Team Achievement Awards

Congratulations to the winners of the SDFM Team Achievement Awards! 

This award category recognizes small and large teams for outstanding accomplishments within the functional fields of membership.

Large Team

Distinguished – National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund Financial Statement Audit Superstars

Team Lead: Shawn Lennon

Team Members:

• Susan Goodyear, CDFM
• Karen Opie-Toler
• Maria Resto Gonzalez
• Emma Mikolaitis
• Robyn Ruble
• Alan Musko
• Bryan Mattheis
• Cathy Kwak
• David Bush
• Kendall Howard
• Rachael Scott
• Stacy Son
• Eric Mata
• Bob Snider
• Vykki Bailey-Harvey
• William (Bill) Holtzman
• Liz Hacquard
• Maria Ocop
• Xiaolei Wang, CDFM

This team is nominated for their dedication and excellence in achieving a financial statement audit opinion. Their hard work improved financial accuracy, strengthened internal controls, and enhanced stakeholder confidence. Their success ensured continued funding, extended the department-wide standard for fiscal accountability, and demonstrated outstanding commitment to financial integrity and compliance.

Meritorious – United States Property and Fiscal Office for California Army National Guard

Team Lead: Andrew H. Pate

Team Members:

• Bryan Wilke
• Nicholas Irwin
• Daniel Bogart
• Jeremiah Mergenthaler
• Anamarie Golling
• Patricia Petit
• Jannette Gross
• Jesus Silva III
• Ryan Chu, CDFM
• Ruijian Chen
• Lisa Lungren
• Alejandro Sanchez
• Brian Mangosing
• Muhammad Izhar
• Tiffany Booth
• Amado Castro
• Tamim Maroug
• Thomas Bilinski
• SGT Brenda Lavana

The USPFO Team executed record obligation rates across a robust $561M portfolio of Operation and Maintenance-Army, Military Personnel and Military Construction appropriations, while maintaining meticulous internal controls. They continued partnering with internal and external customers, collaborating with multiple States and Territories and small businesses increasing numerous DoD Small Business goals.

Small Team

Distinguished – DEAMS Vendor Pay Auto Certification Team

Team Lead: Bobbi Jo Woods

Team Members:

• Amie Dove
• Richard Harris
• Gary Prachar
• JoAnna Cole
• Patricia Lister
• Devona Mathis
• Kevin Chapman
• Audree M. Pachura
• Brian K. Vaughn

The DEAMS batch certification process has streamlined operations, reduced manual tasks, and enabled cost savings. Auto-certifying over 64K payments, representing 32% of vouchers, has saved 5,360 hours of manual work.

Meritorious – AFAA Logistics Division, Funded and Unproduced Contract Repair Requirements Team

Team Lead: Michelle Murray

Team Members:

• Charlo Reynolds
• Rick Ferrin

The Funded and Unproduced Contract Repair Requirements team illuminated a previously unknown problem, leading to a process overhaul providing cost savings of $114.7 million, the largest reported savings to the DAF by the Air Force Audit Agency in 2024.

Financial Systems/Digital Transformation Category

Distinguished – DFAS Robotics Team

Team Lead: Elizabeth H. Gibbs

Team Members:

• David Cottengim
• Michael Pollitt
• Michael Hoffman
• Adam Haldiman, CDFM
• Joseph Stern
• Tommie Lucas
• David Glover
• Ellen Severson
• Erin Fousek, CDFM-A
• Jennifer Thomas
• Veronica Mercke
• Brandy Nickens
• Gary Turner, CDFM-A
• Robbie Wilton
• Karen Stewart, CDFM
• Rachel Stewart
• Jason Salyer
• Thanaji Lingampally

The DFAS RPA Team is driving digital transformation through automation, deploying 122 Bots to modernize financial management processes. This has resulted in $13.2M in cost avoidance, 400,000 hours in manual effort reduction, and improved operational efficiency, positioning DFAS as a leader in financial systems modernization.

Meritorious – SkyDebts Team

Team Lead: Katherine M. Fistner

Team Members:

• Bernard Boris
• Tonya Fuller
• Terri Hammond
• Douglas Bulla
• Marsha Marshall
• Edelyn Antonio
• Alexa Beaupre
• Frederick Widrick
• Robert H. Thomas

DFAS Rome Accounts Receivable and Data Analytics and Automation teams transformed GFEBS debt management processes using authorized and compliant technology and reduced manual effort by 4,200 labor hours with an annual cost savings of $145K.