Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award
Established in 2024, the Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award honors the legacy of DMEC co-founders Sharon Kaleta and Marcia Carruthers. It recognizes members who have built standout Integrated Disability and Absence Management (IDAM) programs and can back their results with real data.
Key dates
The award is given every two years, in even-numbered years.
2026 winner: Abhishek Aithabathula
Abhishek Aithabathula received the 2026 Kaleta-Carruthers Innovation Award for developing an integrated leave pay-accuracy program within Amazon’s Disability and Leave Services organization. The program brought Short-Term Disability, Pregnancy, Parental/Bonding, and state-mandated Paid Family & Medical Leave programs under a single governance framework to improve payment accuracy and enhance the employee experience. His work reduced leave overpayments by 19% year over year, generated more than $4 million in validated annual savings, and drove payment defects to near-zero through basis-point precision measurement. The program also introduced generative AI to explain overpayments in plain language and a self-service portal that reduced inbound service calls by approximately 38,000 annually.
Who can apply
This award is open to DMEC members who have:
- Pioneered IDAM programs with a measurable return on investment.
- Implemented creative, cost-effective approaches that reflect genuine innovation.
The nominee cannot currently be serving on DMEC’s Employer Advisory Council, Executive Advisory Board, Leadership Council, or the National Board of Directors.
How nominations work
- Anyone can nominate: yourself, a colleague, or an industry partner.
- Applications should highlight the effectiveness of IDAM programs with a documented ROI in cost and savings.
- Submissions must include documentation of program costs and savings.
- All nominations will be reviewed, and a winner will be selected by a DMEC committee.
What winners receive
- Full complimentary registration for the 2026 DMEC Annual Conference.
- Complimentary hotel stay during the conference.
- A $300 travel voucher.
- One year of complimentary DMEC membership.
- Complimentary registration for a DMEC microcredential course.
- An exclusive luncheon with the DMEC Executive Advisory Board, Employer Advisory Council, and Board of Directors.
- A feature in @Work magazine.
- The opportunity to lead a webinar or conference session.
- Recognition on DMEC’s website, newsletter, and social media.
Past recipients
2024: Krystle Barnes-Iwediebo
