Blue Sky Associates Dale Carnegie Team Wins Top Honor at CNY BEST

Blue Sky Associates Dale Carnegie Team Wins Top Honor at CNY BEST - celebrating the best in CNY’s talent development.

Syracuse, NY — November 20, 2025 — The Central New York Chapter of the Association for Talent Development (CNY ATD) annually recognizes outstanding achievements in talent development across the region. At this year’s CNY Best awards ceremony, held on Thursday, November 20, Blue Sky Associates’ Dale Carnegie franchise team earned the top award in the “For-Profit” category, standing out among 26 submissions.

Judging for the award is conducted by a diverse panel of 5–6 experts, including representatives from International ATD, National Advisors for Chapters, other ATD chapters, and past winners. Submissions are evaluated against the following criteria:

• Purpose and rationale for the initiative
• Design, development, and implementation
• Evaluation strategy: impact, outcomes, and results
• Alignment between talent development and organizational goals
• Ability to effectively tell the story

Blue Sky Associates’ winning submission highlighted a growth-focused initiative for a long-term client seeking to enhance communication, influence, and leadership across its organization. The program aimed to strengthen employees’ professional presence—helping them express ideas with clarity, confidence, and impact. Beyond individual skill-building, the initiative fostered improved collaboration, alignment, and trust throughout the business.

The cornerstone of this effort was the two-day High Impact Presenting training, which delivered measurable business outcomes, including:

• Increased confidence in presenting
• Enhanced communication and presentation skills
• Audience-centered delivery techniques
• Empowered leadership and influence
• A culture of growth and peer support

As a result, employees became more influential, better equipped to manage complex conversations, and capable of driving decisions that advance organizational goals.

The team behind this success included Ron Zigmont, Clark Merrill, Jess Brandt, and Alicia Natale, whose dedication exemplifies the spirit of CNY Best - celebrating the best in CNY’s talent development.

Pictured accepting the award on behalf of the team are Jody Frawley and Herb Escher.