Jennifer Cordes, CPP, is APA’s Region 3 Board of Advisor. She serves as the liaison between APA and local chapters in California. Learn more about Jennifer with this exclusive Q&A session!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I have been working in payroll for over 20 years. Currently, I am the Payroll Manager for Rackspace working out of the corporate office based in San Antonio, Texas. My team currently processes over 5,000 pays in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
I was raised as an Air Force military brat and had the opportunity to live in England, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Texas. I met my husband, Kevin, 27 years ago in San Antonio where we decided to plant roots and raise a family. We have a 20 year old daughter, Savannah, who is working her way through college studying child psychology. For fun, we like to plan family trips to Texas beaches and the mountains of New Mexico.
How long have you been involved with APA and Local Chapters?
Locally, I have served on the board of the Alamo Chapter as the Speaker Coordinator, Seminar Coordinator, Secretary, President-Elect, and President. Nationally, I am a member of the Educational Advisory Committee, Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force - Best Practices subcommittee, Government Relations Task Force - IRS Issues subcommittee, Hotline Referral Service, Board of Contributing Writers, National Speakers Bureau, and Board of Advisors. I was honored by APA in 2017 with their Meritorious Service Award.
What goal would you like to achieve as a Regional Advisor?
My goal as Regional Advisor is to participate in enhancing the experience of APA’s members and chapters. Attending the annual APA Summer Board meeting gives me the opportunity to contribute ideas for improvement in this shared experience. I also strive to communicate with my region via email and social media outlets to keep them updated.
What advice would you like to give to the chapters in your region?
Keep pursuing outreach to draw new members into the chapter and seek board participation with existing members. Document chapter bylaws clearly, along with board position roles and duties, and review them annually to stay current. Set term limits for elected and non-elected board positions to keep the chapter fresh with new ideas and input. Create a chapter environment that is welcoming of all new and existing members through continuous recognition and reward. Do not hesitate to network with other chapters and the APA on guidance and suggestions.
What do you enjoy most about being a Regional Advisor?
I enjoyed meeting Region 3 members at APA Congress and having the opportunity to share with them their accomplishments at the Chapter Exchange. It’s always great to put a face with a name and make new friends. Secondly, I loved the opportunity to participate in APA’s annual Summer Board Meeting. It was awesome to meet the leaders of APA and contribute towards the goals set for the Regional Advisors.
What APA resources would you recommend to the chapters in your region?
An excellent resource APA offers to chapters is the CHAMPS referral service, which can be found on APA’s website, under Chapters > Chapter Mentor Program > Ask A Question. Chapters can enter a question and have a response from an experienced volunteer within a few days. This is a great way for small chapters to begin networking with others and develop a mentorship for guidance on everything chapter-related. No question is too silly or unimportant. When in doubt, ask. More than likely, chapter members have been in the same situation before and can help.
Are you a proud chapter leader in Region 3? Introduce yourself to Jennifer in the comments or send her an email.
Jennifer Cordes, CPP began her 2-year term as the Region 3 Advisor in May 2018.
