SEPA wins APA 2005 Dream Theme Award for Statewide!

SEPA Statewide article in February 2006 APA PAYTECH magazine on page 46 & 47!

Thank you for a successful SEPA 2005 Statewide Conference!

The 2005 Pennsylvania "Reality Payroll" Statewide Conference hosted by the Southeastern PA Chapter was held on October 7^th in King of Prussia, PA.  The day started at Tribal Council, but don’t worry, Raeann Hofkin, Chapter President granted all participants the chance at immunity when she explained the task involved in the Amazing Race.  Each participant was given a passport.  Their journey took them to each vendor to get their passport stamped. 

The participants were asked:

• Do you feel like a contender with HR? 
• Have there been times when you feel like you are in a race against time to finish processing payroll?
• Are there times when you feel like screaming “You’re Fired!”? 
• Have you found yourself in a fix with year –end, the new OT regs, garnishments, or local PA taxes?

During the opening general session Walt Stasinski, MEd, MPH spoke about Leadership.  Walt’s program was both educational and entertaining with the focus on providing solutions for your “Reality Payroll”.  He explained success requires real effort, but the journey should be fun.

 The Amazing Race breakout sessions included presentations from Walt Stasinski on Customer Service, Robert Farina, CEO of Cybershift on Sarbanes-Oxley, and Year End presented by Harold Ford from HRMG Solutions.

The Fear Factor breakout session included presentations on Disaster Recovery from Harvey Hodges, CPP WMAC-APA member. Expatriate Payrolls from Charlotte Hodges, CPP past President of the WMAC Chapter. And Garnishments presented by Vicki Majors, Present-Elect for National APA.

At 12:30 all participants were summoned to the Boardroom for lunch at the Copper Mill Restaurant.  After lunch, the final journey began with the second half of the Amazing speakers who talked the participants through their payroll Fear Factors.

The Contender breakout session included presentations from Jeff Weintraub, Esq updating us on the New OT regulations.  Jim Daniels from iEmployee on the Five Core Foundations of HR.  And Georgia Earp from the Governor’s Center for Local Gov’t who showed us we don’t have to throw in the towel, we can be contenders with the local PA tax issues.

The closing session was a presentation on Setting and Keeping Goals by Ann Weisbord, M.Ed. sponsored by Carebridge Corporation.  All the Statewide sessions provided assistance in overcoming roadblocks, detours, and speed bumps in “Payroll Reality”. 

The final pit stop of the Amazing Race was the most exciting Rose Ceremony ever!  Throughout the day the nominees from each PA chapter for the PA Payroll Professional Award were announced.  The nominees were:

• Raeann Hofkin, CPP – Southeastern PA Tribe
• Flo Wilmot-Burner – Western PA Tribe
• Heide Daugherty, CPP – Susquehanna Valley Tribe
• Ken Krum, CPP – Lehigh Valley Tribe

 Although all contenders deserved immunity, Vicki Majors, CPP presented the rose (award) to Ken Krum, CPP of the Lehigh Valley Tribe.

2002 APA Statewide Updates (Click For Photo Gallery)

The 2002 Pennsylvania Statewide Conference was hosted by the SEPA Chapter on September 12th and 13th at the Valley Forge Hilton Hotel. The theme of the conference was “Journey Into the Payroll Zone”.

Statewide attendees entered another payroll zone as they registered for the conference at the Paymaster’s window. They were provided with their conference materials in addition to their timecard.  Time clocks were available for punching in and out of the conference.

Ken Krum CPP, the PA Statewide Chairperson, welcomed attendees to “The Dimension Beyond That Which is Known to Employees.” This was followed by a choice of two sessions. The first session, “Travelling the Shadowy Highway” was hosted by Deneen McCormick CPP. Deneen explained the travel and entertainment rules and regulations. The second session, “On a Route to the Different, the Bizarre, the Unexplainable was led by George Ferrence of the US Department of Labor. George provided attendees with an understanding of the current FLSA regulations.

Attendees then “Crossed Over to the Vendor Zone” for the afternoon break and the opening of the vendor exhibit hall. As they entered the vendor hall each person received a travel alarm so that they would know the time in any zone!

Concluding the agenda for the day was Joan Hubbard a professional speaker who presented “Life is a Smorgasbord Why Settle for Salad.”

The evening was a 15th Anniversary Celebration of the SEPA Chapter, complete with a big birthday cake. Attendees enjoyed an evening of good food, drinks and dancing!

Friday the 13th began with opening comments from Ken Krum CPP as he again welcomed everyone “To The Area We Call the Payroll Zone.” Following the opening, Michael O’Toole, Esq, Sr. Director of Publications and Government Relations from the American Payroll Association “Unlocked the Door to APA National.” Michael presented an overview of the great happenings of APA National.

After morning break in the vendor hall, attendees chose between two sessions. The first session, “A Different Zone of Rules and Regulations” was led by Deneen McCormick CPP was a discussion of Year End Accounts Payable style. “Making the Time Clock Work for You” was a presentation of time management skill by Joan Hubbard.

At this point in the day it was time to “Journey into the Lunch Zone.”

The afternoon began with the final choice of two sessions. “Stories of the Bizarre and Beyond” a legislative update was presented by Michael O’Toole, Esq. While the second session “A Dimension as Vast as Space” was led by Mike Cappiello from Huntington Business Systems, Mike presented a discussion of Time and Attendance Web Implementation Do’s and Don'ts.

As our day neared an end attendees were provided with one last opportunity to visit the vendor exhibit area and network with fellow attendees and vendors. Chocolate 1040 bars were provided with “Take a Bite Out of the IRS” prominently displayed on the wrapper.

The final presentation of the day was Mary Lilley-Thompson, Professional Speaker who presented “Lighten Up Laughter Works!” Mary got all the attendees laughing with her many funny hats!

Door prizes were awarded at the “Completion of the Journey to the Dimension between Gross and Net, Between IRS and SSA. This was the Zone of the Payroll Professional!

Congratulations to Ken Krum CPP, the Statewide Conference Chairperson and all of the committee members who helped make the conference a success!

Click For Photo Gallery