The Philadelphia region’s premier awards program for Human Resource departments
Now in our 27th year, the HR Department of the Year Awards recognizes the impact that HR professionals deliver to their organizations. Through rigorous review of applications across multiple HR performance categories, as well as the esteemed Department of the Year, our program has consistently raised the bar for HR professionals by putting a spotlight on HR departments’ demonstrations of excellence.
Now Accepting Nominations
Receive recognition for your department’s outstanding service excellence through the premier HR Awards’ program in the region. There are two different awards to apply for – each with separate applications and application processes. Click on one of the categories below to find the electronic applications, plus more information about each award and the process.
Your company can apply for as many categories as you’d like – for example, you could apply for the HR Department of the Year Award and then also apply for specific Excellence categories.
ANNOUNCING OUR 2024 CEO OF THE YEAR AWARD HONOREE
The HR Department of the Year Awards is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of our CEO of The Year Award, Michael Innocenzo, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Exelon.
Recognizing his inspiring work as CEO for one of our country’s leading competitive energy providers, we will honor Michael and his achievements at our annual awards event, November 14, 2024.
Michael Innocenzo is responsible for governance and operations of Exelon’s six utilities, Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco. He serves as chairman of the board of directors for each operating company. He is also responsible for Cyber & Information Security Services, Corporate Physical Security, IT, Safety, Supply, Training and Transmission Strategy & Compliance organizations at Exelon.
He previously served as president and CEO of PECO. Prior to that he was the senior vice president and chief operating officer, where he was responsible for leadership of PECO’s overall performance associated with operations, safety, service reliability, customer satisfaction and financial management. He has also served as vice president, Distribution System Operations and Advanced Grid and Meter Technology, where he was responsible for the operation of the company’s electric and natural gas distribution systems as well as the design and deployment of PECO’s new metering technology system. Michael also served as the director of Gas Operations, Quality Services and Performance Improvement. He also served as a regional director in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, as well as a regional engineering manager for Chester and Delaware counties. Michael also was the emergency services supervisor in Philadelphia and a project engineer in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.
Michael serves as Board Chair of The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. In 2021, he was honored as a Most Admired CEO by Philadelphia Business Journal. He also serves on the boards of the Philadelphia Police Athletic League (PAL), the Franklin Institute, the American Gas Association, and the Electric Power Research Institute. He is also a member of the Satell Institute and has advisory roles with Drexel University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
ANNOUNCING OUR 2024 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE
The HR Department of the Year Awards is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of our Lifetime Acheivement Award, Gerry Johnson Geckle, Senior Vice President (Retired) of United Health Services.
Recognizing a career in which Gerry has made significant contributions to the HR community and exemplified the best of our noble profession, we will honor Gerry and her achievements at our annual awards event, November 14, 2024.
Gerry Geckle is the recently retired Senior Vice President, Human Resources, at Universal Health Services Inc., where since 2011 she has been leading human resources strategy, operations, benefits, recruiting, employee relations, executive and leadership development, acquisition integration, and workforce planning. She has more than 30 years of experience integrating human resources with overall business strategy.
Prior to joining Universal Health Services, Gerry spent nine years at Wyeth in senior human resources roles including vice president, global operations, and vice president, human resources, in the pharmaceutical division. Prior to Wyeth, she served as senior vice president of human resources for XYAN.com services and vice president of corporate human resources for NovaCare Inc.
A graduate of Loyola University Maryland, Gerry was appointed in 2009 to the position of vice chair of the Board of Advisors at Loyola College of Arts and Sciences. In 2018, Loyola awarded her the Carroll Medal, which recognizes distinguished alumni for noteworthy and meritorious service on the University’s behalf. Gerry is a member of The Forum of Executive Women, the National Society for Human Resources Management, and the Philadelphia Society of People and Strategy.
