#BHawards 2025 finalists will be selected by a committee of industry professionals.  Each award category will have a team of panelists unique to the specific group of people it represents.  For example, only Small Business Owners will be eligible to become committee members for the "Small Business of the Year Award.  Committee members are only allowed to nominate colleagues in the specific category they represent, eliminating corruption & voting pacts.  Committee membership is invite-only, but individuals that meet the "Industry's Choice" criteria may apply for committee membership below.

SBOTY Industry's Choice Commitee requirements:
1. Must be a Small Business Owner
2. Must currently be an active entrepreneur
3. Must have several years of experience ias an entrepreneur
4. Must be a well-respected entrepreneur
5. Must have bona fide knowledge of entrepreneursip

SBOTY will have 2 groups of finalists:
1. People's Choice Finalists - Winner selected by the fans
2. Industry's Choice Finalists - Winner selected by industry professionals