The Lewis M. Conn Award is named in honor of Lewis Conn, who was the owner/publisher of Kentucky Business Ledger — one of the oldest regional business publications in the US started shortly after WWII. One of seven founders of the Alliance of Area Business Publications in 1978, Conn was a man of great integrity, values and held the highest standards of professionalism. He loved the business and could always be relied on to provide useful insights and helpful information.

Conn met a tragic and untimely death in 1989. After his death, the Board created the Lewis M. Conn Award in his memory to recognize outstanding service to AABP. It is not intended to be presented annually. Individuals are selected by the Board of Directors.

Recipients include:

• 1990—Armon Mills, then ACBJ president
• 1991—Mike Russell, CEO of ACBJ
• 1992—Crain Communications
• 1994—In memory of Donald R. Richards, publisher of Milwaukee Business Journal, then owned by MCP.
• 1997—Bill Metcalf, then owner/publisher of New Orleans CityBusiness.
• 1999—Manny Casiano, chairman of Casiano Communications
• 2002—David Schankweiler, publisher of Central Penn Business Journal
• 2004—Joe Cappo of Crain’s Communication, Inc.
• 2006—Connie Wimer, president/publisher of Des Moines Business Record
• 2010—Dolan Media Co.