“Each year, we select a jury with a keen understanding of how products influence the built environment,” said Eileen McMorrow, director of the Best of NeoCon Program. “Their expertise -- from both the interior design perspective and the facility manager and end-user experience -- is invaluable in recognizing solutions that push the industry forward.” 

Uniting returning and first-time jurors with a diverse range of perspectives and project experience, the delegation ensures a well-rounded assessment of every submission. Participants include Suzanne Lefebvre of CannonDesign (Buffalo, NY), Annie Portner of Gensler (Philadelphia, PA), Brad Robichaux of HKS (Dallas, TX) and Robin Turansky of TVS (Atlanta, GA), alongside seasoned facility managers Lelitha Williams of Aflac (Columbus, GA), Kathyryn Feddor of CBRE (Chicago, IL) and Jennifer Leighty of Walgreens (Kenosha, WI). The full list of jurors can be found on the Best of NeoCon website.

Regarding the critical role the Best of NeoCon jury plays in recognizing standout innovations, Lelitha Williams, supervisor, office design & planning at Aflac, said, “We carefully assess each product’s potential impact on real-world applications, validating that award recipients represent the best solutions for today’s built environments and reinforce the integrity and prestige that have made these awards so respected.”

Jurors will engage in an immersive evaluation of every Best of NeoCon entry -- allowing for careful deliberation, meaningful dialogue with manufacturers and product testing. This face-to-face exchange, paired with the jury’s thorough onsite assessment, upholds the Best of NeoCon program’s reputation as the most trusted industry benchmark for design excellence.

“One of the highlights for me is meeting with the product designers and learning about their process, seeing firsthand how their vision comes to life,” said returning juror Suzanne Lefebvre, interior design leader at CannonDesign. “I value the opportunity to dive deeper into emerging trends and technologies, particularly in how they affect student and staff experiences in the academic and workplace settings.”

Awards are given for Gold, Silver, Innovation and Sustainability, and the singular Best of Competition honor. The Business Impact Awards will also return, recognizing products that drive organizational performance through smarter workflows, cost savings, space optimization and other strategic outcomes. Business Impact finalists will advance to a second round of on-site review by a panel of business journalists from Fast Company, Forbes, Newsweek, Vogue Business and Morning Brew, among other notable publications.

This year, NeoCon attendees will also be able to weigh in on innovations through the inaugural People’s Choice Awards. This peer-to-peer recognition allows industry professionals to vote for their favorite Best of NeoCon-winning products via QR codes displayed in award recipients' booths and showrooms throughout The Mart, during the show. The winners will be revealed on Wednesday, June 11th.

Submission Rules, Deadlines and Fees

NeoCon exhibitors are encouraged to submit entries through the Best of NeoCon online portal. Eligible products must have entered the U.S. market since June 2024 and be on display at NeoCon 2025. Products previously entered in Best of NeoCon 2024 are ineligible. Entrants must be NeoCon 2025 exhibitors. Submission deadlines and entry fees are detailed below:

April 1-30 (standard entry):    $1,000 per entry

May 1-20 (late entry):             $1,100 per entry

Business Impact Opt-In:         $250 per entry

More details on the program and entry process can be found at neocon.com/awards/best-of-neocon. 

NeoCon 2025 is open to trade, C-suite executives and other industry-related professionals, and registration is free for all attendees. Register here.