**Financial Services Industry Awards 2002**

The Bahamas Financial Services Board has released the names of the finalists for this year’s Awards.

This programme was launched in 2001 by BFSB as a means of profiling role models within the industry, in three separate categories: Executive of the Year, Professional Excellence, and Star Performer.

The finalists are:

**Executive of the Year**

-G. Clifford Culmer, FCA, Partner, BDO Mann Judd;

-Paul J. McWeeney, Managing Director, Bank of the Bahamas Ltd.

The primary criterion for this award was that nominees must exemplify outstanding leadership qualities in their contribution to the growth and development of financial services.

**Professional Excellence**

-Cheryl E. Bazard, Associate Director of Compliance/Legal & Corporate Secretary, CIBC (Bahamas) Limited;

-Anne Higgs Vice-President, Human Resources, Family Guardian Insurance Company;

Joan L. Thompson, Corporate Secretary/Manager, Corporate Department, MeesPierson (Bahamas) Limited

In this category, nominees were required to have made consistent contributions to their organisations, while contributing to overall industry development.

**Star Performer**

-Rayon A. Brown, Associate Actuary, Family Guardian Insurance Company;

-Jerome Johnson, Assistant Manager, Banking Accounting Section, Central Bank of the Bahamas;

-Davawn Turner, Account Executive, Lloyds TSB Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Limited

Star Performers were required to demonstrate an outstanding work ethic, professionalism in executing duties, and to have accomplished goals against the odds.

BFSB CEO and Executive Director Wendy C. Warren said *”The awards process allows us to emphasise and recognise the integral role of quality human resources in the overall success of the industry. All finalists are outstanding in terms of their contribution to growth and development of the financial services industry in The Bahamas and we certainly consider them all stars.”*

The award recipient in each category will be announced at BFSB’s Industry Awards Banquet, being held this Saturday at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa.