Is it your time to shine?

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The US Best Managed Companies program recognizes successful private companies for how they're run, what they've achieved, the contributions they make—and the people who make it all possible.

If you're interested in applying for the 2025 program, please review the eligibility criteria below and visit our application site.

Read our 2024 press release announcement, and visit the Wall Street Journal hub.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

How does the program benefit applicants and honorees?

When you apply, you’ll receive an independent view of your business and benchmarking against 'the best' private companies. It’s more than an individual award focused on one or two benchmarks. It’s a comprehensive assessment of overall business performance.

Honoree benefits

• Exclusive use of the US Best Managed Companies designation and logo for one year
• National media coverage in The Wall Street Journal
• Recognition from sponsors
• Workforce recognition—the award celebrates efforts of the entire organization
• Opportunities to connect with other US and global Best Managed Companies
• Best practice sharing and benchmarking
• Exclusive invites to events

ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

What are the eligibility and evaluation criteria?

To be eligible to apply for this program, companies must meet the following criteria:

• US-based private companies and portfolio companies
• Must be headquartered in the United States
• Must have minimum revenue of $250 million
• In the case of a portfolio company controlled by a pension fund whose investment is managed by a US private equity firm, the pension fund must be registered in the United States

The following entities are not eligible:

• US investment management firms, US private equity firms, US venture capital firms, and US family offices
• US-owned public companies or income trusts with more than 50% of their shares or units traded publicly
• Credit unions and charities
• Government and public sector organizations
• US subsidiaries of foreign companies

Applicants are evaluated against four criteria—strengths shared by management teams who excel amid change:

• Strategy: Best Managed Companies have a formal methodology for strategy development, the right capabilities and metrics in place to execute their strategy, and clearly and consistently communicate it to all levels of the organization.
• Execution: Best Managed Companies are highly execution-oriented, focused on productivity and innovation, and thoughtful about hiring the right people to execute their strategies.
• Culture: Best Managed Companies disproportionately invest in their people by maintaining strong one-team cultures, provide holistic compensation packages, invest in training, and address leadership succession planning.
• Governance/Financials: Best Managed Companies maintain strong reporting systems, use key metrics to measure their progress, maintain strong balance sheets, and apply the financial discipline required to execute their strategies.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

How does the application process work and what is the timeline?

Applicants complete a short online eligibility form and, for those who qualify, the opportunity to showcase business achievements.

The 2025 US Best Managed Companies application period is open through November 18, 2024. For additional information, contact the US Best Managed Companies team at usbestmanagedcompanies@deloitte.com or apply today.

JUDGES

Lynn Clarke

Lynn Clarke has three roles. She is an Independent Chair, Lead or Director. She is an Operating Partner for early stage companies, guiding them to profit stage and exit. And, she mentors Chairs of privately-held companies to ensure they build and lead high performing boards. Lynn is a three-time CEO and has executive/general management experience at PepsiCo. She has worked in multiple industries including: cpg, food, beverage, food service, manufacturing, e-commerce, logistics/distribution, and technology. Recently, Lynn was also interim CEO for two companies, including one she chaired. In 2022, Lynn was named The Private Company Director of the Year for the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). She is a frequent speaker and a writer on board leadership, CEO succession, Strategic Planning, Digital Marketing. Lynn was the keynote speaker at the Private Company Governance Summit as well as NACD’s Summit, The Kellogg School and many other board education events. Her writing has appeared in NACD’s Directorship Magazine, Private Director Magazine and in YPO education materials.

As a courageous independent director, Lynn’s goal is to advise companies on how to drive fast, profitable growth, consistently incorporating culture to ensure customer and employee loyalty. Lynn helps guide company leadership to build a deep understanding of consumer needs and meet those needs better than all competitors to achieve rapid success. Her goal as a board member is to help to create high growth companies and high performing boards.

Jared DiPalma

CFO, Dow Jones

Jared DiPalma is chief financial officer of Dow Jones. Previously, he was chief financial officer of the NBCUniversal News Group in 2013 where he led a global finance team that oversaw NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC. The News Group is the most-watched news organization in the country and the number one digital news organization in the U.S. During his tenure, the business diversified and expanded their revenue through investments in digital publishing, streaming, commerce and global collaboration with Sky News. Prior to this, he served as CFO of an entertainment division of NBCUniversal including networks Bravo & Oxygen, Telemundo Media and Fandango. He began his career at GE Capital and advanced to the highest levels of GE’s audit & internal consulting program. DiPalma is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross where he majored in economics.

Don Yee

Board Chair, Aerometals; Independent Director, TotalMed and Lundberg Family Farms

Don has previously also served as an independent board director for numerous private companies, including Blue Diamond (recognized as a Private Company Board of the Year), where he served as Audit Committee Chair and was instrumental on the CEO/board director search and executive compensation committees. He is a recognized advisor on private company board excellence and in scaling private companies with profitable growth strategies.

Don has been the CEO of several businesses and has helped transform several private enterprises to multi-billion dollar levels. He was also a Managing Partner at EY Consulting with domestic and global companies on strategy, organization, process improvement, performance management, and business transformations. Don has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow.