Recognizing excellence in unclaimed property administration
Each year, the NAUPA Executive Committee seeks nominees from State Treasurers, treasury and network staff, and Corporate Affiliates for the following awards to be given out during the NAUPA Annual Conference at the Treasury Management Training Symposium. The Executive Committee selects award winners from all the candidates nominated.
NAUPA Lifetime Achievement Award
The NAUPA Lifetime Achievement Award is the association’s highest honor, presented to individuals who have worked diligently in the unclaimed property arena for many years. Recipients have excelled in their careers inside and outside of their state or corporate boundaries.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners – Suzanne Darling, Kelmar & Tom McAnespie, NH
“With almost 40 years of unclaimed property experience, Suzanne has seen a lot of changes in the unclaimed world and has been one of its biggest advocates and a great contributor to where we are today.”
“Tom spent over 2 decades in unclaimed property, dedicated to process improvement and advocating for claimants. As the Director of NH Abandoned Property, he led with how he did anything; with strength, yet compassion.”
NAUPA Presidential Distinguished Service Award
Recipients of this award have demonstrated superior service and dedication to the association’s mission and goals—based on time, effort, and willingness to contribute wherever needed.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winner – Patti Wilson, WA
“With this award we honor her legacy as we mourn the loss of a truly remarkable individual who dedicated her career to unclaimed property at both the state and national levels. Her career in state government and our organization is a testament to her unwavering commitment to public service. Her passion, knowledge, kindness, and servant leadership were a guiding light for all of us,”
NAUPA UP and Coming Award
Recipients of this award will be new staff who jump in and get involved with the organization.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winner – Ashton Kulavic, Chief of Unclaimed Property, Illinois
“Laura’s work as the Communications Committee chair and her enthusiasm and passion for unclaimed property make her a very well deserving winner of this award.”
NAUPA Corporate Affiliate Award
Recipients of this award will be corporate affiliates who have partnered with our association to demonstrate the superior services that come from public/private partnerships and foster cooperation towards the association’s mission and goals.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winner – Jeremy Katz, Audit Services, US, LLC
“Jeremy Katz is a long time NAUPA affiliate who is always responsive to state and NAUPA requests. Most recently his dedication to service was exemplified in his leadership creating a service project to give back to the communities we visit at our conference, starting here in Pittsburgh with at a local diaper bank and raising over $13,000 dollars for the organization.”
Committee Awards
2023:
Communications – Christina Lambert, MA
Education – Michael Myers, AL
Fraud – Juan Gonzalez, IL
Legal – Tim Cullen, Kelmar
State Auditors – Josh Wood, AR
Uniformity – Scott Thomas, Gentax
Virtual Currency – Lynden Lyman, Kelmar
Service to State
2023:
Eastern Region – James Hackman, MD
Midwestern Region – Corey Wilson, IN
Southern Region – Theresa Gartner, NC
Western Region – Barbie Proffitt, WA
Innovator Award
2023 :
Louisiana for ‘The Great Employee Give Back of 2023’