The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and MasterCard Worldwide have introduced a new level of recognition honoring creative and innovative management of corporate travel spend by an individual or team. This new award, designated as the “ACTE/MasterCard Excellence Award for Management of Corporate Travel Spend,” was presented to Tamara Jones, Senior Manager, Travel - Expense Management & Accounts Payable, Dale Smith, Senior Director, Shared Services and Heather Young, Manager, Travel - Expense Management, working together as the travel management team for Capital One Financial. The award presentation was made by Ron DiLeo, Executive Director for ACTE, and Leigh Bochicchio, Vice President, Global Commercial Product, MasterCard, on 4 October 2010, against the backdrop of the association’s Global Education Conference, where 800 delegates from 35 countries participated in this annual education and networking event.

“ACTE is proud to be working with MasterCard Worldwide in honoring the efforts of our colleagues...and delighted that our Global Education Conference in Berlin was chosen to showcase this new award,” said Ron DiLeo. “Tamara Jones, Dale Smith, and Heather Young typify the executives that are driving this industry.”

"This award honors teams who have demonstrated creativity and innovation in their approach to delivering solutions and programs that benefit their travelers and their company,” said MasterCard’s Leigh Bochicchio. “We are proud to be part of this global initiative that recognizes real innovation in corporate travel management and providing new best practices that can be followed by companies and organizations all over the world."

The Capital One team was successful in focusing attention on reducing the company’s travel and expense (T&E) outlay by creating targeted tools and associate communications to better manage expenses in this cost-conscious environment.

"At Capital One, all associates play a role in ensuring we are as efficient and cost conscious as possible," stated Rena Friske, Managing Vice President, Office of Finance Management, Capital One Financial Corporation. "Being aware of our T&E policy and how we spend is fundamental to our company's 'well-managed' style."