Letter from the NAPEO Chair
LOOKING BACK AND MOVING INTO A NEW PHASE
With a month away from our Annual Conference, I am eagerly anticipating our members being back together in Kissimmee, Florida, outside of O-Town. Orlando is where I was born and raised up until I joined the ADP team in April 2011 and moved to Atlanta. I look forward to seeing many of you and continuing to build our knowledge and connections. These connections matter! We are stronger together and that has proven to be the case through our efforts on ERTC. We still have work to do, and I am confident our united approach is making a difference. Our fearless leader even testified before Congressional leaders and made quite the impression.
As my time as Chair of the Board is ending here with the passing of the gavel at our Annual Conference & Marketplace in October, I am thankful for an endless amount of support from all of you – personally and professionally. I have been asked by friends, family and co-workers what has been my greatest appreciation in serving our industry. Without hesitation, my response is that despite members being competitors, we truly do care about each other and the success of the industry. Case in point, moving my daughter (Abby) into freshman year at college this past month is a parent’s joy, and quite frankly a bit daunting; the reality their child is moving on to their next stage of life. I heard from many of you leading up to that day who shared their own stories of college send-offs and preparing me for what’s to come. Buckle up! I’m ready - or at least that is what I tell myself. Continue to send good vibes!
Sending Abby off to college and moving into her dorm has me thinking about how our PEO industry has learned, advanced, and matured. As Abby will discover herself, what she sees for life ahead and ultimately the mark she wants to make – it is a journey. One that throughout her life will continue to evolve and be influenced by many. NAPEO is no different and will be ‘moving into’ a new phase in 2024 with a new President & CEO *and* we will be celebrating 40-years for NAPEO. Yes, that’s right – 40 years! I reflected on Bruce’s Chair article last September and it was not a surprise to me his sentiment around the honor and privilege to serve. He shared his time was “meaningful work coupled with rich friendships.” I could not agree more.
I encourage you to join us in Central Florida at our Annual Conference & Marketplace, October 9-11, at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. We will celebrate Pat’s extraordinary leadership of NAPEO, raise money for NAPEO Gives Back benefiting Gives Kids the World, and build the rich friendships many of us appreciate. I will see you there!
PS: From someone who grew up in Central Florida and enjoyed a giggle at visitors who did not know how to pronounce Kissimmee…here’s the secret of pronunciation…Kuh-si-mee (not Kiss-ah-mee). Fun fact: The city gets its name dating back to the Jororo people and means “long water.”
KRISTEN J. APPLEMAN
2022-2023 NAPEO Chair
SVP/GM
ADP TotalSource
Alpharetta, GA