Northstar Chapter Members of the Year - 2002

It’s the Northstar Board of Directors pleasure to announce a new award that will be given once a year, by membership and board nomination, to one or two Northstar Chapter member(s).  The criteria for this award will be the member’s overall commitment and dedication to living out the Northstar chapters’ vision, which is to  "provide an organization for educational, professional support, and development; to prepare and empower members for an ever changing business environment."

The Member of the Year award will be given at the Northstar Annual Conference unless the Northstar Chapter joins with another membership group to sponsor the annual conference.  In which case the award will be given during the National Payroll Week celebration.

Our first award recipients have been working in the payroll profession for many years.  The first time I met her she was taking pictures at a local chapter meeting.  Through the following years I discovered that this lady was much more than a picture taker.  Instead she had a passion for the payroll profession and working for it’s improvement through educational opportunities, volunteerism, and her overall attitude of doing whatever it takes to complete the job.  From serving on the board to organizing community outreach activities she has done it all for the Northstar Chapter.  If she could volunteer full-time and earn a living she would be in heaven.

This year’s recipient is currently the Payroll Manager for a local large employer, she has recently finished implementing a new HRIS system only to be told that payroll was next.   But that hasn’t stopped her from continuing to serve on this year’s speaker committee for the conference in October.  In addition to being historian she has also served as Vice President, President and has also coordinated several chapter of the year contests, NPW celebrations, and is currently serving as the Communication Director for the Northstar Chapter. 

Please join the Northstar Board of Directors in congratulating this years’ APA Northstar Chapter Female Member of the Year  Robin Murphy, CPP.

Our second recipient has given himself to assisting other payroll professionals attain their highest goal.  He has been serving the Northstar Chapter memberships since 1996 coordinating and leading CPP/FPC study groups resulting in hundreds obtaining their CPP certification and now the FPC certification.  Over 95% of his students pass the exam most groups he facilitates are 100%.  He has developed specialized training materials for the Study Groups the each participant receives as part of their enrollment.

For the past several years he has served as an instructor for the PPLS Professional Payroll Learning Series courses and is currently working with Century College to transfer the administration and delivery of the CPP/FPC study groups allowing for CEU credit.  He has volunteered and delivered several sessions for local conferences on the CPP exam and recertification.  He has also served on the conference committee in a variety of roles.  This year the Northstar Chapter board of directors nominated him for the APA Donald W. Sharper Education Grant and he received 2^nd place overall, with recognition for his accomplishment at this year’s Annual Congress in San Antonio.

He is currently working for a local large employer as the Payroll Coordinator where he has taken his knowledge and restructured the department to allow for career advancement and educational opportunities.  He says his life motto is to “ give more than you receive”

Please join the Northstar Board of Directors in congratulating this years’ APA Northstar Chapter Male Member of the Year, Terry Meggitt, CPP