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Roseville, Calif. – Leah Burdick, Chief Growth Officer at PRIDE Industries, has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie^® Award in the “Social Changemaker – Disability” category in the 21st annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Hailed as the world’s premier business award, the Stevie Award for Women in Business honors the achievements of women executives and entrepreneurs, as well as their outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.

“We are incredibly proud of Leah,” said Jeff Dern, President and CEO at PRIDE Industries, the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities. “Her unwavering dedication to our mission to create employment for people with disabilities, and her exceptional leadership, have been instrumental in driving our growth and impact. This award is a testament to her hard work and the positive influence she has on our organization and the communities we serve.”

More than 1,500 entries from organizations and individuals in 36 nations and territories were submitted this year for consideration in more than 100 categories. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on seven juries.

“I am honored to receive this award and grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented and dedicated team at PRIDE Industries,” said Burdick. “Our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities is more important than ever, and I am committed to continuing to drive positive change in the industry.”

Burdick leads PRIDE Industries’ Marketing, Public Relations, Proposals, Foundation, and Customer Experience teams, all of which have thrived under her leadership. In 2021, she launched the I AM ABLE Helpline, a first-of-its-kind free employment service for people with disabilities. In 2023, Burdick developed the I AM ABLE Disability Job Fair in Sacramento, the first in-person job fair for people with disabilities in the region. Burdick also launched PRIDE Industries’ Customer Experience Management (CXM) initiative in 2023, a company-wide effort to deepen customer loyalty and satisfaction, increase revenue, reduce operational costs, and further differentiate PRIDE Industries’ business services.

“In its 21st year, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business received an outstanding body of nominations,” said Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards. “We are gratified by how meaningful it is to women to win a Stevie Award, and how impactful it can be on their careers and their organizations. We congratulate all of this year’s Stevie Award winners for their achievements.”