Alexander, Phillips Honored With 2023 Special Recognition Award

Two payroll professionals who’ve displayed outstanding leadership and who’ve continually gone above and beyond to help other payroll professionals become better at what they do were honored on May 17.

Valerie Alexander, CPP, and Jamie Phillips, CPP, received PayrollOrg’s Special Recognition Award for their exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication through their volunteer efforts over their many years as PayrollOrg members and mentors.

Alexander, Payroll Manager for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, has more than 25 years of payroll experience. In 1996, she joined PayrollOrg and two years later, she earned her Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.

"This is so exciting. My first thought is they may have the wrong person," Alexander said. "Having Dan contact me directly validated how I've always felt about Dan and his ability to see the future in a payroll professional. He has pointed me in directions I had never considered in the past, where I can look back now and say "Dan has influenced the direction of my professional career tremendously!" 

Over the course of her career, she has held positions that included Corporate Payroll Manager at McClatchy Newspapers and Global Payroll Manager at VSP.

 During her years in PayrollOrg, she has served on the National Speakers Bureau and President’s Board of Advisors. In 2012, Alexander received PayrollOrg’s Meritorious Service Award.

 She is a multi-disciplined professional with a solid background in payroll management and has a record of success in diverse high-pressure business environments. She is an effective leader and communicator with the ability to build loyal teams and boost morale using a positive, staff-empowering management style.

 Alexander is also the author of the “California Payroll Guide” and is considered a subject matter expert on California’s payroll. In addition to being an accomplished writer, she is an adjunct professor with a local higher education institution in Sacramento, where she teaches payroll accounting.

 Locally, she served with the Sacramento Valley Chapter where she previously served as President and Government Liaison Officer.

"PayrollOrg has supported me in every aspect of my career. I could not have accomplished all I have done over the many years with them," she said. "I learned that by trying to never say "NO" and to mentor the younger payroll professionals who are just embarking on a career in payroll and to help them be the best that they can be, has always energized my purpose.  I never profess to have all the answers, but I know I can lead by example by sharing all I have learned and experienced over my career.  Basically, just "Pay it Forward" because PayrollOrg did that for me."

Phillips, who has more than 25 years of payroll experience, joined PayrollOrg in 1996 and earned his PP in 2002.

For the last 20 years, his payroll career has had a concentrated focus in health care that included positions with Hospital Corporation of America in Nashville and Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth, Texas. Currently, Phillips is a Healthcare Account Executive for UKG.

 He earned his bachelor’s in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 2000 and went on to earn a master’s in educational human resource development from Texas A&M University in 2020. He is poised to earn his second master’s in health administration from Texas A&M University in August 2023.

 Phillips’ PayrollOrg volunteer service includes being a member of the Education Advisory Committee, National Speakers Bureau, and the Best Practices and Health Care (former co-chair) Subcommittees of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF).

 Since 2014, he has played a vital role educating payroll professionals through the National Speakers Bureau and has presented at several PayrollOrg conferences.

 In 2019, he received PayrollOrg’s Meritorious Service Award.

 “I am humbled and honored to be chosen for the PayrollOrg’s Special Recognition Award. It was an absolute surprise when I received the call from Dan," Phillips said. "I began my payroll journey 27 years ago. Personally and professionally, I have always firmly believed in lifelong learning and giving back. PayrollOrg has provided me with the opportunity and privilege to do both. Being recognized for something I thoroughly enjoy doing and love is an honor.