--- title: Alamo Chapter President Highlights the Benefits of Attending Congress description: A long-time Congress attendee, Valery Noakes, CPP, shares her story about attending the biggest payroll event of the year and how it has impacted her career. image: https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/Alamo%20Award.png --- [![soc-fb](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/ct-23-assets/footer-icon_fb.svg "soc-fb")](https://www.facebook.com/American-Payroll-Associations-Chapter-Relations-877434285724525/) [![soc-in](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/ct-23-assets/footer-icon_li.svg "soc-in")](http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=1051077&trk=anet_ug_grppro) [![Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG.png?width=20&height=19&name=Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG.png)](https://twitter.com/APAChapters?lang=en)   - [Home](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders) - [About](https://blogs.payroll.org/about) - [Connect](https://blogs.payroll.org/connect) - [Resources](https://blogs.payroll.org/resources) ![23 PAYO Chapter Blog](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/CL-2023-images/23%20PAYO%20Chapter%20Blog.jpg "23 PAYO Chapter Blog") ![](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/60668d0caf1a25209693951c0ef1b2bf) by [Julianna Hunt](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/author/julianna-hunt) on Apr 4, 2019 2:16:50 PM # Alamo Chapter President Highlights the Benefits of Attending Congress For 37 years, the American Payroll Association has taken on the challenge of hosting the biggest payroll event in the country – a week-long endeavor with numerous opportunities for networking, professional development, and education. If you’ve never attended, it can be hard to grasp the incredible benefits that the [Annual Congress](https://www.apacongress.com/) offers. Never fear, however, Valery Noakes, CPP, a long-time Congress attendee and the President of the Alamo Chapter of the APA, has offered to share her story with you! ** ![Alamo Award](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Alamo%20Award.png?width=650&name=Alamo%20Award.png)** *Valery Noakes, CPP, displays the 3rd Place COTY Award with other members of the Alamo Chapter.* **How has attending the Annual Congress benefited your career and professional development?** I have been very lucky to attend the majority of Annual Congresses since 1994, either company-paid or on my own dime. As a result, I’ve gained confidence in my skills and knowledge and widened my peer network. I fell into payroll as a career choice, but the support and education I’ve received from APA and Congress have benefited my career and professional development immensely. **Is the Annual Congress more ideal for a developing payroll professional or an experienced payroll professional?** Both - wherever you are on your payroll journey, you will find new information, tools, and technology to aid your personal development. The networking with your payroll peers is priceless. **How can someone interested in attending persuade their employer to invest in a Congress registration?** Use the [APA letter](https://www.apacongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Congress_2019_ROI_Memo_Template.pdf) to highlight the reasons to attend Congress. More importantly, highlight what you learned when you return to the office – then implement it. **Describe your favorite memory from the Annual Congress.** My favorite memory was from the 2018 Congress, when my friends and former CPP Committee members won both Payroll Woman and Payroll Man of the Year. **Is there anything else you would like to share?** Invest in yourself even if your company doesn’t.  The return on the investment will be evident in your increased skills/knowledge and will support ongoing career development.    It’s not too late to [register](https://www.apacongress.com/) for the 37th Annual Congress, held May 14-18, 2019 in Long Beach, CA. If you are able to attend, be sure to join Valery and other chapter leaders at the Chapter Exchange on May 15! Topics: [Payroll Congress](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/payroll-congress) **Topics:** [Payroll Congress](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/payroll-congress)   ### Search ### Categories - [Chapter Guidance & Resources (103)](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/chapter-guidance-resources) - [Chapter Contests (62)](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/chapter-contests) - [Board of Advisors (46)](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/board-of-advisors) - [Payroll Congress (36)](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/payroll-congress) - [Chapter Events (31)](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/topic/chapter-events) ![](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/chapter-blog-images/clsad.jpg?width=160&name=clsad.jpg) ![](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/chapter-blog-images/gccad.jpg?width=150&name=gccad.jpg) ### Recent Posts ![payroll-logo-white](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/payroll-logo-white.png?width=200&name=payroll-logo-white.png "payroll-logo-white") [Privacy Policy](http://www.americanpayroll.org/privacy/)     |     Acceptable Use ©[PayrollOrg](http://payroll.org) [![soc-fb](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/ct-23-assets/footer-icon_fb.svg "soc-fb")](https://www.facebook.com/PayrollOrg) [![soc-in](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/ct-23-assets/footer-icon_li.svg "soc-in")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/payroll-org/mycompany/) [![Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG.png?width=20&height=19&name=Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG.png)](https://twitter.com/PayNews)