The independent selection panel of the 20th Annual Bay Area CFO of the Year Awards is proud to announce the 2026 Bay Area CFO of the Year Winners:
The Bay Area CFO of the Year Awards is presented by Larkin Street Youth Services in partnership with the San Francisco Business Times, with title sponsors EY, Marsh McLennan Agency, and PNC. Proceeds benefit Larkin Street’s mission to prevent and end youth homelessness.
At this year’s awards ceremony, held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, more than 475 business leaders gathered to celebrate the finalists and winners and raise funds to support young people building brighter futures through Larkin Street.
R. Scott Herren, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cisco Systems, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his strategic leadership and commitment to innovation. At Cisco, Scott led the company’s global finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, investor relations, and business operations. Prior to joining Cisco, Scott served as Chief Financial Officer at Autodesk, held senior finance leadership roles at Citrix Systems, and spent more than two decades at IBM. His recognition as the Lifetime Achievement honoree for this year’s 20th anniversary celebration reflects his contributions to the Bay Area business community.
Boss Huang, a Larkin Street participant, shared his story of moving from Taiwan to San Francisco in pursuit of education and opportunity. When he lost access to student housing, Boss found support at Larkin Street and reflected on what that experience meant to him:
I didn’t feel I deserved Larkin Street’s services. But everyone there, staff and clients alike, convinced me otherwise. And that was the real investment. Not just the bed. Not just the room. It was people telling me: you are worth investing in.
As Boss prepares to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business and computer science next May, he reflected on how that support helped him continue his education and pursue his goals:
In Taiwan, I had a community to catch me if I fell. Here, it wasn’t like that. Without Larkin Street, I couldn’t have stayed in school. Built this stability. Or afforded to follow my dreams.
On behalf of Larkin Street Youth Services, the San Francisco Business Times, our Event and Nominating Committees, and our Selection Panel, thank you for making the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Bay Area CFO of the Year Awards a success.
If you weren’t able to attend, you can still make an impact. Every gift helps young people move beyond homelessness and build brighter futures. Make a gift today.
Thank you to Vanity Portrait Studio and 20/20 Productions Inc. for capturing the evening. See the full photobooth gallery here. Video highlights coming soon.
