How the Winners Are Determined
Nominations
Anyone can nominate an individual or company using the link on the Thnks website.
Review
After the submission period ends, a Thnks executive panel reviews all entries and selects the individual and company finalists.
Public vote
Winners are determined by a popular vote.
Winners of the 2026 Applied Gratitude™ Business Awards
2026 Organizational Performance Award Winner
Chicory is a leading contextual advertising platform for CPG & grocery. We specialize in reaching consumers in active mindsets and marketing moments that matter. By combining engaging media with contextually relevant, brand-safe content, we help brands and retailers connect with consumers in intentional moments—whether they're discovering new recipes, planning meals, or building grocery lists.
From curiosity to consideration and conversion, Chicory enables brands to show up at critical points in the buying journey and delivers full-funnel results. Our platform reaches 150 million unique shoppers each month across a network of 7,000+ food-related publishers, including The Kitchn, Food Network, and MyFitnessPal, and powers 70+ leading retailers through direct integrations and strategic retail media partnerships.
At Chicory, gratitude isn't a December line item. It's how the team runs sales and marketing all year.
Sales and marketing build coordinated Thnks sends several times a year, each tied to a specific moment rather than one holiday push — a summer send, a fall coffee-and-pastry campaign that lets recipients pick their own local coffee shop. Every seller chooses which clients receive one and writes the message themselves.
Sellers also send on their own instinct, outside any campaign. A client's new baby. A promotion, an engagement, a wedding. Something before a big meeting, or right after running into a contact at a conference. None of it is scripted. It comes from sellers paying attention to their clients' actual lives and finding a small way to mark the moment.
The clearest result: a Thnks turns a quiet account back into an active one. After Jaclyn, one of Chicory's Sales Team Leads, sent a Thnks to a contact who had gone dark after two deals fell through, the reply was immediate. Four new opportunities followed.
"Proof that our emails aren't getting through," says Meghan, Chicory's Chief Revenue Officer. "Thnks saves the day by getting us into their inboxes."
Across the company, Chicory sees an 88% open rate and a 72% redemption rate. Fourteen sellers have sent nearly 6,000 Thnks between them — which is what it looks like when gratitude stops being one person's habit and starts being how a team works.
At Chicory, gratitude isn't a December line item. It's how the team runs sales and marketing all year.
Sales and marketing build coordinated Thnks sends several times a year, each tied to a specific moment rather than one holiday push — a summer send, a fall coffee-and-pastry campaign that lets recipients pick their own local coffee shop. Every seller chooses which clients receive one and writes the message themselves.
Sellers also send on their own instinct, outside any campaign. A client's new baby. A promotion, an engagement, a wedding. Something before a big meeting, or right after running into a contact at a conference. None of it is scripted. It comes from sellers paying attention to their clients' actual lives and finding a small way to mark the moment.
The clearest result: a Thnks turns a quiet account back into an active one. After Jaclyn, one of Chicory's Sales Team Leads, sent a Thnks to a contact who had gone dark after two deals fell through, the reply was immediate. Four new opportunities followed.
"Proof that our emails aren't getting through," says Meghan, Chicory's Chief Revenue Officer. "Thnks saves the day by getting us into their inboxes."
Across the company, Chicory sees an 88% open rate and a 72% redemption rate. Fourteen sellers have sent nearly 6,000 Thnks between them — which is what it looks like when gratitude stops being one person's habit and starts being how a team works.
2026 Individual
Gratitude Award Winner
Brittany Keovorabouth listens to the part of the call that isn't on the agenda. Clients mention things around the edges of the performance and budget talk, a wedding coming up, a nonprofit they care about, a pet, a passing complaint about the weather, and Brittany remembers. Then she does something small about it. Not to get something out of the relationship, but to put something into one.
It shows up in the business, and the business shows it back.
On an e-commerce account that started out scrutinizing every small move in ROAS, Brittany went further than the numbers. She toured the client's warehouse and installed the company's product herself, so she'd understand the customer experience firsthand. That kind of investment earned a kind of trust most vendors never get. Approving a budget increase, the client's contact wrote directly to ATRA's CEO: "I trust you guys, you have surely proven yourselves with your talent. Please never take Brittany and Heather off our account." That account went on to add landing page and CRO work, hand ATRA part of its outbound sales, and grow its retainer by 54 percent.
It's a pattern, not a one-off. With a professional services client, the same earned trust led to an expansion into new marketing platforms and drove a nearly 12 percent increase in monthly agency revenue, an all-time high.
The gestures she's known for are just proof she was paying attention. A donation to the nonprofit a client named when Brittany asked which ones mattered to them. A treat that arrives at a client's office on a morning the team can't fly out to see them in person. Small things, but never random ones. They're what listening looks like when you act on it.
Brittany doesn't use gratitude to win business. She uses it to earn trust, and the business follows.
