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Three individuals who have provided continued exemplary service to the American Payroll Association (APA) and its membership received Special Recognition Awards Thursday, June 4, during the Congress Xstream awards ceremony.

Michael Bateman, CPP; Rebecca Harshberger, CPP; and E. Dina Rand, CPP, are this year’s honorees.

Bateman, Payroll Manager for Vail Resorts, joined the APA in 1996 and became a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) in 2000.

In accepting the award, he explained that he started in payroll to help at the hospital where his grandmother worked, expecting it to be only a summer job. That led to a career in payroll and guidance and encouragement from the accomplished payroll professionals he met at his first Annual Congress.

“Over the years since then, I’ve become ever more involved with the APA’s task forces and committees in an attempt to provide the same guidance and encouragement to the next generation of payroll professionals,” he said. “Hopefully, I can inspire one of them to turn a summer job into a career.”

Bateman’s volunteer service with the APA includes the Board of Contributing Writers, the Fundamental Payroll Certification Committee, Certification Item Development Task Force, Best Practices and Health Care Subcommittees of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF), and the Child Support and Other Garnishments, Payroll Cards, and Retirement Accounts Subcommittees of the Government Relations Task Force (GRTF).

Locally, he has served the Denver Chapter Payroll Association as Local Administrator and Government Liaison Officer.

In 2019, he received an APA Meritorious Service Award.

Harshberger, Vice President of Payroll Tax for Entertainment Partners, joined the APA in 2009 and has been a CPP since 1999.

She told Congress Xstream attendees that serving on APA committees has been a pleasure and a privilege.

“During these trying times, please take the time to get involved in whatever capacity you can, locally or nationally,” she said. “Our collective time and energy can make a huge difference.”

Harshberger’s APA volunteer service includes the Federal Tax Forms and Publications, IRS Issues, and State and Local Topics Subcommittees of the GRTF, National Speakers Bureau, and APA’s representative to the IRS’s Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC).

Locally, she has served the Greater Los Angeles Chapter as Study Group Coordinator.

In 2014, she received an APA Meritorious Service Award.

Rand, Consultant for Rand Associates, has been an APA member since 1986 and a CPP since 1988.

“Currently as a payroll consultant, the APA has always been there with answers I need, either through publications, committees, or the many colleagues I have met throughout my journey,” she said. “It’s important to network, share your experiences, listen to others, and keep informed.”

Rand’s APA volunteer service includes the Hotline Referral Service, Child Support and Other Garnishments, Federal Tax Forms and Publications, Immigration, IRS Issues,  and SSA Wage Reporting Redesign Subcommittees of the GRTF, and the Best Practices and Global Issues Subcommittees of the SPLTF.

Locally, she has served the Detroit Chapter as Local Administrator.

She received an APA Meritorious Service Award in 1992.

Two past APA Presidents watching the award ceremony offered their well wishes in the chat.

"Congratulations Michael, Becky, and Dina," said Brent Gow, CPP. "Well deserved."

Sondra Dougherty, CPP, wrote, "Congrats and thank you Michael, Becky and Dina for all you do for APA."

Photo from left: Bateman, Harshberger, Rand