Change Maker Awards

Celebrating those who inspire innovation in accounts payable.

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Change Maker Awards

We’re thrilled to recognize the winners of this year’s Change Maker Awards, celebrating AvidXchange customers who are driving real, measurable transformation in their finance departments. These leaders have streamlined AP workflows, delivered meaningful cost and time savings, and elevated their teams to operate more strategically—setting the standard for innovation in accounts payable.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions, each winner will receive a $1,000 donation in their name to a charity of their choice, spotlight through press coverage, social media, and a dedicated customer story, and professional headshots to support their personal brand and leadership visibility.

Join us in honoring these innovators who are shaping the future of finance.

Meet the 2025 Change Maker Awards Winners

Anica Snyman, Grant Analyst, Dallas CASA

Anica played an instrumental role in a key operational improvement at Dallas CASA by helping implement AvidXchange to strengthen compliance and streamline financial documentation for federal grants, which account for nearly 40% of the organization’s funding. Her work contributed to making reimbursable expenditures easier to verify, improving transparency, and simplifying audits. Since implementing AvidXchange in August 2024, her finance team has saved approximately three hours per week, along with additional cost and time savings in storage and audit preparation. More importantly, AvidXchange has helped Dallas CASA maintain the compliance and reputation essential to its mission of protecting children and helping them reach their full potential. Her CFO praised Anica for driving innovation that increased efficiency and safeguarded the integrity of the organization’s vital work.

Bobet Bennett, SVP Client Finance, AKAM Living Services

Bobet led a major process improvement initiative that optimized invoice management and reduced manual work across AKAM Living Services’ accounts payable operations with AvidXchange. She identified inefficiencies that caused high invoice exception volumes and developed strategies to address them—streamlining workflows, refining processes, and strengthening supplier communication. Over the past year, her leadership has significantly reduced processing time, enabling faster approvals and payments to suppliers. The result has been measurable gains in both efficiency and satisfaction for her team and supplier network alike. Those who’ve worked closely with Bobet praised her for her proactive, data-driven approach and commitment to continuous improvement, helping AKAM achieve stronger performance and scalability across its operations.

Derreck Mackey, AP Manager, Piedmont Service Group

Derreck was part of a company-wide shift toward sustainability and efficiency at Piedmont Service Group by fully automating invoice and payment processes through AvidXchange. The initiative eliminated paper-based workflows, introduced custom approvals, and ensured seamless compliance. Within months, invoice processing times dropped by nearly 70%, saving more than 600 hours annually—the equivalent of $20,000 in labor costs. By replacing mailed checks with ePayment options, Derreck helped to cut up to $30,000 in paper and postage expenses and captured an additional $20,000 in early-payment discounts, totaling about $65,000 in annual savings. His efforts also strengthened supplier relationships, reducing payment inquiries by 40% and increasing on-time payments to over 98%. What began as an efficiency initiative became a model for sustainable, forward-thinking operations that continue to drive measurable success.

Faustina Brooks, Director of Finance, Fox Theatre

Faustina fast-tracked a five-year automation plan into a six-month transformation at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. By implementing AvidXchange to automate Fox Theatre’s invoice process, she ensured business continuity while revolutionizing efficiency. Invoice processing times dropped from several days to under 48 hours, saving more than 1,000 staff hours annually and reducing manual work by over 50%. The move to digital processes also generated up to $80,000 in yearly savings through reduced paper costs, improved productivity, and captured early-payment discounts. Her leadership not only strengthened compliance and visibility but also enhanced supplier relationships and employee satisfaction. What began as a crisis response became a long-term innovation that made Fox Theatre more agile, sustainable, and resilient—ready for whatever the future holds.

Jesse Hernandez, Senior AP Clerk, We Are Blood

Jesse played a pivotal role in transforming We Are Blood’s accounts payable operations by leading the successful implementation of AvidXchange. Partnering closely with his supervisor, he mastered the system’s functionality and helped the project go live in under 90 days—a remarkable achievement that modernized the organization’s entire AP process. His leadership eliminated manual tasks like opening mail and cutting checks, saving about 12 hours each week and generating roughly $18,000 in annual savings through reduced labor, postage, and storage costs. With AvidXchange, Jesse processed over 18,000 invoices and 7,000 payments in a single year—an impossible feat under the old system. His supervisor praised him for his adaptability and dedication, noting how his innovation improved efficiency, collaboration, and work flexibility across the team.

