Pegine Echevarria, who has been a passionate inspiration to payroll professionals and a fiery presence at the annual Payroll Congress since 2020, was honored May 17 with PayrollOrg’s 2023 Special Friend Award.

 Known simply as “Pegine” to audiences worldwide, the award-winning speaker and coach has been the catalyst who has helped many payroll professionals strive for excellence. Pegine has played a key role to ensure PayrollOrg’s conventions and events are an overwhelming success.

"I am thrilled to be honored. I am shocked, excited, and filled with joy," she said. "I truly love PAYO and the people who work, volunteer, and are members of PAYO. I love being a part of the learning, energy, excitement, and fun. Growing the future of Payroll professionals and hearing the stories of those who came before is inspiring." 

 Her participation at PayrollOrg’s events, which include the Payroll Congress, the Payroll Leaders Conference, and Congress Xtreme, have made a profound impression on our members and staff.

The extraordinary flair and panache with which she teaches often leaves attendees with an unquenchable motivation to be better.

 She is an enthusiastic listener to our members during question-and-answer sessions and eagerly provides positive, constructive, and insightful feedback.

 Pegine has continually demonstrated a dedication to her craft and to providing the best service to her clients. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, she willingly converted her series from live to virtual and helped make PayrollOrg’s Congress Xtremes a success.

 She has an infectious smile and a kind heart that was revealed even further when she created a song for PayrollOrg’s new rebrand in April. You can listen to the “PAYO” parody song.

 Pegine is the embodiment of leadership, but she possesses and demonstrates unwavering graciousness and kindness to everyone she encounters.

"Pinch me! I still can't get over it. I have this big silly grin on my face. I'm just in a state of awe," she said. "PAYO is a global organization and well respected worldwide so to have an international leader honor me and my relationship with them is pretty impressive."