The Daily Record has named Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) President & CEO Claudia Zacharias, MBA, CAE, as one of Maryland’s 2016 Most Admired CEOs. For more than 30 years, the nonprofit BOC has provided credentials demonstrating the competency and proficiency of Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) professionals and suppliers.

During Zacharias’s seven-year tenure, BOC’s revenue has increased nearly 50 percent, thanks in part to the addition of two new credentialing programs, the Certified Durable Medical Equipment Specialist (CDME) and Pharmacy Accreditation. Zacharias also spearheaded the launch of an inside sales program, an unconventional approach in the nonprofit arena that has yielded dramatic results. In recent years, BOC is the only one of eight approved accrediting organizations in its field to achieve net growth in the number of facilities accredited. And under her leadership, BOC revamped its customer experience; the organization was subsequently rewarded with five prestigious Stevie® Awards in a four-year period for customer service and innovation.

Zacharias said, “I am honored and grateful to have been selected for this significant recognition. It has been a privilege to serve as CEO during a period of unprecedented growth for BOC, which would not have been possible without our supportive Board of Directors and dedicated staff.”

The Daily Record created the Most Admired CEOs awards program to recognize talented CEOs throughout Maryland for their leadership and professionalism. A panel of business and legal professionals and a representative of The Daily Record selected the winners based on their leadership and vision; competitiveness and innovation; community leadership and service; financial performance and growth; corporate leadership and board service; and nonprofit involvement. Zacharias is active both in her industry, where she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, and in her support of other nonprofits, including the Amputee Coalition.

"Strong decision-making, creativity, leadership and commitment to a better Maryland defines this year's Most Admired CEOs," said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, publisher of The Daily Record. "They are leaders who have in-depth knowledge about running a company or organization yet also inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals. The Daily Record is honored to recognize their outstanding leadership."

The 2016 Most Admired CEOs will be honored Sept. 22 at a dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. at the BWI Hilton. Zacharias and the other winners will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the Sept. 23 issue of The Daily Record and available online at www.TheDailyRecord.com.

For more information about The Daily Record’s 2016 Most Admired CEOs, visit www.TheDailyRecord.com.

About BOC

For more than 30 years, the nonprofit Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has provided credentials demonstrating the competency and proficiency of Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) professionals. BOC offersNational Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)-accredited certification programs in five O&P disciplines: orthotics, prosthetics, pedorthics, orthotic fitting, and mastectomy fitting. BOC also offers the Certified DME Specialist™ (CDME™) certification for DME staff. BOC partners with O&P and DME facilities, including pharmacies, that provide Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS), by offering accreditation that evidences compliance with standards set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and various state boards. Learn more at www.bocusa.org.

About The Daily Record

For more than 127 years, The Daily Record has provided trusted legal, business, and government information to Maryland readers. In addition to the daily newspaper published five days a week, The Daily Record publishes its website,www.TheDailyRecord.com; five blogs – Business Buzz, Eye on Annapolis, Generation J.D., Ground Up, and On the Record; six e-newsletters – Insider, Annapolis Insider, Auction Notices, Maryland Family Law Update, Legal Jobs, and Path to Excellence; its Path to Excellence - A Women's Guide to Business magazine nine times a year; and a variety of special publications on topics of interest to Maryland business and legal professionals.

The Daily Record also honors leading Marylanders through eight annual awards events: Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Influential Marylanders, 20 in Their Twenties, VIP List, Most Admired CEOs, Innovator of the Year, Leadership in Law, and Leading Women.