Recognizing and rewarding the talent and dedication within our organization is critical. Each year, we acknowledge the changemakers you know within the EA community for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the profession.
The 2024-2025 NAEA Awards Program is now open. This is a great way to recognize fellow enrolled agents. If someone you know deserves to be honored, be sure to complete this online nomination form. The form submission deadline is May 31, 2025.
Learn more about each award and past recipients:
The Founders Award
The Excellence in Education Award
The Excellence in Public Awareness Award
The EA Mentor of The Year Award
The Lee T. Byrd Outstanding Volunteer Award
The Outstanding Supporter of EAs Award
The Bill Payne Advocacy Award
The Emerging Leader Award
The Founders Award
The Founders Award recognizes significant leadership and contributions and service to NAEA and its members and whose leadership exemplifies the principles and goals envisioned by the association’s founders. This lifetime achievement award is the association’s highest recognition bestowed on a member.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Gary Anspach, EA Richard Reedman, EA |
| 2023 Recipient | David Tolleth, EA (NJ) |
| 2022 Recipient | Bill Nemeth, EA, MBA |
| 2021 Recipient | Alexander B. Thomson, EA, CFP |
| 2020 Recipient | Jean Nelsen, EA |
| 2019 Recipient | Alan Pinck, EA (CA) |
| 2018 Recipient | James Adelman, EA (OK) |
| 2017 Recipient | Andrew P. Stadler, EA (IN) |
| 2016 Recipient | Lonnie Gary, EA, USTCP (CA) Jerry Joyce, EA (FL) |
| 2015 Recipient | William D. “Bill” Payne, EA (posthumous) |
| 2014 Recipient | Sandra Martin, EA (NY) |
| 2013 Recipient | Sherrill Trovato, EA, USTCP (CA) |
| 2012 Recipient | Terry Durkin, EA (MA) |
| 2011 Recipient | Larry Liptscher, EA (NY) |
| 2010 Recipient | Steven E. Rodgers (NV) posthumous |
| 2009 Recipient | Patricia L. Schmick, EA (WA) |
| 2008 Recipient | Diana M. Thompson, EA (OH) |
| 2007 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2006 Recipient | Francis X. Degen, EA, USTCP (NY) |
| 2005 Recipient | Faye Touchet, EA (LA) |
| 2004 Recipient | Kirby L. Robinson, EA (CA) |
| 2003 Recipient | Leslie Shapiro, EA (DC) |
| 2002 Recipient | E. Ann Shroll, EA (FL) |
| 2001 Recipient | Judith Akin, EA (OK) |
| 2000 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 1999 Recipient | Beanna Whitlock, EA (TX) |
| 1998 Recipient | Joe Lane, EA (CA) |
| 1997 Recipient | Mary E. McGuire, EA (NY) |
| 1996 Recipient | Jack Robishaw, EA (CA) |
| 1995 Recipient | Claudia A. Hill, EA (CA) |
| 1994 Recipient | Laurence O. Spector, EA (PA) |
| 1993 Recipient | Sharon-Kay Flynn, EA (MA) |
| 1992 Recipient | Nancy Nesbitt, EA (CA) |
| 1991 Recipient | Marjorie J. Joder, EA (FL) |
| 1990 Recipient | Rollen F. Campbell, EA (CA) |
| 1989 Recipient | David J. Silverman, EA (NY) |
| 1988 Recipient | Ray Goetting, EA (MN) |
| 1987 Recipient | Syd Schuldiner, EA (CA) |
| 1986 Recipient | Patricia Burton, EA (CT) Bryan Gates, EA (FL) Leah K. Herzberg, EA (CA) |
| 1985 Recipient | James Hopkins, EA (MD) Bess B. Messmer, EA (VA) |
The Excellence in Education Award
The Excellence in Education Award is to recognize significant contributions having immediate and/or long-term impact on the quality and scope of NAEA education programs.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Allan J. Reynolds, EA |
