Liza Hernandez
Staff Accountant
Hometown: Pico Rivera, California
With CNCDA since: Oct. 31, 2006
Congratulations, Liza, on 20 years at CNCDA!
Tell us about your background. How did you end up at CNCDA?
I was working at a printer but was looking for new opportunities, and a friend of mine at a temp agency helped me find a temp-to-hire role at TDIC, a for-profit subsidiary of the California Dental Association. There, I ended up working under CNCDA Membership Manager Lauren Johnston’s mom, Cindy. Eventually, I moved to the California Hospital Association for about a year, where I once again worked for Cindy.
In the fall of 2006, our former CFO called me and asked if I would be interested in a staff accountant position at CNCDA, and I was offered the job shortly after my interview. When I put in my notice at the Hospital Association, we smoothed things over with Cindy for the price of a few boxes of See’s Candies Bordeaux chocolates.
What does your current position entail?
I handle day-to-day accounting, including accounts payable, keeping our general ledger current with daily bank transactions, reconciling credit card transactions and performing account reconciliations. I also handle the payroll.
What’s something you work on behind the scenes that directly benefits our dealer members?
I feel that making our accounts payable run smoothly means other businesses want to work with CNCDA and, by extension, its dealer members. Also, ensuring that CNCDA staff are paid properly and on time enables us to focus on our responsibilities and better serve our members.
What might people be surprised to learn about you?
I love crafts, from card-making to diamond painting, and I recently got into book nooks and miniatures. My work at CNCDA really engages the logical side of my brain, but crafting engages the more creative side and helps me relax and unwind. I don’t think I could do what I do at CNCDA without having a creative outlet.
What was your first car?
My first car was a red Mustang coupe from the ‘70s. It wasn’t in the best condition, but I loved that car. It was fun to drive, but it hated the hills at Rio Hondo College.
Cathy Mason
Director of Operations
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
With CNCDA since: June 2021
Tell us about your background. How did you end up at CNCDA?
I’ve worked in the association space for many years. I started at CalChamber, running the business services division, then moved to the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association, where I worked with Rebecca [Matulich, CNCDA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships]. She was the one who suggested I apply for the Director of Operations position at CNCDA when it became available.
What does your current position entail?
I take care of the building and parking lot, work with all our vendors and the City of Sacramento, and coordinate the use of our showroom for meetings and fundraisers, among other things. I also handle the association’s day-to-day HR needs.
What’s something you work on behind the scenes that directly benefits our dealer members?
Making sure the CNCDA headquarters are well-maintained.
What do you enjoy most about working with California’s dealer community?
They are friendly and engaging, and always make you feel part of the dealer community. I think it’s fabulous how much our dealers give back to their communities.
What might people be surprised to learn about you?
I used to do a lot of four-wheeling and have been over the Rubicon numerous times. We used to do a midnight run every year with 150 off-road vehicles. We would camp for two days about halfway through, then finish the trip in Tahoma.
What was your first car?
A Plymouth Satellite Sebring.
