Helios HR, a human resources firm in Reston, announced a call for nominations for the 2013 Helios Apollo Awards. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 15. Nomination information and a submission form are available at www.helioshr.com/apollo.

Winners and finalists will be honored at the Helios Apollo Awards Ceremony at the McLean Hilton on May 29. This breakfast ceremony will recognize organizations for their outstanding commitment to employee development and engagement, specifically highlighting innovative, collaborative and agile programs. These honorees set the standard for leadership, growth, and giving back to the community.

Nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of recognized workforce development authorities and business leaders. The Selection Committee will consider a variety of areas, including opportunities for mentoring and innovative programs or opportunities to develop leadership skills through charitable community involvement.

“Employers are increasingly embracing employee development programs as a key driver of employee retention, revenue generation and competitive advantage, and we have seen a dramatic year-over-year rise in both the number and quality of Apollo Awards nominations,” said Kathy Albarado, CEO, Helios HR. “We encourage companies to come forward to share best practices and garner much-deserved recognition for stand-out employee development programs.”

New in 2013, Helios is adding two industry awards exclusive to the non-profit and government sectors. Supporters of this program include Washington SmartCEO, Berenzweig Leonard, LLP, Business Benefits Group, Washington Financial Group, Access National Bank, Pensare Group, Red Thinking, UndercoverPrinter and WTPF.