Christena Verrill, CPP, is PAYO’s Region 7 Advisor. She serves as the liaison between PAYO and local chapters in District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia. Learn more about Christena with our exclusive Q&A session!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I started my payroll career in 1987 at a small bank in Portland Maine. I am currently the Payroll Manager for L.L. Bean, Inc. in Freeport Maine and have been here for over 29 years. Over my 37-year payroll career I have had many opportunities for growth and advancement. In May of 2017 I was presented with a Meritorious Service Award, what an honor. In 2023 I won the PayrollOrg Education grant which allowed me to take class that would help with my CPP recertification. I feel fortunate that I can do something that I have so much passion for every day.
How long have you been involved with PAYO and Local Chapters?
I have been a PAYO member for about 30 years and a member or MAPP, the local chapter in Maine, for about as long. At the local level I have served as board member, VP and currently I am in my first year as President. At the national level I serve on several PAYO subcommittees for the GRTF and the SPLTF. I am also a member of the NCCSD Employer Collaboration Committee with Alice Jacobsohn and Corrie Flores. I have been the Treasure of the New England Payroll Conference for the last 4 years. I love getting involved and sharing my experiences with others about how my involvement has enriched my life and advanced my career.
What goal would you like to achieve as a Regional Advisor?
My goal as a Regional Advisor is to help the Chapters in my Region grow and be successful. As President of the Maine Association of Payroll Professionals (MAPP), I know how difficult it is to keep a chapter and its members active and engaged while also attracting new members. I’m hoping my experience with MAPP, as well as my involvement with the New England Payroll Conference, will give me the tools I need to help the Region 7 Chapters thrive and grow!
What advice would you like to give to the chapters in your region?
I think the best advice I can give to the Chapters in my region is to take full advantage of their advisor as well as the tools and resources that PayrollOrg provides. I think it’s also important to attend the quarterly region calls as this is a great way to network with other regional chapter leaders and have a captive, knowledgeable audience to ask questions and share any struggles you may be having with your Chapter. Chances are, if you’re dealing with an issue, other Chapters are as well. I also highly recommend at least one person from each Chapter attend the Chapter Leadership summit, if at all possible. It’s a wonderful resource for Chapters to learn – and best of all – it’s FREE! Finally, if anyone from your Chapter is attending Congress, they should definitely plan on attending the Chapter Exchange which is held on that Monday during the week of Congress. This is another amazing opportunity to meet and network with other Chapters and celebrate Chapter accomplishments!
How do you use social media to help promote and market the chapters in your region? What handles do you use? What is your handle/profile name?
This is an area that I am not as active as I could be. I have used LinkedIn to communicate with the Region 7 group as well as Region 9 group since my local chapter is in that group. This is one area that I could use some help with since I am just starting to dip my toe in the waters as a BOA.
How do you plan to interact with chapters in your region?
I will be actively sharing with the Chapters in my Region during my term, but this needs to be a two-way street. I want the Chapter leaders for my Region to know that I’m always available to assist in any way I can. If questions come up or they’re looking for advice on an issue, they don’t have to wait for one of our scheduled calls – they should feel free to reach out any time. If I don’t have the answer to a question, I will be the liaison between them and PayrollOrg and we will find an answer! When possible, I would love to attend virtual sessions and maybe an in-person session to be more visible to chapters in my region.
Share below any greetings or questions you may have for Christena!
To contact Christena directly, you may find her contact information on the Region 7 webpage.
Annual Chapter Contests Coming Soon
It’s the time of year to start planning your entries for the Annual Chapter Contests. These awards allow chapters to share their innovative changes and earn national recognition. Check out the contests webpage for more information and to see the 2025 deadlines.
