About Us

About Us

Recognizing and Promoting the World's Best Business Titles Since 2007

Launched in 2007, the Axiom Business Book Awards are the largest and most respected guidepost for business books in today’s evolving publishing landscape. Each year, we honor influential business titles and their creators across more than 25 categories, including Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Sales, Economics, and Personal Finance. From groundbreaking ideas in entrepreneurship and leadership to essential knowledge in personal finance and sales, these awards celebrate books that bring new perspectives to a dynamic, competitive marketplace.

We invite authors, publishers, and illustrators to submit their impactful books and join us in recognizing works that enhance careers, enrich lives, and foster a more innovative world.

Our Mission

The Axiom Business Book Awards bring well-deserved recognition to outstanding business books and their creators, understanding that today’s professionals are avid readers eager for knowledge that will inform, inspire, and advance their careers. Our mission is to spotlight works that not only drive professional growth but also foster leadership, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions. By honoring authors, publishers, and illustrators who contribute essential insights to business and management, we celebrate the dedication of those whose work empowers readers to excel in their personal and professional lives.

Our Entrants

Each year, books are submitted across categories such as Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Business Technology. Entries come from a wide range of publishers, from independent presses to major imprints, showcasing unique perspectives and top-quality content. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded based on creativity, design, and the impact of each book on its readers.

Previous medalists include distinguished figures such as Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, and philanthropist and investor Ray Dalio, among many other influential business leaders and thinkers. Their contributions set a high standard for excellence in business publishing, and the Axiom Book Awards continue to honor works that drive progress and insight in the field.

Our Staff

Amy Shamroe

Amy Shamroe

Book Awards Director
231.933.2934

Amy has been with Jenkins Group for more than 15 years now. Books have always been a huge part of her life, and her favorite thing about her job is connecting with authors and hearing their stories! Contact her for questions about book award categories, deadlines, the process, or other awards opportunities.

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Emily Slater

Emily Slater

Book Awards Director
231.360.2954

Emily has been with Jenkins Group since 2021, working in both Book Awards and Book Distribution. Her degree in communications, coupled with a lifelong love of books, drives her passion for connecting people and their stories to a broader audience.

She enjoys spending time with family and friends and connecting with her local community through volunteer work. She and her husband are co-circus wranglers of four kids and three pony-sized dogs.

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Jerry Jenkins

Jerrold Jenkins

Founder & CEO

231.883.5365

In 1988, Jerrold founded Jenkins Group, a leading publishing services firm that assists individuals and corporations with custom solutions tailored to fit a variety of budgets and timelines.

Driven by a passion for honoring the year’s best books, Jerrold launched a series of book awards programs in 1996. Today, Jenkins Group proudly presents six prestigious book award contests: the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards, Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, Axiom Book Awards, Axiom Business Book Awards, eLit Book Awards, and Axiom Christian Book Awards.

A graduate of Alma College, Jenkins worked as a financial and investment management group account executive before his publishing career.

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Jim Kalajian

Jim Kalajian

President & COO
231.933.0445 ext. 1006

Jim oversees the daily operations at Jenkins Group, ensuring seamless workflows across both customer-facing and back-office functions, with a focus on the custom book publishing and book awards divisions.

He joined the company in 1999, bringing over a decade of operational and organizational change experience from his time at the leading consulting firm, Accenture. Jim applies his expertise in finance, IT, process management, human resources, and communication across all teams within Jenkins Group. His skills in problem-solving, project planning, change management, and quantitative analysis drive continuous improvement for both clients and employees. 

Jim holds a B.S. in Engineering Arts from Michigan State University.

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