| 2023 Recipient | Beth Logan, EA (PA) |
| 2022 Recipient | J.T. Eagan, EA |
| 2021 Recipient | Clarice Landreth, EA, NTPIF |
| 2020 Recipient | Mark Dombrowski, EA |
| 2019 Recipient | Thomas Gorczynski, EA, USTCP (AZ) |
| 2018 Recipient | Francis X. Degen, EA, USTCP (NY) |
| 2017 Recipient | Kevin C. Huston, EA, USTCP (NC) |
| 2016 Recipient | Geri Bowman, EA, USTCP (OH) |
| 2015 Recipient | Alan Pinck, EA (CA) |
| 2014 Recipient | Jeffrey Schneider, EA (FL) |
| 2013 Recipient | Patricia Jenkins, EA (NM) |
| 2012 Recipient | L.G. Brooks, EA (TX) |
| 2011 Recipient | Catherine A. Clow, EA (CA) |
| 2010 Recipient | Janet Hemmerle, EA (AZ) |
| 2009 Recipient | Anne T. Arms, EA (CA) |
| 2008 Recipient | Diana Velasco (LA) |
| 2007 Recipient | Bryan & Jean Gates, EAs (FL) |
| 2006 Recipient | David Mellem, EA (WI) Mickey Reedy, EA (CA) |
| 2005 Recipient | Patricia Logan, EA (TX) |
| 2004 Recipient | Sherrill Trovato, EA, USTCP (CA) |
| 2003 Recipient | Nancy Goedecke, EA (MA) |
| 2002 Recipient | Patricia Schmick, EA (WA) |
| 2001 Recipient | Robert McKenzie, EA (IL) |
| 2000 Recipient | Phillip Benoit, CPA (NY) |
| 1999 Recipient | Mary McGuire, EA (NY) |
| 1998 Recipient | Iris Kelley, EA (Deceased) |
| 1997 Recipient | Jerry Riles, EA (LA) |
| 1996 Recipient | Carol Thompson, EA (CA) |
| 1995 Recipient | Steven E. Rodgers, EA (NV) |
| 1994 Recipient | Joseph F. Lane, EA (CA) |
| 1993 Recipient | Henry C. Klein, EA (HI) |
| 1992 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 1991 Recipient | Gary Shelton, EA (Deceased) |
| 1990 Recipient | NTPI Teaching Fellows: Herbert Burton, EA (CT) Patricia Burton, EA (CT) Barton Goodeve, EA (NH) Robert Hersh, EA (CA) Mary Javor, EA (MI) Nancy Ott, EA (CA) Marilyn Ratliff, EA (CA) Jim Reed, EA (CA) |
| 1989 Recipient | Claudia Hill, EA (CA) |
| 1988 Recipient | Bryan Gates, EA (FL) |
The Excellence in Public Awareness Award
The Excellence in Public Awareness Award is to acknowledge the contributions having immediate and/or long-term impact on making “Enrolled Agents” and “EA” more readily recognized nationally, regionally, or locally as the tax professional of choice.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Roberto Pons, EA |
| 2023 Recipient | Jonathan Call, EA (MN) |
| 2022 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2021 Recipient | Kerry Freeman, EA |
| 2020 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2019 Recipient | Trish Evenstad, EA (WI) |
| 2018 Recipient | Jerry Gaddis, EA (FL) |
| 2017 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2016 Recipient | Laurie Ziegler, EA (WI) |
| 2015 Recipient | Arizona Society of Enrolled Agents (AzSEA) |
| 2014 Recipient | Jean Nelsen, EA (CA) Andy Stadler, EA (IN) |
| 2013 Recipient | Ana Magda Guillen, EA (FL) |
| 2012 Recipient | Kathy M. Rocha, EA (CA) |
| 2011 Recipient | William “Bill” Stevenson, EA (NY) |
| 2010 Recipient | Ellen Campbell, EA (AZ) |
| 2009 Recipient | Eva Rosenberg, EA (CA) |
| 2008 Recipient | Jennifer MacMillan, EA (CA) |
| 2007 Recipient | Lynn Schmidt, EA (FL) |
| 2006 Recipient | Linda Ruckel, EA (NM) |
| 2005 Recipient | David Kinser, EA (FL) |
| 2004 Recipient | James Leimbach, EA (FL) |
| 2003 Recipient | Douglas Boudreaux, EA (LA) |
