Forward Recognized in The 22nd Annual American Business Awards®

May 3, 2024 | Company News

May 3, 2024 – Forward Financing was named the winner of three Silver Stevie® Awards in The 22nd American Business Awards®: Diversity and Inclusion; Corporate Social Responsibility; and Customer Service Department of the Year. This marks the fourth consecutive year Forward has received multiple Stevie® recognitions.

The American Business Awards are the USA’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the USA are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, large and small. This year, more than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in a wide range of categories.

“We’re thrilled and honored to be recognized for our efforts across all three of these categories,” said Justin Bakes, Forward’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Customer care, maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment, and giving back to the community are core pillars at Forward. This award is a testament to our hard work and prioritization of what really matters most.”

Over the past year, Forward has taken numerous steps to further embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in everything they do. The organization aims for all employees to feel a sense of belonging, to have their voices heard and valued, and to consider Forward a safe and inclusive place to work. Some of their DEI initiatives from the past year include DEI Engagement Workshops, Employee Resource Group meetings, collecting anonymous feedback on DEI initiatives, and more.

As part of Forward’s efforts to Drive the Mission, their team is committed to supporting local and underserved communities. Each employee is given two paid volunteer days per year and $25 to donate to an organization of their choice. Throughout the year, there are numerous volunteer opportunities and organized ways for the team to give back, including a donation match, in which Forward matches up to $1,000 per employee per year. Other unique examples of Forward giving back include providing donation gift cards and planning volunteer events during new hire onboarding, partnering with nonprofits for company events, and hosting internal giving campaigns.

Additionally, Forward has continued its partnership with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a Boston-based nonprofit, to offer tuition-free education programs to its small business customers.

Last, but certainly not least, Forward takes great pride in offering award-winning customer service. Forward’s Account Servicing team has prioritized customer experience with a number of initiatives, including more readily supporting Spanish-speaking customers by ensuring they are connected with a Spanish-speaking representative for a seamless interaction, shifting the way their team’s performance is evaluated to a more customer-centric approach, and launching a survey to customers asking them to rate their satisfaction after an interaction with their Customer Service team.

More than 300 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.

“While growth in much of the world economy has recovered slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic, the American economy continues to show remarkable resilience and growth,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. “Our 2024 Stevie winners have contributed to that successful recovery through their innovation, persistence, and hard work. We congratulate all our winners in the 2024 ABAs and look forward to celebrating their achievements during our June 11 awards banquet in New York.”

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2024 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About Forward Financing

Forward Financing is a Boston-based financial technology company that provides fast, flexible capital to small businesses nationwide that have been long underserved by traditional financing options. Forward offers revenue-based financing – delivering an upfront sum of working capital in exchange for a set amount of the business’s future revenue. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is able to deliver approvals within minutes and funding within hours — giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward has expanded Main Street’s access to capital by providing over $2.6 billion in funding to more than 58,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.8 stars rating on Trustpilot.com. Forward is also recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston, certified as a Great Place to Work®, and is committed to helping their people and the small businesses they serve to achieve their full potential.

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.