Announcing APA's 158th Chapter

Welcome Volusia Flagler County Association of Payroll Professionals!

The Chapter Relations Department just affiliated APA's 158th chapter. Let's welcome the Volusia Flagler County Association of Payroll Professionals.

This new chapter will be servicing Volusia County, Flagler County, and Daytona Beach, Fla. The chapter currently has 20 members and looks forward to growing.

In March 2012, Poppy Graham, CPP, accepted a Payroll Manager position in Daytona Beach, Fla., and moved from Missouri to Florida. Not only did she move away from her friends and family, she also left her local APA chapter. Because the nearest chapter was hours away, Graham decided to survey her area for payroll professionals and discovered many would be interested in joining an APA chapter. In late March of this year, Graham, Jeff Bissell, CPP, PHR, and Deborah Reilly, FPC, submitted their chapter affiliation paperwork and the Volusia Flagler County Association of Payroll Professionals chapter was created.

The three chapter officers have a combined 63 years' payroll experience and are thrilled to help start this new chapter.

"I am so excited about our first chapter meeting in June," Graham said. "I know from experience how important this chapter will be for the payroll professionals in our area."

Please welcome the Volusia Flagler County Association of Payroll Professionals to the APA family!

Chapter President
Poppy Graham, CPP
Payroll Manager
Halifax Media Group
Daytona Beach, FL 32119
[email protected]

Secretary
Jeffrey Bissell, CPP, PHR
Operations Manager
Vision H R
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
[email protected]

Treasurer
Deborah Reilly, FPC
Payroll Coordinator
FHCP
Holly Hill, FL 32114
[email protected]

Submit Photos for 2013
Annual Report

Is your local chapter payroll proud? Well, the APA Chapter Relations Department is proud of you, and we want APA members to see your local chapter pride with a group photo of your chapter! Your chapter photo will be included in the APA's 2013 Annual Report. Don't worry about glitz and glamour, just gather your chapter officers/members, display your chapter banner, and smile for the camera. Chapter photos from 2012 will be re-used if a new photo is not submitted. Photos must be submitted in high resolution, JPEG format to Chapter Relations. Deadline is Friday, May 24.

Chapter President Profile
Carl York, CPP
Dallas Chapter

Carl York, CPP, President of the Dallas Chapter American Payroll Association, served on the chapter's board for almost four years before he realized that he really wanted to be President. He began the process of moving up to Vice President and then President-Elect before eventually becoming Chapter President. During this time, Carl was able to focus on his goals for his presidency.

Working together as a team with his fellow board members, Carl has been able to achieve many of his goals for the chapter.

"My contribution has really been centered on presenting ideas and providing direction," he said. "We have really placed emphasis on the professionalism and quality of what we do."

Under Carl's leadership, the Dallas Chapter has focused on enhancing networking functions. The chapter started a Young Payroll Professionals Group (see the October 2012 PTO issue). They have also developed a strong relationship with DallasHR and hold a popular annual joint meeting. Attendance at this meeting has reached a high of 280 attendees. Carl also increased budgetary spending on speakers and programs and worked on strengthening vendor relationships.

Another accomplishment for the Dallas Chapter has been the commencement of an Annual Congress education grant for the membership. Having attended each APA Annual Congress since 2006, in 2011 and 2012 Carl served on the Board of Advisors for Region 7. He facilitated discussions with chapter officers and members in Region 7 at the Chapter Exchange during the Annual Congress.

Carl is most proud of the members in the Dallas Chapter. In 2012, the chapter celebrated 80 volunteers.

"That's a huge accomplishment and is really a testament to the camaraderie of our members and to the spirit of volunteerism that is fostered within the chapter," Carl says.

Although it can be challenging to balance career and the responsibility of a presidency, Carl has found that serving as President has been greatly beneficial to his career.

"Being Chapter President has really improved my ability to speak in front of large groups," he said. "It has also improved my ability to plan and manage multiple projects at one time and helped some of my 'soft skills' like being personable under pressure and learning to delegate."

Carl has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a 2010 APA Meritorious Service Award, the 2010 Texas Payroll Professional of the Year Award, and the 2011 La Quinta CMH Employee of the Year Award.