Shirley Brickous, CPP, is PAYO’s Region 1 Advisor. She serves as the liaison between PAYO and local chapters in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. Learn more about Shirley with our exclusive Q&A session!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Dr. Shirley Brickous, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to share a little about myself beyond my professional title. My career has been centered around payroll and people. I have more than 35 years of payroll experience and over 20 years of HR experience. I actually started my career as a payroll processor, and that experience has shaped how I lead today. I understand the importance of getting the details right, but I also understand that behind every paycheck is a person, a family, and a life.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to lead large teams, manage global payroll operations, support mergers and acquisitions, transform payroll processes, implement technology, and build shared-service organizations. I’m passionate about developing people, creating efficiencies, and helping payroll professionals recognize the strategic value they bring to their organizations.
I’m also a lifelong learner. I hold my CPP and PHR certifications and earned my doctorate in Organizational Management Leadership. I believe there is always something new to learn, someone new to learn from, and an opportunity to make a difference.
Outside of my professional life, I’m a family-oriented person who loves creating memories with the people I love. I enjoy traveling, celebrating milestones, bringing people together, and finding ways to make life a little more fun. I also enjoy mentoring and encouraging others, especially those who are growing their careers and discovering their own leadership potential.
One thing you’ll quickly learn about me is that I believe people matter. Whether I’m leading a payroll team, speaking at a conference, mentoring someone, or connecting with fellow chapter leaders, I try to lead with authenticity, encouragement, and a little bit of personality!
How long have you been involved with PAYO and Local Chapters?
I have been involved with PayrollOrg (PAYO) for the majority of my payroll career, spanning more than 40 years. PAYO has been an important part of my professional journey, providing opportunities to learn, grow, build relationships, and give back to the payroll community. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching at conferences, connecting with payroll professionals and supporting local chapters. I’m excited to continue that journey by serving and supporting the chapters in my region.
What goal would you like to achieve as a Regional Advisor?
My goal as a Regional Advisor is to support, connect, and empower chapter leaders so that every chapter in my region has the resources, guidance, and encouragement needed to thrive. I want to build strong relationships with chapter leaders, learn what is working well, understand the challenges they face, and help connect them with resources and ideas that can make a difference. I also want to encourage collaboration among chapters so we can learn from one another rather than working in silos. Most importantly, I want to be a Regional Advisor who is approachable, accessible, and invested in the success of every chapter and its leaders. I hope to inspire leaders to think creatively, develop their leadership skills, engage their members, and create meaningful experiences within their chapters.
What advice would you like to give to the chapters in your region?
My best advice is don’t be afraid to dream bigger than where you are today. Every chapter has its own unique personality, strengths, and challenges. Focus on what makes your chapter special, but don’t be afraid to try something new. Great chapters are built by leaders who are willing to listen, collaborate, innovate, and learn from one another.
I would also encourage chapters to stay connected to their members. Ask questions, listen to their ideas, understand what they need, and create opportunities for everyone to feel valued and included. When members feel connected and appreciated, they become more engaged and invested in the success of the chapter. 
And finally, support one another. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Share your successes, challenges, ideas, and resources with other chapters. Your experience may be exactly what another chapter needs to move forward. My message to every chapter is simple: Lead with purpose, serve with passion, support your members, and never underestimate what you can accomplish together.
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?
I use social media to connect, communicate, and highlight the great work happening across our region. On LinkedIn, I use my personal profile Dr. Shirley Brickous and the Region 1 Board of Advisor LinkedIn group to share chapter events, leadership updates, accomplishments, and professional resources. I also encourage chapters to use their Chapter Facebook groups and LinkedIn pages to promote meetings and events, recognize members, share photos, and celebrate chapter successes. My goal is to help chapters increase visibility, engage their members, and share their success stories across the region.
How do you plan to interact with chapters in your region?
I want chapter leaders to know that I’m someone they can reach out to, talk with, and lean on when they need support. I plan to stay connected through regular communication, attending chapter events virtual when possible, celebrating their successes, and learning about the unique needs of each chapter. I also want to create opportunities for chapters to share ideas and support one another. Most importantly, I want to build genuine relationships. When we connect, encourage one another, and work together, we create stronger leaders and stronger chapters.
Share below any greetings or questions you may have for Shirley!
To contact Shirley directly, you may find her contact information on the Region 1 webpage.
Shirley's current contact information as of 11/5/26 is:
