NFDA’s flagship publication, The Director, has won two awards in the annual APEX (Awards for Publication Excellence) competition. This is the third consecutive year The Director has been recognized.

Of the 1,000-plus entries submitted in 2025, The Director won two categories – the Entire Issue (32+ page) category for the April 2024 issue, and the Interviews and Personal Profile category for a feature titled “From Star Trek to Funeral Service,” published in the October 2024 issue.

APEX winners are chosen based on excellence in graphic design and editorial content, and the success of the entry in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence, according to the judges.

“I just want to say congratulations to the Publications team for continuing to demonstrate excellence in what we do. Year after year, our peers are taking notice,” said Edward J. Defort, publisher and editorial director. “I am very proud to be part of this team.” The NFDA publications team includes Defort; Annamarie Higley, managing editor; Brooke Krishok, art director; and Dawn Behr, who retired as managing editor in March 2025.

The APEX competition began in 1988 and is sponsored by the editors of Writer’s Web Watch, an e-newsletter for communicators who write, edit and manage business publications. Writer’s Web Watch is published by Communications Concepts Inc., providing problem-solving information to professional communicators since 1984.