You know someone whose work deserves recognition.
Maybe they’ve built something that made operations safer. Maybe they’ve mentored emerging leaders or responded to a crisis with clarity and skill. Maybe they’ve strengthened relationships in the community or found a better way to solve a problem everyone else thought was unsolvable.
The work is there.
The question is: how do you tell that story in a way that helps others see what you see?
A strong SGA Awards nomination doesn’t require perfect writing. It comes down to helping others seaily see what happened, why it mattered and how it made a difference.
Context Comes First
Before you describe what someone did, establish what they were facing.
What problem were they solving? What pressure were they navigating? What gap were they filling?
Weak framing:
“John implemented a new safety training program.”
➤ Strong framing:
“Our field crews were struggling to retain safety training concepts from traditional classroom sessions. John saw the gap between what employees heard in training and what they actually applied in the field.”
The second version helps evaluators understand why the work mattered before explaining what was done.
Specifics Show Leadership
Strong nominations don’t just describe results. They show how someone approached the challenge.
What did they build? Who did they bring together? What obstacles did they navigate?
The more specific you are about the how, the easier it is for evaluators to see the leadership, innovation or commitment behind it..
Avoid vague language like: “Sarah worked hard and went above and beyond.”
➤ Instead, show what that looked like: “Sarah coordinated with three departments to align timelines, facilitated weekly check-ins to address blockers and created a shared dashboard so everyone could track progress in real time.”
Impact Goes Beyond Numbers
Impact isn’t just about metrics, though numbers help. Impact is about what changed because of this person’s work.
Did operations become more efficient? Did employees feel more confident? Did safety incidents decrease?
➤ Show the ripple effect:
“Three other departments adopted the training model after seeing the results in operations.”
“Employees started proactively reporting near-misses because they understood the system was designed to learn, not punish.”
“The community partnership created ongoing volunteer opportunities that are still active two years later.”
If you have numbers, use them. But don’t stop there.
“We reduced incidents by 30%” is good.
“We reduced incidents by 30%, which meant 12 fewer people were injured and field crews felt confident enough to speak up about hazards they’d previously ignored” is better.
Connection to the Broader Industry
The SGA Awards recognize work that makes the entire natural gas industry stronger.
Ask yourself: Did this person share what they learned so others could benefit? Did they grow capability in ways that will outlast this project? Did they advance safety, innovation or community relationships in ways that set a new standard?
➤ Strong nominations show this connection:
“After presenting at an industry conference, four other companies reached out to learn how we implemented this approach.”
“The mentorship program Sarah built is now being replicated across the region.”
When you can show how someone’s work moved beyond their immediate team, you’re showing evaluators why this story matters to everyone.
What to Avoid
Vague praise without evidence
“John is an excellent leader who always goes the extra mile.”
This doesn’t tell evaluators what John actually did. Be specific.
Listing credentials instead of contributions
“Sarah has 20 years of experience and serves on three committees.”
Experience matters, but evaluators want to know what Sarah accomplished in this situation.
Writing in corporate jargon
“The initiative leveraged cross-functional synergies to optimize outcomes.”
Write like you’re explaining this to a colleague. Clear and conversational always wins.
Focusing only on business results
“This saved us $200K.”
Include the business impact, but also show how it helped people, improved safety or strengthened relationships.
Quotes Bring the Story to Life
If someone on the team can speak to the impact firsthand, include their voice.
A strong quote shows what changed from their perspective.
Weak quote:
“This program was really helpful and made a big difference.”
➤ Strong quote:
“Before this training, I felt like I was guessing in the field. Now I understand why we do things a certain way, and I can explain it to newer crew members with confidence.” (Field Technician, 8 years)
The second quote shows the human impact in a way that data alone can’t capture.
The Stories Are Already There
You don’t need to exaggerate or oversell.
You just need to help evaluators see what you already know: this person’s work made a difference.
When you nominate someone, you’re not just recognizing their contribution. You’re showing the rest of the industry what excellence looks like in practice.
Nominations for the 2026 SGA Awards close April 17.
If someone on your team is doing work that deserves recognition, now’s the time to tell their story.
Submit Your Nomination
