Merit Award Board Members

The Merit Award Board consists of five members who are responsible for reviewing suggestions:

• Adopted by more than one state agency;
• When cash awards will be greater than $5,000; or
• When there is disagreement between the Suggester and state agency which cannot be resolved by the agency or Merit Award Program.

The Board members make their recommendations to the Director of CalHR through the Staff to the Board. Awards over $5,000 are submitted to the Legislature for subsequent approval.   

Board Members

Chairperson

• Nicole Griffith
  Chief, Benefits Division
  California Department of Human Resources

Members

• Mary Halterman, Principal Program Budget Analyst
  Employee Compensation Unit
  Department of Finance

• Kimberly A. Malm, Division Chief
  Operations Support Services Division
  Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

• Sara Sepulveda, Manager
  Employee and Administrative Services Unit
  Department of Motor Vehicles​

• Lucinda Ward, Division Vice President
  Vision Service Plan (VSP)
  Public Member

Staff to the Board

• Carol Azevedo