Gerardo Morales, Bonnus; Mark Oldenburg, Great Lakes Incentives; Tiffany Perry; Jimena Pierdant, Cashwave; Marchelle Sellers, Charity On Top Foundation; Andrew Solomon, Achievement Awards Group; Richelle Suver, One10; Todd Tomlin, IP, Memorii; Micah Vander Tuig, IP, O'Rourke Sales Company; and Mark Wunderlich, IncentiveSource, Inc.
View all IMA Summit Award winners on the IMA website.