| 2002 Recipient | Martin Stein, EA (NJ) Ben Jones, EA (MS) Ana Magda Guillen, EA (FL) |
| 2001 Recipient | Francis X. Degen, EA (NY) |
| 2000 Recipient | Carol Thompson, EA (CA) |
The EA Mentor of the Year Award
The EA Mentor of the Year Award is given to a member who has contributed significantly and is dedicated to the causes of enrolled agents and who instills excitement for those causes by his or her leadership, encouragement, and nurturing of their fellow agents.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Terry Durkin, EA |
| 2023 Recipient | Patrick Dimmitt, EA (IN) |
| 2022 Recipient | Tynisa Gaines, EA |
| 2021 Recipient | John Warren, EA, NTPIF |
| 2020 Recipient | Angela Radic, EA |
| 2019 Recipient | Raven Deerwater, EA (CA) |
| 2018 Recipient | David M. Fogel, EA, CPA, USTCP (CA) |
| 2017 Recipient | Deborah J. Cope, EA (TX) |
| 2016 Recipient | Don Overstreet, EA (NC) |
| 2014 Recipient | Rose Fulton, EA (CA) |
| 2013 Recipient | Gary Anspach, EA (CA) |
| 2012 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2011 Recipient | Sherrill Trovato, EA, USTCP (CA) |
| 2010 Recipient | Nancy E. Goedecke, EA (MA) |
| 2009 Recipient | Lorraine L. Sorgman, EA (MA) |
| 2008 Recipient | Marty Stein, EA (NJ) |
| 2007 Recipient | Faye Touchet, EA (LA) |
| 2006 Recipient | Diana M. Thompson, EA (OH) |
| 2005 Recipient | Mary McGuire, EA (NY) |
| 2004 Recipient | Francis X. Degen, EA (NY) |
| 2003 Recipient | Sharon-Kay Flynn, EA (MA) |
| 2002 Recipient | Kirby Robinson, EA (CA) |
| 2001 Recipient | Aaron Jim Reames, EA (VA) (Deceased) |
| 2000 Recipient | Eduardo Leiseca, EA (FL) |
The Outstanding Volunteer Award
The Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes volunteers for their service to the association, affiliates, and/or their local chapter.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Raven Deerwater, EA, PHD |
| 2023 Recipient | Marilyn Brodeur, EA (MA) |
| 2022 Recipient | Angela Radic, EA |
| 2021 Recipient | Cynthia A. Leachmoore, EA, NTPIF |
| 2020 Recipient | Phyllis Jo Kubey,EA |
| 2019 Recipient | Bernadette Antonelli, EA (NJ) |
| 2018 Recipient | Bill Nemeth, EA (GA) |
| 2017 Recipient | Nancy E. Lyman, EA (VT) |
| 2016 Recipient | Pat Jenkins, EA (NM) |
| 2015 Recipient | Hart Fetsko, EA (OH) |
| 2014 Recipient | Deborah Cope, EA (TX) |
| 2013 Recipient | Victoria McGinn, EA (NY) |
| 2012 Recipient | Lee Byrd, EA (KY) |
| 2011 Recipient | Marti Myers-Garver, EA (NV) |
| 2010 Recipient | Jerry L. Joyce, EA (FL) |
| 2009 Recipient | David M. Levine, EA (NV) |
| 2008 Recipient | Connie Ferrell, EA (CA) Jill Mendenhall, EA (CA) |
| 2007 Recipient | William Matesevac, EA (PA) |
| 2006 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2005 Recipient | Sherry Loop, EA (VA) |
| 2004 Recipient | Jerry Joyce, EA (FL) |
| 2003 Recipient | Mary L. Javor, EA (MI) |
| 2002 Recipient | Elizabeth (Betsey) Buckingham, EA (OH) |
| 2001 Recipient | Carol Halvorson, EA (MN) |
| 2000 Recipient | Sandra March, EA (CA) |
The Outstanding Supporter of EAs Award
Outstanding Supporter of EAs Award is to recognize significant contributions by non-NAEA organizations or individuals who are not enrolled agents having immediate and/or long-term impact on making “Enrolled Agents” and “EA” more readily recognizable nationally, regionally, or locally as the tax professionals of choice.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Courtney Sefjack |