Kayce Peltier, Property Manager in Charge/Owner, ThirdTier Community Management

Kayce led a major transformation at ThirdTier Community Management by implementing AvidXchange across all HOAs the company manages to replace manual, paper-based processes with a fully digital, scalable solution. Her leadership streamlined workflows, eliminated bottlenecks, and positioned the company for sustainable growth. Since implementation, invoice and payment processing time has been reduced by up to 60%, saving hundreds of staff hours annually and tens of thousands of dollars in labor and paper-related costs. Automation also improved accuracy, reduced errors to nearly zero, and allowed ThirdTier to onboard new HOAs without adding administrative staff. Her direct report praised Kayce for creating a more efficient, transparent, and empowering system that elevated both client and employee experiences. Her innovation continues to drive stronger performance and sustainable growth across the organization.

Lindsey Walliser, AP Manager, Cathedral Catholic High School

Lindsey drove a major efficiency upgrade at Cathedral Catholic High School by implementing AvidXchange to automate invoice and payment processes. Her goal was to eliminate manual data entry errors and reduce processing time across departments—and she delivered. Within just two months, her implementation reduced manual invoice processing time by up to 60% and increased GL coding accuracy to 97%. Automation also eliminated the need for printed checks, envelopes, and postage, resulting in approximately $30,000 in annual savings. By cutting invoice processing from several minutes to under 30 seconds, Lindsey freed her team to focus on higher-value work. Her initiative improved supplier satisfaction and built a stronger, more efficient finance operation that continues to support the school’s long-term success.

Nick Riso, Senior Director of Finance, New Hampshire Children’s Trust

Nick led a transformative change at New Hampshire Children’s Trust during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote schedules and staffing shortages made timely payments a challenge. By implementing AvidXchange, he became the first nonprofit to beta test a new API integration with their accounting system—pioneering a digital workflow that eliminated duplicate invoices, streamlined approvals, and enabled payments from anywhere. The implementation reduced data entry and manual processing, cutting workload demands by nearly 60% and delivering approximately $45,000 in annual cost savings. Audit preparation became faster and more reliable, and payment delays were virtually eliminated. As a nonprofit where both time and money are in short supply, Nick’s innovation provided lasting value—strengthening efficiency, compliance, and resilience for whatever challenges the future may bring.

Sean Brenneman, Accounts Payable, M. Shapiro Real Estate Group

Sean led a major digital transformation at M. Shapiro Real Estate Group through AvidXchange, streamlining operations by automating manual tasks and consolidating multiple data sources into a single platform. Rolled out in just 90 days, his initiative cut task completion time by over 60%, reduced error rates by about 30%, and delivered up to $75,000 in annual savings through improved efficiency and reduced rework. Reporting that once took two full business days can now be completed in under an hour, freeing the team to focus on strategic analysis and customer engagement. His CEO praised Sean for his forward-thinking leadership and hands-on approach, noting how his innovation strengthened collaboration, accuracy, and morale across departments while driving smarter, faster decision-making.

Nominations for the 2026 Change Maker Awards will open in August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do nominees have to be a current AvidXchange customer?

Yes, nominees must be a current AvidXchange customer.

How are the winners chosen?

Winners will be determined by a panel of judges appointed by AvidXchange. Entries will be judged for quantifiable metrics, background on innovation, and impact of innovation using unique judging criteria. Please see our terms and conditions.

How will winners be notified?

Winners will be contacted by phone and email in mid-October.

Can I pick what charity you donate to on my behalf?

Yes! However, if the requested charity is deemed ineligible, we will provide a list of approved charities for you to choose from for your donation.

Can I submit multiple nominations?

Yes! We encourage you to nominate anyone who you believe should be recognized for driving innovative change in accounts payable.

Will the information shared in the nomination form be shared publicly?

We take information security seriously at AvidXchange. Information submitted through the nomination form will not be shared publicly without your permission.