PMWOTY2022

An unwavering dedication to the payroll industry and a desire to help their fellow payroll professionals succeed are just two of the traits that perfectly describe Taunya Fritzsching, CPP, and Levi Meeske, CPP.

On May 10 they also became known as the APA’s 2022 Payroll Woman of the Year and Payroll Man of the Year, when their names were announced during the 40th Annual Payroll Congress’ Opening Session.

Fritzsching, Payroll Manager for Houston-based Noble Energy, has been in the payroll business for more than 35 years and has been an APA member and a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) since 1996.

She is a past President of the Houston APA Chapter and a past President of the Texas Payroll Conference. She previously volunteered on the APA’s Board of Advisors and the Certification Item Development Task Force.

“I am completely overwhelmed with gratitude," Fritzsching said after receiving the award. “What an honor. “This lifetime experience I will never forget.”

Currently, Fritzsching serves on the APA’s CHAMPS Committee, the CPP Certification Board, the Government Relations Task Force (GRTF), the Hotline Referral Service, and the Garnishments and Child Support GRTF Subcommittees.

In 2008, Fritzsching received the APA’s Payroll Education Grant, and in 2009, she received the APA’s Meritorious Service Award. In 2013, she received the APA’s Special Recognition Award.

Meeske, who is the North America Payroll Manager at Sage Software in Atlanta, became a CPP in 2007 and joined the APA two years later.

He currently serves as part of the APA’s CHAMPS Committee, Certification Board, Hotline Referral Service, the Emerging Technologies Subcommittee of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF), National Speakers Bureau, and the Social Networking Committee.

“Wow! I am shaking," Meeske said after accepting his award. "I can remember back to my very first Congress. For the Congress virgins out there, it changed my life, truly. [After attending my first Congress], I realized, ‘Hey, I can do that!' My advice for others is to get involved. There are so many opportunities to network with others and to make a difference. Make memories and make an impact.”

Meeske was previously a member of the GRTF, the SPLTF, the Best Practices Subcommittee of the SPLTF, Chapter Recognition Committee, Board of Advisors, Certification Item Development Task Force, and the APA’s Board of Contributing Writers.

In 2014, he was awarded APA’s Meritorious Service Award, and in 2021, he received the Special Recognition Award.

Locally, Meeske serves within the Atlanta Chapter where he’s held numerous offices, including President and Government Liaison Officer and acted as Chair of the Georgia Statewide Conference.

Bryan Kirk is the Senior Writer and Editor of Membership Publications for APA and GPMI.