fivestar awards engraving team working together

FiveStar Awards and Engraving

Bringing visions and imagination to reality. Using cutting edge processes that impress each customer.

Start a Project
FiveStar Awards and Engraving is a top provider of high quality awards, recognition items, and engraving services in the nation.

Successful companies and customers come to FiveStar for creativity, craftsmanship, top-notch skills and products, and the utmost care for their project.

Our Values

Passion icon

Passion

Craftsmanship icon

Craftsmanship

Ownership icon

Ownership

Collaboration icon

Collaboration

Commitment icon

Commitment

Our promise:

We will use all our skills and resources
to do the job right every time.

Meet our people

Lisa Higginbotham, CRM
APA President 2021-2022
Owner and President
Jeff Higginbotham, CRS
Co-Owner, Vice President
Nataliia Nazarenko
Operations Manager
Megan
Security

Meet our machines

Zeus
Trotec 400R - Run on Ruby, 120 watt
Laser engraving, industrial engraving and acrylic, glass, metal marking
Neith
Mimaki UCJV300-160 Plus
Large Format Uv Roll-to-Roll Printer
Xena
Trotec Speedy 300, 80-watt
Laser Engraving and Cutting, Industrial and Metal Marking
Iris
Mimaki UJF-6042 MkII
UV Printing
Psamathe
Ikonics Imaging CrystalBlast Elite
Sandblasting
Helios
Digital Knight DK20S
Sublimation Printing
Cadmus
Gravograph IS400
Engraving, Industrial and Metal Marking
Clotho
Tajima TMBP-SC1501
Embroidery
Apollo
Mimaki UJF 7151 Plus
UV Large Format
Theia
30watt Radian Galvo 3D Fiber Laser
Industrial Marking

Our Story

FiveStar Awards & Engraving owners Lisa and Jeff Higgenbotham
We are committed to building relationships with our customers for the long haul and are humbled that some of our very first customers from more than 20 years ago do business with us to this day. Our artwork, engraving, and etching are done in house—we are not a third party supplier.

Unlike many awards businesses, FiveStar did not evolve from a family business or a history of trophy building—although FiveStar is now very much a family business! Lisa and husband Jeff together own FiveStar, and they create a family-style culture for their employees.

Our team has more than 35 combined years of industry experience and stays involved with continuing education and new technology, so we can provide these services to our customers.

Industry Involvement
FiveStar belongs to the Awards and Personalization Association (APA) and Lisa actively contributes to the industry through her membership on several national committees. In 2021, after six years of serving on the association's Board of Directors, she became President of the international association and will serve in this capacity through 2022. A passionate advocate for industry education, Lisa chaired the APA Education Committee for 2 years, and serves as a Trustee on the Board of the Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation (ARIEF).

Industry Accolades
The ultimate recognition, in Lisa’s opinion, is to be celebrated by your industry. Being awarded the 2012 Small Business Retailer of the Year was just that for the FiveStar team. APA presents one coveted gold obelisk per year each to a small and large business from the association’s international membership. FiveStar added a second obelisk to the collection when Lisa was awarded the 2018 Volunteer of the Year gold obelisk. And in 2019, FiveStar received a clear obelisk for Best Retailer Website.

Community Accolades
FiveStar was named Small Business of the Year in 2020 by the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce. Also in 2020, Lisa was named one of five Women of Western Wake, after a challenging year and a Covid pivot. FiveStar produced Halos For Heroes, making face shields and distributing them in partnership with a Rotary District grant to area assisted living facilities, regional hospitals, and groups that were underserved by available PPE.

Education is Priority

Every year, our team attends the APA International Awards and Personalization Expo in Las Vegas. In addition to sourcing new ideas, seeing industry products and technology, and spending time with suppliers and friends from across the world, we go to the show for continuing education opportunities.

Community Service
We are firmly committed to giving back. Lisa is a member of Rotary International, and is a proud member of Rotary District 7710. She has been a charter member of the Apex Sunrise Rotary Club (President 2015-2016), a Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Paul Harris Society. Jeff is also a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Apex Sunrise Rotary Club. Jeff and Lisa are members of and actively serve at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, NC. On a business and personal level, they are supporters of Operation Coming Home and Hope for Haiti Foundation. The company is also actively involved with the Apex, Holly Springs, and Morrisville Chambers of Commerce.
Accolades & Accreditations
C12 logoAPA ARA awards winner logoRotary Club member logoWBENC logoAwards and Personalization memberAPA ARA awards winner logo
Awards and Personalization memberAPA Winner2020-21 NAWBO Greater Raleigh Woman Business Owner of the Year2020 Morrisville Chamber Small Business of the Year2014 Greater Raleigh Chamber Pinnacle Award
APA WinnerCary Magazine 2020 Women of Western WakeAPA WinnerGoldman Sachs 10000 Small Business Alumni

Let's work together