| 2023 Recipient | Derek Ganter |
| 2022 Recipient | Senator Rob Portman |
| 2021 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2020 Recipient | Kelly Phillips Erb |
| 2019 Recipient | Ms. Nonie Manion (NY) |
| 2018 Recipient | Assemblyman, Mr. William Magnarelli (NY) |
| 2017 Recipient | David L. “Dave” Ramsey (TN) |
| 2016 Recipient | Chris Davis (MA) |
| 2015 Recipient | Frank Agostino, Esq. (NJ) |
| 2014 Recipient | Debra A. Collins (NM) |
| 2013 Recipient | Ilyce Glink |
| 2012 Recipient | Honorable Juan Vasquez |
| 2011 Recipient | Gigi Thompson Jarvis, CAE |
| 2010 Recipient | Catherine A. Apker, CAE |
| 2009 Recipient | LeAnne “Sam” Matlick, CAE |
| 2008 Recipient | Michael Chesman, Fumio Otaki (Japan) |
| 2007 Recipient | Jeffery S. Trinca |
| 2006 Recipient | Robert Kerr |
| 2005 Recipient | Susan Zuber, CAE |
| 2004 Recipient | Steve Stephenson-Santa Fe Small Business Development Center |
| 2003 Recipient | LA Senator Fred Hoyt Eul-Sool (Henry) Park, CPA |
| 2002 Recipient | HD Vest Financial Services |
| 2001 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2000 Recipient | Janet B. Bray, CAE |
The Bill Payne Advocacy Award
William D. “Bill” Payne, EA, passed away in 2010, and this award was created in his honor. Bill generously donated his time and efforts to NAEA and was steadfastly dedicated to protecting the rights of EAs before Congress. This annual award, named in Bill’s honor, recognizes the NAEA member who best exemplifies Bill’s commitment of legislative advocacy at the state, local, and/or national level in front of any governing authority on behalf of enrolled agents.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 Recipient | Kesha Dawson Harris, EA, NTPIF |
| 2021 Recipient | Twila D. Midwood, EA, NTPIF |
| 2020 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2019 Recipient | Janet Vick, EA (NV) |
| 2018 Recipient | Vickie Ferrantello, EA (TX) |
| 2017 Recipient | Jennifer MacMillan, EA (CA) |
| 2016 Recipient | Gary Anspach, EA (CA) |
| 2015 Recipient | Phyllis Jo Kubey, EA (NY) |
| 2014 Recipient | Lonnie Gary, EA, USTCP (CA) |
| 2013 Recipient | Francis X. Degen, EA, USTCP (NY) |
| 2012 Recipient | Vicki Mulak, EA (CA) |
| 2011 Recipient | Alexander B. Thomson, EA (VA) |
| 2010 Recipient | William D. “Bill” Payne (posthumous) |
The Emerging Leader Award
The “Emerging Leaders” Award is to recognize a member who shows strong promise in future NAEA leadership, has made significant contributions to the association and the community, and has demonstrated the potential for leadership and continuing service. To be eligible for this award, the person must be a current NAEA member in good standing and must be under 40 years old, OR they must have been in the profession 5 years or less.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 Recipient | Ruben Valdez, EA, USTCP |
| 2023 Recipient | Dannie Lynn Murphy, EA (WA) |
| 2022 Recipient | Jill M. Ping, EA |
| 2021 Recipient | LuSundra G. Everett, EA, NTPIF |
| 2020 Recipient | Krystal Ancar, EA |
| 2019 Recipient | Not Awarded |
| 2018 Recipient | Tracey Ann Gordineer, EA (GA) |
| 2017 Recipient | Lori Carpenter, EA (IN) |
| 2016 Recipient | Trish Evenstad, EA |
| 2015 Recipient | Aaron Blau, EA, CPA (AZ) |
