2023 Awards Information

The deadline for all Award Nomination Forms is Monday, July 31, 2023.
Winners will be formally recognized at a Luncheon to be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023, in Cleveland, during Ohio GFOA’s 36th Annual Conference and Membership Meeting. 

Excellence in Government Achievement Award     Online Nomination Form
Candidates for the Ohio GFOA Excellence in Government Award will be recognized for having shown a high degree of integrity, innovation and exceptional governmental leadership.

Criteria:

• Nominees do not have to be active Ohio GFOA members to be eligible.
• Describe, in detail, your reason for nominating this individual. Be sure to include related materials such as reports, certificates, newspaper accounts, etc., if applicable.

Career Achievement Award     Online Nomination Form
Candidates for the Ohio GFOA Career Achievement Award will be recognized for serving as a governmental fiscal officer or a vendor representative for 15 years or more and for their involvement with the Ohio GFOA.

Criteria:

• Must be a member or an exhibitor/sponsor of Ohio GFOA for 10 years.
• Actively participated on a Ohio GFOA Committee, Board of Trustees, and/or a Speaker.
• Serve as a governmental fiscal officer or a vendor representative for 15 years.
• Must be retired or in the process of retiring.
• Describe, in detail, your reason for nominating this individual. Be sure to include any achievements at their workplace.  
• Provide a form or letter from workplace acknowledging 15-year employment as a fiscal officer or exhibitor or sponsor representative.

Ethics Award   Online Nomination Form
Candidates for the Ohio GFOA Ethics Award will be recognized for acting in a courageous manner upon discovery of an unethical act, showing dedication to the furtherment of public ethics by their actions.  

Criteria:

• Nominees do not have to be active Ohio GFOA members to be eligible.
• Describe, in detail, your reason for nominating this individual. Be sure to include related materials such as reports, certificates, newspaper accounts, etc., if applicable.

Bradford M. Sprague Award for Excellence in Client Service      Online Nomination Form
Candidates for the Ohio GFOA Bradford M. Sprague Award for Excellence in Client Service will be recognized for their lifetime service to the Ohio public finance community and through the Ohio GFOA with honesty and integrity throughout their careers.   

Criteria:

• Served the Ohio public finance community as a vendor (financial, legal, or other professional services) for at least 20 years.
• Contributed to the enrichment of education within the field of Ohio public finance.
• Served in a mentoring capacity to advance the careers of individuals in government and/or individuals employed in the field of public finance.
• Demonstrated continuing excellence and innovation to the field of public finance.
• Made significant substantial and widely recognized contributions to the Ohio public finance community.
• Actively participated in Ohio GFOA.
• Describe, in detail, your reason for nominating this individual. Be sure to include related materials such as reports, certificates, newspaper accounts, etc., if applicable.

Innovation in Public Finance Award    Online Nomination Form Coming Soon!
Candidates for the Ohio GFOA Innovation in Public Finance Award will be recognized for implementing a unique, time-saving or cost-effective procedure or program in the public sector that has potential application for other entities.

Criteria:

• Nominees do not have to be active Ohio GFOA members to be eligible.
• Describe, in detail, your reason for nominating this individual. Be sure to include related materials such as reports, certificates, newspaper accounts, etc., if applicable.

Hugh Dorrian Lifetime Achievement Award     Online Nomination Form Coming Soon!
Candidates for the Ohio GFOA Hugh Dorrian Lifetime Achievement Award will be recognized for their lifetime service to the public and through the Ohio GFOA with honesty and integrity throughout their careers.

Criteria:

• Served the public as a government finance officer for at least 20 years.
• Contributed to the enrichment of education within the field of Ohio public finance.
• Served in a mentoring capacity to advance the careers of individuals in government and/or individuals employed in the field of public finance.
• Demonstrated continuing excellence and innovation to the field of public finance.
• Made significant substantial and widely recognized contributions to the public and the Ohio public finance community.
• Actively participated in Ohio GFOA.

Past Award Winners

HUGH DORRIAN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD  
2022 Jonette Curry, County Auditor, Knox County

ETHICS AWARDS
2005 Dr. Dennis Leone, Former Superintendent, Chillicothe City Schools
2004 Patricia A. Fisher, Village of Jefferson
2000 James Petro, State Auditor, Columbus Regional Office of the Auditor of State
1999 Zoe Ann Kelley, Auditor, City of Dover
1999 Emily Shaw, Chief Fiscal Officer, Franklin County Clerk of Courts
1998 Edward Widman, Finance Director, City of Sandusky
1997 Barbara A. Rissland, City of Kent
1996 Hugh Dorrian, City of Columbus
1995 Margo Moyer, City of Zanesville

