History

Background to Awards

The Network Professional Association announced the first Awards for Professionalism in 2002, to recognize accomplished network professionals in the industry that created the association that many are members of today.

With the start of the Awards, the NPA received support from many outstanding partners, from Fritz Nelson of Network Computing Magazine, John Gallant of Network World Magazine, with the amazing cooperation of the NetWorld+Interop Convention.

2003 winners, National Seminars was a welcomed partner to the Awards, adding a personal and professional growth dynamic to the Awards for Professionalism at Networld+Interop.

2004 winners, Networld+Interop hosted the third annual Awards for Professionalism. Event attendees were provided a dynamic presentation from Gregory Mears of National Seminars. The audience was engaged in a discussion of leadership, creativity, and fun in the workplace with special emphasis on the network professional's role as a leader and team member.

2005 winners, Networld+Interop hosted the fourth annual Awards for Professionalism recognizing five individuals, which took place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Keynote Speaker from our Microsoft partner is Chris Henley, Microsoft Evangelist.

2006 winners, The Network Professional Association (NPA) held the fifth annual Awards for Professionalism on May 3, 2006 at the Interop Theatre at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Returning Keynote Speaker is Chris Henley, Microsoft Evangelist.

Chris Henley is a member of the Microsoft Seminar Sales Team representing TechNet. He is passionate about the way technology changes people's lives, and loves to share those inspirational stories with everyone he comes in contact with. He has an infectious enthusiasm for new technology. He delivers information and training to a worldwide audience through live events, webcasts, blogs, radio, television, and internet. His focus is on the IT Professional and helping them to find and implement solutions that have a positive impact on individuals and organizations alike. Chris is a firm believer that technology can make dreams come true.

2007 winners, Interop Las Vegas hosted the sixth annual Awards for Professionalism where six network professionals were award winners. The awards program, in cooperation with Interop, honors awardees for outstanding achievements within the international network computing industry. Each award winner receives a specially designed personalized trophy.

2008 winners of the seventh annual Awards for Professionalism were announced during Interop Las Vegas. The Network Professional Association® (NPA), in conjunction with Interop, Network World Magazine, Culminis, Cisco Press, and InformationWeek proudly announced this years winners of the Awards for Professionalism - honoring six awardees for outstanding achievements within the international network computing industry. Each award winner receives a specially designed personalized trophy, a one-year membership in the NPA and a Cisco Press prize pack with multiple books of their choice.

2009 winners of the eighth annual Awards for Professionalism were announced during Interop Las Vegas. The Network Professional Association® (NPA), in conjunction with Interop, Culminis (now Global Information Technology Community Association), and Cisco Press proudly honored five awardees for outstanding achievements within the international network computing industry. Each award winner receives a specially designed personalized trophy, a one-year membership in the NPA and a Cisco Press prize pack with multiple books of their choice.

2010 winners, The Network Professional Association® (NPA), in conjunction with Interop, Microsoft, GITCA, Cisco Press, and TechTeam announce four individuals as winners of the ninth annual Awards for Professionalism. The international contest for the Awards for Professionalism honors : Joe Sifer (Booz Allen Hamilton Senior Vice President) for the Best Networking Professional Career Achievement Award; Zachary Schuler (founder Cal Net Technology Group) for Professional Excellence and Innovaton Award - Corporate Small Business; Chandra Shekar Thota (Microsoft Hyderabad User Group Lead) for Outstanding Mentor; Rahul Nathan (Technology Community Leader) for Top of the Mark - Volunteer Award.

2011 winners, The Awards for Professionalism brings accolades to deserving IT professionals. The Network Professional Association® (NPA), in conjunction with Interop, Microsoft, GITCA, Cisco Press, and Agile IT announce four individuals as winners of the tenth annual Awards for Professionalism. Brian Cameron is the Best Networking Professional – Career Achievement Award. Vivek Thangaswamy wins Professional Excellence and Innovation Award for Corporate Small Business. Soumitra Sengupta excels as Top of the Mark - Volunteer. Barry Sellers pioneers as CNP Torch Bearer.

2012 winners, The Awards for Professionalism sponsored by the Network Professional Association® (NPA), in conjunction with Interop, Microsoft, GITCA, Cisco Press, Windows IT Pro and Agile IT announce two winning individuals in the area of IT professionalism. The international contest for the Awards for Professionalism honors individuals working as network computing professionals. Selection is based on meeting the ideals of the Network Professional Association, the advocate for the network computing professional, including contributions to the community and industry and professionalism practiced in the workplace. The Best Networking Professional – Career Achievement Award is awarded to Professor Tadao Saito, CTO Toyota. Top of the Mark - Volunteer Award is awarded to Ravikanth Chaganti.

2013 winners, The Awards for Professionalism sponsored by the Network Professional Association® (NPA), in conjunction with Agile IT announce eight winning individuals in the area of IT professionalism. The international contest for the Awards for Professionalism honors individuals working as network computing professionals. Selection is based on meeting the ideals of the Network Professional Association, the advocate for the network computing professional, including contributions to the community and industry and professionalism practiced in the workplace. Top of the Mark - Volunteer Award is awarded to Mark Smed. This year's new award, the Certificate for Professional Excellance, is awarded to seven deserving individuals: Kevin Kampman, Martin Lingg, Jim McLeod, Steven Potter, Steven Stevenson, John Thomas, and Jose Trevino.

2015 winners, The Awards for Professionalism sponsored by the Network Professional Association® (NPA) announces this years winning individual in the area of IT professionalism. The international contest for the Awards for Professionalism honors individuals working as network computing professionals. Selection is based on meeting the ideals of the Network Professional Association, the advocate for the network computing professional, including contributions to the community and industry and professionalism practiced in the workplace. The Best Networking Professional – Career Achievement Award is awarded to Roy Taylor.

2021 winners, The Awards for Professionalism sponsored by the Network Professional Association® (NPA) announces this year’s winning individual in the area of IT/Networking professionalism. The international contest for the Awards for Professionalism honors individuals working as network computing professionals. Selection is based on meeting the ideals of the Network Professional Association, the advocate for the network computing professional, including contributions to the community and industry and professionalism practiced in the workplace. The Professional Excellence and Innovation – Corporate Award is presented to Vivek Thangaswamy. The Professional Excellence and Innovation – Small Business Award is presented to Jerry Stidham. The Best Networking Professional – Career Achievement Award is presented to Robert Korzuch. The Top of the Mark - Volunteer Award is presented to James Belasco. The NPA further recognizes John Petroschek with a Certificate of Professional Excellence.