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

• Belinda Collins, Chief
  Benefits Division
  California Department of Human Resources

Members

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

• Eric Stern, Assistant Program Budget Manager
  Employee Compensation, Retirement Systems, and Information Technology Operations and Consulting
  Department of Finance

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

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

Staff to the Board

• Carol Azevedo