Change Maker Awards

Celebrating those who inspire innovation.

Nominations for the 2026 Change Maker Awards will be open from September 8 to October 1.

Nominate a Change Maker

The Change Maker Awards honor our customers who are leading real, measurable transformation in their finance departments. Whether you’ve streamlined workflows, implemented AI, optimized your payment strategy, or delivered significant time and cost savings – this program recognizes the innovators behind meaningful change.

Ready to recognize a Change Maker? Nominate yourself or a peer below and tell us about the impact you’ve seen.

Change Maker Award Winners Receive

$1,000 Charity Donation of Their Choice

Social Media & Press Spotlight

Dedicated Customer Story

Meet the 2025 Change Maker Awards Winners

Anica led the implementation of AvidXchange at Dallas CASA, streamlining financial documentation for federal grants that make up nearly 40% of the organization’s funding – saving her team three hours per week and significantly improving audit transparency and compliance. Her CFO credited her with driving innovation that safeguarded the integrity of an organization dedicated to protecting children.

Bobet drove a major AP transformation at AKAM Living Services, identifying inefficiencies behind high invoice exception volumes and implementing workflow and supplier communication improvements that significantly reduced processing time and boosted team and supplier satisfaction. Colleagues praised her proactive, data-driven approach to continuous improvement that positioned AKAM for stronger performance and scalability.

Derreck led a full AP automation initiative at Piedmont Service Group that cut invoice processing time by nearly 70%, saved over 600 labor hours annually, and generated roughly $65,000 in total yearly savings through ePayments, early-payment discounts, and eliminated paper costs. His work also strengthened supplier relationships, reducing payment inquiries by 40% and pushing on-time payments above 98%.

Faustina compressed a five-year automation plan into six months at the onset of COVID-19, implementing AP automation at Fox Theatre that cut invoice processing from several days to under 48 hours, saved over 1,000 staff hours annually, and generated up to $80,000 in yearly savings. What started as a crisis response became a lasting transformation that strengthened compliance, supplier relationships, and organizational resilience.

Jesse led We Are Blood’s AP automation go-live in under 90 days, eliminating manual tasks that saved roughly 12 hours per week and $18,000 annually while enabling him to process over 18,000 invoices and 7,000 payments in a single year — a volume unachievable under the previous system. His supervisor praised his adaptability and dedication, noting the initiative improved efficiency, collaboration, and flexibility across the team.

Kayce transformed ThirdTier Community Management’s AP operations by rolling out a fully digital solution across all managed HOAs, cutting invoice and payment processing time by up to 60% and reducing errors to nearly zero — all while enabling the company to onboard new clients without adding administrative staff. Her direct report praised her for creating a more efficient, transparent system that elevated both client and employee experiences.

Lindsey automated AP at Cathedral Catholic High School in just two months, cutting invoice processing time by up to 60%, boosting GL coding accuracy to 97%, and generating roughly $30,000 in annual savings by eliminating printed checks and postage. Her initiative freed her team for higher-value work while improving supplier satisfaction and building a more resilient finance operation.

Nick pioneered AP automation at New Hampshire Children’s Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first nonprofit to beta test a new API integration that eliminated duplicate invoices, enabled remote payments, and cut workload by nearly 60% — delivering roughly $45,000 in annual savings. His initiative also streamlined audit preparation and virtually eliminated payment delays, building lasting resilience for the organization.

Sean rolled out AP automation at M. Shapiro Real Estate Group in just 90 days, cutting task completion time by over 60%, reducing errors by 30%, and delivering up to $75,000 in annual savings — while compressing two-day reporting processes to under an hour. His CEO praised his forward-thinking leadership for strengthening collaboration, accuracy, and morale across departments.

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.