McLean, VA – April 29, 2026 – Hive Group was honored with one Gold, two Silver, and one Bronze Stevie® Award in the 24th Annual American Business Awards®, recognizing individual excellence, leadership, culture, and organizational impact.
The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.
Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Tuesday, June 9.
This year, over 3,700 nominations were submitted from individuals and organizations of all sizes and across virtually every industry, spanning a wide range of categories. Hive Group received honors in all four categories for which it was nominated.
Hive Group proudly celebrates Gillian Van Nest, who earned a Gold Stevie® Award in the category of Support Staffer of the Year for her exceptional service across corporate operations and client delivery. As a central point of contact and steady operational force, she led complex initiatives, including the buildout of Hive Group’s 17,000-square-foot headquarters, while ensuring uninterrupted support to mission-critical programs.
Hive Group also earned a Silver Stevie® Award for Remote Work Culture Excellence, recognizing its connected, high-performing workforce across more than 20 states, and a Bronze award for Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, reflecting continued growth, strong contract performance, and the development of proprietary frameworks such as HiveIQ and HexaCore™.
A highlight of this year’s honors is Will Fortier, President and CEO of Hive Group, who received a Silver Stevie® Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Business Service Industries category. Over more than three decades, he has built a reputation for innovation and leadership in high-stakes federal environments, guiding Hive Group’s growth and positioning the company as a trusted GovCon partner.
“I am incredibly humbled. The real honor is reflecting on the dedication and lasting impact of the teams I have been fortunate to be part of over the past 30 years. It is easy to lose sight of the journey when focused on what lies ahead. I’m proud of the recognition Hive has received from the ABA this year, made even more meaningful by the challenges our teams have navigated over the past 12 to 18 months.” – Will Fortier
More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie® Award winners.
About Hive Group
Hive Group is a HUBZone-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in acquisition, program, and financial management, as well as professional services including data analytics, financial solutions, human capital, training, and commercial staffing. Founded in 2018, Hive Group has developed relationships with high-profile customers, including the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Defense (DoD). With 10 years of U.S. military service experience at the core of its leadership, Hive Group leverages the strengths of service to achieve mission success.
About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes, as well as the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding workplace performance worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
Hive Group Media Contact
Diana Knotts
Communications Specialist
1785 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 700
McLean, VA 22102
dknotts@hive-llc.com