On an e-commerce account that started out scrutinizing every small move in ROAS, Brittany went further than the numbers. She toured the client's warehouse and installed the company's product herself, so she'd understand the customer experience firsthand. That kind of investment earned a kind of trust most vendors never get. Approving a budget increase, the client's contact wrote directly to ATRA's CEO: "I trust you guys, you have surely proven yourselves with your talent. Please never take Brittany and Heather off our account." That account went on to add landing page and CRO work, hand ATRA part of its outbound sales, and grow its retainer by 54 percent.
It's a pattern, not a one-off. With a professional services client, the same earned trust led to an expansion into new marketing platforms and drove a nearly 12 percent increase in monthly agency revenue, an all-time high.
The gestures she's known for are just proof she was paying attention. A donation to the nonprofit a client named when Brittany asked which ones mattered to them. A treat that arrives at a client's office on a morning the team can't fly out to see them in person. Small things, but never random ones. They're what listening looks like when you act on it.
Brittany doesn't use gratitude to win business. She uses it to earn trust, and the business follows.
Winners of the 2025 Applied Gratitude™ Business Awards
2025 Organizational Performance Award Winner
Zero Company is a digital marketing agency founded in 2002 in Southern California. At Zero Company, our philosophy is built on the acronym BLISS – Building Love Into Scalable Systems. This focus impacts co-worker relationships as well as relationships with clients. Our goal is to always address client meetings and issues with empathy, seeking to forge deeper relationships with clients.
The team at Zero Company uses Thnks to connect with clients on a more personal level. Often, we will send out a THNKS if a client has had a baby or perhaps is going through a difficult life experience. This has been much appreciated by our clients, and while the tangible gift is always welcome, the gesture is often the most appreciated aspect of the THNKS.
THNKS are also often sent from co-worker to co-worker in appreciation for various acts of service. Zero Company is a hybrid office, so forging connections when we are often remote can be tricky. During our weekly staff meeting, each person shares their goals and tasks for the week, but typically, the first step is to share some gratitude for other co-workers. This is a great way to recognize the contributions of the whole team and it’s a great way to start the work week.
Additionally, we present a bi-weekly podcast, The Bliss Business Podcast, where we talk with business leaders and innovators seeking to transform the workplace as well as interactions with customers into a more empathy-driven direction.
Empathy is at the forefront of every interaction at Zero Company, and THNKS has been a big help, allowing us to better connect with clients and co-workers.
THNKS are also often sent from co-worker to co-worker in appreciation for various acts of service. Zero Company is a hybrid office, so forging connections when we are often remote can be tricky. During our weekly staff meeting, each person shares their goals and tasks for the week, but typically, the first step is to share some gratitude for other co-workers. This is a great way to recognize the contributions of the whole team and it’s a great way to start the work week.
Additionally, we present a bi-weekly podcast, The Bliss Business Podcast, where we talk with business leaders and innovators seeking to transform the workplace as well as interactions with customers into a more empathy-driven direction.
Empathy is at the forefront of every interaction at Zero Company, and THNKS has been a big help, allowing us to better connect with clients and co-workers.
2025 Individual
Gratitude Award Winner
Christine Dunham lives and leads with gratitude in everything she does. As a key leader in People and Culture at Kantata, she has transformed appreciation into a daily practice that shapes how we work, connect, and succeed together. Her impact is not just visible — it’s contagious.
Christine is often referred to as our “Chief Energy Officer,” and for good reason. She brings boundless energy, optimism, and joy into every interaction. Whether she’s celebrating a teammate with her signature orange kazoo or lighting up a room with encouragement, Christine makes people feel seen, valued, and celebrated.
She is the champion of our Good Vibes program, an everyday peer recognition platform that encourages teammates to show appreciation for one another. Thanks to her leadership, it has become a core part of our culture. Christine doesn’t just promote the program — she ensures it thrives. She keeps engagement high, amplifies recognition across the company, and continuously reminds us why gratitude matters.
At our most recent Sales Kickoff, Christine played a critical role in fostering authentic connection. She was not just an MC, but the emotional anchor of the event, reminding everyone that success is rooted in how we support one another. She created space for team members to connect in real, meaningful ways that lasted beyond the event itself.
Christine is also the voice of empathy in times of change or challenge. She frequently reminds us that people are people, and that every business decision or conflict is ultimately about humans. Her approach inspires us to slow down, listen, and respond with care. This philosophy has helped create a workplace where psychological safety and mutual respect are the norm.
Working with Christine is energizing. Her enthusiasm is unmatched, and her presence lifts the entire team. She sets the tone for how we treat each other, and others follow her lead. Her influence is a ripple effect that touches every corner of our organization. Earlier this year, Christine was surprised with a special Flare Award in recognition of her impact. As one colleague shared, “Christine truly embodies the spirit of putting people first through her consistent enthusiasm and exceptionally personable approach. She is a cheerleader for everyone in the organization — a true rock star.” Another noted, “She is instrumental in building a positive and vibrant team culture. Her unwavering commitment to cultivating Kantata’s values truly sets her apart.”
