Jeff Higginbotham, co-owner of 5Star Awards, Inc., has earned Certified Recognition Specialist designation and was presented with his CRS certificate and pin at the recent International Awards & Personalization Expo in Las Vegas. CRS designation is an achievement shared by less than 10 percent of all awards professionals nationwide. 5Star Awards, Inc. was established in 1999 and is located at 100 Woodwinds Industrial Court, Suite B, in Cary.

The CRS certification marks one of the highest levels of professional accomplishments in the awards, personalization and engraving industry. It is achieved by completing 70 hours of technical and marketing/business seminars sponsored or approved by the Awards and Personalization Association, an international nonprofit membership organization with nearly 2,000 member companies.

The association’s certification program enhances the technical knowledge and business skills of its members through a series of seminars led by qualified industry leaders and speakers. 5Star Awards, Inc. President Lisa Higginbotham, CRS, serves on the APA Board of Directors and chairs the Education Committee.

“Award professionals successfully obtain their CRS designation to show their commitment to education, quality and service,” said APA President Richard Korbyl. “This advanced education benefits not only their own business operations and professional growth, but ultimately provides their customers with superior products, service and expertise.”

For more information on 5Star Awards, Inc., visit www.5starawards.net or call 1-800-553-0133. For more information on APA, visit http://awardspersonalization.org.