California Payroll Professional Award
Past Award Winners
| 2025 | Lucia Watson |
| 2024 | Michelle Clawson, CPP |
| 2023 | Liliana Gonzalez |
| 2022 | Chris Abare |
| 2021 | Frank Mares |
| 2019 | Dee Byrd |
| 2018 | Mary Holland |
| 2017 | Owhen Astorga |
| 2016 | Valerie Alexander |
| 2015 | Lois Fried |
| 2014 | Becky Harshberger |
| 2012 | Marcela McCarthy |
| 2010 | Nora Daly |
With great pride, the California Payroll Conference honors and celebrates the dedication of Payroll Professionals who have made a meaningful impact on our community, beginning with our inaugural recipient, Nora Daly in 2010.
Nora was a remarkable figure in the payroll community. She paved the way for Payroll Professionals by advocating for stronger communication with the IRS, volunteering tirelessly with PAYO (formerly APA), the California Payroll Conference, and local chapters, and passionately ensuring Oracle’s payroll tax software team thrived—even before the widespread use of computers and the internet. Her vision and commitment set the foundation for the prestigious California Payroll Professional of the Year Award.
This award provides an opportunity for our community to highlight those who have generously shared their time, knowledge, and passion to support others. It is designed to recognize individuals who embody the spirit of service, leadership, and expertise in payroll, and to offer our collective thanks. It is an honor to receive this award.
We are accepting nominations for the California Payroll Professional of the Year!
Nominations are welcome throughout the year, and we encourage you to submit the names of individuals who have made a difference through our application form below. Criteria for consideration include, but are not limited to, advocacy and volunteerism, payroll expertise, and active involvement in local and national payroll communities.
We invite you to help us celebrate the dedication of your payroll peers! View our “Past Award Winners” to see previous honorees and be inspired.
Please submit the questionnaire below no later than August 14th, 2026 by emailing it to [email protected] for consideration. Considerations and elections will take place prior to the California Payroll Conference, and the award is presented during the event.
Considerations and elections will take place prior to the California Payroll Conference, and the award is presented during the event.