Without Christine, our culture would not be what it is today. She is the embodiment of gratitude in action and a shining example of how appreciation can drive real business results. She makes work more human, more joyful, and more connected.
Christine Durham doesn’t just practice gratitude. She leads with it, builds with it, and inspires it in everyone around her.
She is the champion of our Good Vibes program, an everyday peer recognition platform that encourages teammates to show appreciation for one another. Thanks to her leadership, it has become a core part of our culture. Christine doesn’t just promote the program — she ensures it thrives. She keeps engagement high, amplifies recognition across the company, and continuously reminds us why gratitude matters.
At our most recent Sales Kickoff, Christine played a critical role in fostering authentic connection. She was not just an MC, but the emotional anchor of the event, reminding everyone that success is rooted in how we support one another. She created space for team members to connect in real, meaningful ways that lasted beyond the event itself.
Christine is also the voice of empathy in times of change or challenge. She frequently reminds us that people are people, and that every business decision or conflict is ultimately about humans. Her approach inspires us to slow down, listen, and respond with care. This philosophy has helped create a workplace where psychological safety and mutual respect are the norm.
Working with Christine is energizing. Her enthusiasm is unmatched, and her presence lifts the entire team. She sets the tone for how we treat each other, and others follow her lead. Her influence is a ripple effect that touches every corner of our organization. Earlier this year, Christine was surprised with a special Flare Award in recognition of her impact. As one colleague shared, “Christine truly embodies the spirit of putting people first through her consistent enthusiasm and exceptionally personable approach. She is a cheerleader for everyone in the organization — a true rock star.” Another noted, “She is instrumental in building a positive and vibrant team culture. Her unwavering commitment to cultivating Kantata’s values truly sets her apart.”
Without Christine, our culture would not be what it is today. She is the embodiment of gratitude in action and a shining example of how appreciation can drive real business results. She makes work more human, more joyful, and more connected.
Christine Durham doesn’t just practice gratitude. She leads with it, builds with it, and inspires it in everyone around her.
Winners of the 2024 Applied Gratitude™ Business Awards
A clean sweep for Pegasus Logistics Group, winning both the Company and Individual awards! Congratulations to Troy Stevenson and the Pegasus Logistics Group team.
A special thanks also to our inaugural sponsor, First Horizon Bank. Your support & partnership played a key role in the success of this year’s program. We appreciate your participation.
2024 Organizational Performance Award Winner
We are truly honored to receive this recognition from Thnks and First Horizon. Gratitude is at the heart of our culture, and this win is a testament to the dedication and commitment of individuals like Troy Stevenson and all our team members. We believe that gratitude is the foundation for building strong relationships with our team members, clients, partners, and the community. It’s wonderful to see both Troy’s efforts and the collective spirit of Pegasus Logistics recognized. We’re excited to continue fostering an environment where appreciation drives success and strengthens our connections.
– Ken Beam, Founder & CEO - Pegasus Logistics Group
2024 Individual
Gratitude Award Winner
Troy Stevenson:
Account Manager at Pegasus Logistics Group
Starting from humble beginnings as a dock worker and rising to become an account manager, I’ve learned valuable lessons along the way. Whether loading a truck with a coworker in 110-degree heat or working in a cool, air-conditioned office, I’ve come to understand that every individual’s job is crucial in building relationships based on trust and communication. By consistently showing up and expressing gratitude, I’ve forged strong connections through both successes and mistakes.
These experiences have taught me that it’s okay to be vulnerable at times, allowing me to be open to fresh ideas. Honesty and commitment in these relationships have built a trust that I am unwilling to compromise. I believe this has helped me to have some of the personal successes that I have had with both my colleagues and my clients.
These experiences have taught me that it’s okay to be vulnerable at times, allowing me to be open to fresh ideas. Honesty and commitment in these relationships have built a trust that I am unwilling to compromise. I believe this has helped me to have some of the personal successes that I have had with both my colleagues and my clients.
– Troy Stevenson
2024 Finalists
Individual award finalists
Company award finalists
Winners of the 2023 Applied Gratitude™ Business Awards
2023 Applied Gratitude™ Business Awards
Lisa Gonzales:
Area Manager at SportClips
Gratitude helps me boost culture and motivation in my team because they feel seen for their hard work and dedication. This helps build trust. I believe a positive work environment leads to growth because my team feels appreciated and valued. I genuinely appreciate being a leader within SportClips, I find purpose in my work.
– Lisa Gonzalez
2023 Finalists
Individual award Finalists
Winners of the 2022 Applied Gratitude™ Business Awards
2022 Individual Gratitude Award Winner
Christopher Roy:
Principal at Sunrise Elementary School
Mr. Roy was instrumental when our city lost power and his school was named a cooling station. Although not required, he spent hours at the cooling station assisting the city with making sure people and their pets were comfortable and had the resources they needed At this time, he was also responsible for determining damage to his school, notifying his staff and the District office, and managing his personal life in the aftermath of the storm.
