For a Job Well Done

Being from Western New York and going to school in New England, autumn is one of my favorite times of year. The foliage changes, the incessant whine of the air conditioner becomes a memory, and children are back in school. In short, relative sanity and order return to households everywhere. Meanwhile, in the business world, everyone is focused on making their fourth quarter numbers before the holidays.

So, while you are experiencing that post-summer surge of productivity, why not give your hardworking team members the recognition they deserve by nominating them for an American Financial Technology Award (AFTA)? Now in their sixth year, the AFTAs recognize the top performers and innovators within the wholesale investment banking community.

Nominations are due Oct. 15, and in December, Waters magazine, Sell-Side Technology and Buy-Side Technology will host the sixth annual AFTAs ceremony. This year, the AFTAs include 11 categories: Best Global Deployment, Best Risk Analytics, Best Cross-Asset Trading Initiative, Best Data Management Initiative, Best Infrastructure Initiative, Best Datacenter Initiative, Most Cutting-Edge IT Initiative, Best Green IT Initiative, Best IT Integration Initiative, Best CIO, and the most coveted of all: Best IT Team.

The awards are open to every buy-side and sell-side firm in the North American markets. All you have to do is download the application form from www.aftas.org and return the completed form by end-of-business on Oct. 15. There is no entry fee or limits on the number of entries, and the bragging rights are priceless. All it takes is the time to fill out the form and email it back.

We wish every entrant the best of luck and look forward to seeing the industry’s best and brightest represented in this year's competition.