Nominations Open for Greater Tucson Leadership Community Impact Awards

Greater Tucson Leadership is now accepting nominations for the 74th Annual Community Impact Awards, Tucson’s longest-running tradition for recognizing exceptional leadership and service. 

Nominations are open to the entire community and close at 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 18. 

Honorees will be announced in December 2026 and celebrated on March 20, 2027, at the Tucson Convention Center, where more than 400 community leaders gather each year for the ceremony. 

For seven decades, this community has stopped once a year to notice the people who make it better. The tradition began in 1952, when the Tucson Advertising Club established Tucson’s Man and Woman of the Year. 

The Tucson Metro Chamber carried it forward in 1983, and in 2012, GTL took on the honor of continuing it. More than 200 Tucsonans have been recognized since – across every sector, in every kind of role. 

Now accepting nominations in four categories:

Man of the Year – Established in 1952. Recognizes a man who has distinguished himself through exceptional leadership and service to the Tucson community, investing his time, expertise and resources to advance community well-being, support others, and exemplify integrity and respect through his actions. 

Woman of the Year – Established in 1952. Recognizes a woman who has distinguished herself through exceptional leadership and service to the Tucson community, leading by example, uplifting others, and championing community projects in recent years. 

Founders Award – Established in 1985 as GTL’s lifetime achievement honor. Recognizes an individual whose significant, long-term involvement and accomplishments have helped shape Tucson in a quality, positive and enduring way. Past Man of the Year and Woman of the Year recipients are eligible. 

GTL Alumni Excellence Award – Established in 2017. Recognizes a graduate of GTL’s Lead Tucson or Civic and Political Leadership Academy who has put the knowledge, perspectives and strengths-based leadership principles gained through GTL into action, creating meaningful and lasting impact in the community. 

The nomination form may be found and completed online here: https://greatertucsonleadership.starchapter.com/form.php?form_id=65&c=1

Image courtesy Greater Tucson Leadership