The AGA Washington DC Chapter is seeking nominations to recognize well-deserving professionals from across the federal, state, and local sectors of government, as well as the private sector, who have made outstanding contributions to the field of accounting, auditing, budgeting, and other areas of government financial management!
The awards will be presented at the annual 2025 AGA Washington DC Chapter Awards Gala. Please take a moment and review the award categories below and nominate colleagues who have made a difference in government financial management.
Completed nomination forms are due to the Washington DC Chapter Awards Committee by April 15, 2025 for all award categories.
Washington DC Chapter Award Categories (the Chapter will subsequently nominate awardees for the AGA National Awards as indicated below):
DC Chapter Founder's Awards for Enhancing the Prestige of the Government Accountability Profession recognizes superior service that enhanced the AGA DC Chapter prestige and stature. The award is bestowed in tribute to the memory of AGA and DC Chapter founding member and first National President, Robert W. King, who led the establishment of AGA and the DC Chapter. The recipient of this DC Chapter Award will be the DC Chapter’s nominee for the AGA National Robert W. King Memorial Award.
- All AGA DC Chapter members are eligible, except for individuals serving on the National Governing Board or employees of AGA at the time the award is presented.
DC Chapter Founder’s Award for Advancing Government Accountability recognizes an active AGA DC Chapter member or a DC-based organization that has, over a sustained period of time, made major contributions to advancing government accountability at the federal, state, and/or local level. This award is bestowed in tribute to the memory of two AGA and DC Chapter founding leaders and Past National Presidents, Raymond Einhorn and T. Jack Gary, whose contributions to advancing government accountability spanned over five decades. The recipient of this DC Chapter Award will be the DC Chapter’s nominee for the AGA National Einhorn-Gary Leadership Award.
- Nominees must have a record of active participation in activities and/or programs at the AGA DC Chapter level (and national level to be considered for the national award).
Achievement of the Year Award recognizes a government employee or organization who has exhibited leadership or outstanding achievement in developing, implementing, and improving financial management in government service in the past year.
- Nominees must have been employed in government service at the time the work being recognized was performed.
- Nominees do not have to be AGA members.
Educator Award recognizes individuals in the metro-DC area who have made significant contributions to the education and training of government financial managers.
- Nominees do not have to be government employees or AGA members.
International Achievement Award recognizes a government employee who has exhibited leadership or outstanding achievement in international government financial management.
- Nominees must have been employed in government service at the time the work being recognized was performed.
- Nominees do not have to be AGA members.
Emerging Leader Award of Excellence recognizes younger government financial professionals for notable contributions toward excellence in financial management, with the desire that the recognition will encourage others to achieve early in their professional lives.
- Nominees must have 5–10 years of experience within the government financial management arena.
- Nominees do not have to be AGA members.
- Nominees cannot receive this award more than once.
Excellence in Research Award recognizes individuals who throughout their careers (minimum of 15 years) have made continuous contributions to government financial management by their direct participation in research activities and/or through their encouragement and support of others engaged in government financial management research. Washington DC Chapter nominees for this award will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration for the AGA National Cornelius E. Tierney/EY Research Award.
- The nominated researchers, through their individual efforts, enhanced the image and effectiveness of government accountants, auditors, and other financial managers by their efforts in one or more of the following areas:
- Basic Research—The gathering of information on a systemic basis for a fuller knowledge or understanding of government financial management, thereby contributing to the improvement of government financial management policies, procedures, and practices.
- Applied Research—The application of knowledge leading to the development of new methods and techniques for government financial management, thereby contributing to the improvement of the image, operations, control, and accountability of government.
- Education—Basic and applied research relating to the education of government accountants and other financial managers, thereby enhancing their technical and operational capabilities.
- Nominees do not have to be members of AGA.
Government Innovator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding innovation by a government employee or organization who over the past year has made significant contributions to government through the implementation of new technology, systems, or processes (e.g., artificial intelligence or AI, automation, machine learning, blockchain, data analytics, forensic innovations, novel software/applications, websites, dashboards, data visualization, etc.). The Washington DC Chapter award nominee will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration for the AGA National Relmond P. Van Daniker Government Transparency Award.
James W. Saylor Chapter Service Award recognizes an active DC Chapter member who has consistently made important contributions to the development and enhancement of the chapter during the past year. The Washington DC Chapter award nominee will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration for the AGA National Volunteer of the Year Award.
For more information on the AGA National awards see AGA - PDT Awards of Distinction (agacgfm.org)
Other Washington DC Chapter Award Category:
William J. Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award is given in appreciation for significant and continuous contributions to governmental financial management and the DC Chapter.
Contact Orinda Basha and Alicia Pelikan at dcchapterawards@agadc.org for nomination submissions or questions.
The 2024 winners were:
Founder's Awards
- Government Innovator of the Year Award: Taka Ariga
- Advancing Government Accountability Award: Christy Beck
- Enhancing the Prestige of the Government Accountability Profession Award: Wendy Morton-Huddleston
- The James W. Saylor Chapter Service Award: Salim Mawani
President 's Awards
- Orinda Basha (Awards Committee Director)
- Thomas Chin (Newsletter Director and Chief Editor)
- Leigha Kiger (Webmaster)
- Monique Llanos (Newsletter Senior Editor)
- Lydia Tamblyn (Miller) (Assistant Communication Director)
- Annalena Winer (Annual Training Program Director)