INNOVATION IN PUBLIC FINANCE AWARD
2014 Cleveland Metroparks Purchasing Division, Cleveland
2011 Brian Kelley, CIO, Portage County
2009 Shelley Fortney, Manager, St. Clairsville Municipal Utilities
2006 John M. Lehman, Director of Financial Management, Portage County
2005 Rosa Blackwell, Superintendent, Cincinnati City School District
2005 Mike Geoghegan, Treasurer, Cincinnati City School District
2004 Catherine Watson and Diane Miller-Dawson, City of Akron
2003 Frank C. Gambosi, Director of Finance, City of Bedford
2002 Wade T. Steen, Treasurer, Franklin County
2001 Robert L. Miller, Treasurer, Cleveland Metroparks
2000 John R. Wahle, CFO, Great Oaks JVS
1999 Randal Scherf, Treasurer, Fairborn City Schools
1998 Jill Stritch, Director of Finance, City of Tallmadge
1997 Daniel L. Wilson, Treasurer, Shaker Heights Schools
1996 Jim Pierce, Huber Heights; William Nelson, Tipp City; and Bruce Sucher, Vandalia
1995 Bill Bornhauser, then Treasurer; Jim Pyers, Finance Director; City of Wooster

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
2019 Robert Hinkle, Chief Deputy Auditor, Ohio Auditor of State
2018 Unice Smith, Auditor of State
2017 Frank Gambosi, Finance Director, City of Bedford
2016 Karl Keith, Auditor, Montgomery County
2016 Dennis Kennedy, Fiscal Officer, Cuyahoga County
2015 Cathe Armstrong, Director of Finance & Administrative Services, City of Upper Arlington 
2015 Christy Price, CFO, Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA)
2014 Ken Kleppel, retired Administrative Services Director, Lake Metroparks
2013 Jeff McCuen, Treasurer, Worthington City School District
2012 Denise J. Holcomb, Former School Treasurer, Avon Lake City School District
2009 Mary F. Green, City Auditor, City of Lancaster
2009 Paul Stubbins, Former Managing Director, RBC
2008 Peter R. Sorem, Chief of LGS, Auditor of State
2007 John R. Wheeler, Audit & Budget Manager, City of Akron
2006 Michael E. Engel, Finance Director, City of Trenton
2005 Dennis Clough, Mayor, City of Westlake
2004 Richard S. Wade, Chief Deputy, Auditor of State
2003 Richard V. Everhart, Executive Director, Ohio Housing Finance
2002 Michael Spino, Retired, State of Ohio
2001 James M. Pyers, Director of Finance, City of Wooster
2001 Russell L. Rouch, Former Director of Special Projects & Management Advisory Services, Auditor of State’s Office
2000 Hugh Dorrian, City Auditor, City of Columbus

TIMOTHY I. MURPHY EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT AWARD
2022 Joann Bury, Finance Director, City of Gahanna
2021 Randy Groves, Director of Finance, City of Fairborn
2017 Scott Campbell, Chief Financial Officer, Ohio Water Development Authority
2012 Roger Veitch, Business Manager/Deputy Fiscal Officer, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
2010 Jim Petro
2009 Hugh J. Dorrian, City Auditor, City of Columbus
2008 L. Michael Howard, Chief Auditor, Auditor of State
2007 Lois M. Reynolds, Director of Finance, City of Forest Park
2006 John R. Wahle, C.F.O., Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development
2005 Robert L. Miller, Treasurer, Cleveland Metroparks
2004 Ronald M. Shankman, Chief Operating Officer, Ohio Water Development Authority
2003 Paolo DeMaria, Chief Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
2002 Michael Spino, Retired, State of Ohio
2001 Loretta M. Herron, Administrator, State Accounting, Ohio Office of Budget & Management
2000 Dr. R. Gregory Browning, President, Capital Partners
1999 William G. Fritzsche, Jr.
1998 Stephen A. Scoles, Deputy Director, Ohio EPA

BRADFORD M. SPRAGUE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD
2022 Mark Miller, Managing Director, KeyBanc Capital Markets
2019 Alan Baucco, Managing Director, Stifel Nicolaus
2016 John Lee, Director, Hilltop Securities

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
2019 Brian Wilson, Treasurer, Hilliard City School District
2014 F. Michael Bucci, Deputy Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
2014 Barbara Rissland, retired Director of Budget & Finance, City of Rittman
2012 Jill Stritch, Former Finance Director, City of Tallmadge
2009 Tamara K. Lowe, Former Treasurer, Cleveland Metroparks
2009 Paul Stubbins, Former Managing Director, RBC
2009 Jerry Isler, Finance Director, City of Gahanna
2008 Robert L. Miller, Treasurer, Cleveland Metroparks
2007 Lois M. Reynolds, Director of Finance, City of Forest Park

If you have any questions, please contact any one of the Award Committee Members