Where the journey started

It all started with a timecard.

Keying in times from a card to a computer system: Attention to every detail, and an instinct for order. That was a pretty big undertaking then - one keystroke error meant incorrect pay! That job sparked what became a lifelong fascination with payroll: wanting to know how it all added up, how powerful it could be, and how those time stamps were turning into dollars.

My next role brought me into the consumer goods industry where I started as a Payroll Specialist supporting a massive operation with over 300,000 employees across a deeply layered organizational structure. Throughout my tenure, I advanced to Team Lead and joined a focus group working on an SAP implementation, where I helped with designing the process, performing user testing, and creating the training documents for the team. Once the system was successfully implemented, I then moved into the Timekeeping team where I became a Kronos expert, handling system configurations, business rules, exception logic, union contract system updates and general rule setup support. I also became responsible for payroll escalations related to cash logistics and involuntary pay.

One of my proudest moments was initiating cross-departmental learning sessions that gave payroll professionals a space to connect, share knowledge, and break down communication barriers in an otherwise siloed organization. What began as a simple idea turned into an impactful collaboration, widely recognized and celebrated across the company.

The Turning Point

My pivotal moment came when I was hired by a multi-state construction company to lead a project implementing SAP and building a Shared Services model from the ground up. It was a blank canvas, and I had the rare opportunity to help design it all: working with the consultants that were configuring the payroll system, building process documents, identifying the right team structure, and even participating in interviews to assemble the department. That role lit a fire in me as I wanted to learn in a much deeper manner: how every gear turned, where the friction points lived, and how to engineer something stronger. That’s when I earned my Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation, opening the floodgates to an intentional journey of expanding my expertise across industries, systems, and business models.

Doors opened, and I went through each of them with eyes wide open, note-taking app in hand, logging every lesson and applying it with deeper focus and sharper intention. Each role wasn’t just the next job; it was a masterclass in complexity that became a module in my payroll mastership.

My journey continued with intensity, managing cross-border payroll at a global technology leader; leading equity, SOX controls, and global stock processes for an international offshore organization; then expanding into HR operations, Benefits Administration, Talent Acquisition, and HRIS at a non-profit organization, followed by a deep dive into payroll tax, working a contract role for a company with multiple FEINs and operations across all 50 states, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

In recent years, I took on a very impactful role leading consultants at a national HR and Payroll firm. In addition to having my own clients, I also led a team of consultants through complex implementations, urgent payroll rescues, and compliance audits. The pace was fast, dynamic, and incredibly rewarding, the kind of role that further sharpened both my strategic lens and leadership edge. It also deepened my expertise in many systems, such as Workday, UKG, Paylocity, ADP, and more than a few of the “smaller” ones too.

During my most recent in-house leadership role, I stepped into a global payroll environment that was under intense pressure, and the solution I architected became the catalyst for this next chapter. Like many rapidly evolving companies, the team was navigating system limitations, broken processes, compliance risks, and operational burnout. The climate then? High error rates, nonstop reactivity, employee burnout, and a payroll function on the edge of collapse. Walking into it, I knew exactly how damaged it was, and that made me run toward it faster, because I knew exactly how to transform it.

I rolled up my sleeves and led a full-scale redesign: streamlining operations, automating processes, building more revealing and actionable reports, establishing sustainable controls, rebuilding a culture of trust, and restoring balance to a team that desperately needed it. Error rates dropped. Rework disappeared. Confidence returned. Payroll went from a source of stress to a strategic business unit. The team can now take time off and not come back dreading the chaos that in the past waited for them.

That experience wasn’t another win: it was my graduation.
It was the moment I finally realized how every step of this journey had silently prepared me to do this type of work at the highest level. It confirmed what I had circled for years: fractional leadership is where I’m meant to create the most impact.

I’m here to transform any organization that is ready to run smarter – whether buried in complexity, quietly coasting, or looking to elevate what’s already in motion.

Here’s what sets me apart:

I don’t just know payroll - it has become part of my DNA.

I’ve lived the full journey, not in theory but in action. I know not only what it means to do things right, but also everything that could go wrong. I’ve worked in it, built with it, and solved problems inside it. There’s the difference between knowing how something works and knowing how to make it work better.

Today, I combine that experience with a modern mindset. I’m a tech advocate, automation lover, and a self-proclaimed process nerd. I’m active in payroll communities and forums, continuously learning, adapting, and sharing insights. When laws change, when systems shift, when nuance arises, I’m already in the know, ready to roll my sleeves up and act, and I bring that edge straight to my clients.

I speak C-suite fluently — delivering root cause, executive summaries, impact metrics, balance sheet drainers, and action plans with clarity and speed. I also stay grounded enough to walk the floor with frontline staff and see where the real challenges lie.

Because payroll isn’t just transactional — it’s personal. It impacts people’s trust, time, and well-being (and the CFO’s pocket.)

Whether your team is growing fast, stuck in outdated systems, drowning in compliance issues, or simply needs someone who gets it — I’m here.

Payroll is often seen as a cost of doing business. I turn it into an investment with visible returns.